Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(29)

“That’s great. I’d love to have a drink with them.”

Jared really did want to talk to Xander and Trent, he wanted to ask how they made it work, how they bowed out of the limelight but still managed to be beloved by fans and two of the best at their positions. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if Xander and Trent would be there. Somehow, he didn’t think so.

“Hey, Jump, before I forget, let me give you my number so you can let me know when you’re ready.” Kyra looked at him expectantly, clearly waiting for him to react.



“Um, why do you need to know when I’m ready?” Jared had a bad feeling about where this was going.

“I’m your date for tonight, silly.” Kyra rolled her eyes. “Obviously, Mandy can’t be your date cuz she’s going with Matt. I won the contest so it’s you and me!”

“Contest? Wait, what is going on here?” Jared’s stomach rolled. He thought he might vomit all over the perky blonde.

Amanda glared at Kyra and patted his leg. “It’s no big deal. They just wanted to make sure you had an escort from the team for the night. They had a little competition among the single cheerleaders to pick one as your escort.” Amanda quickly added, “it was a charity event so all of the money went to a good cause.”

“Oh, well if it was all for a good cause, then by all means.” Jared’s voice dripped with sarcasm but Amanda seemed to be the only one who picked up on it since Trey and the driver were engaged in a heated debate and Kyra just glowed with excitement.

“Yep! It was for a great charity!” Kyra prattled on about a mini golf outing. “The Tates put it on to raise money for the Children’s Hospital here in L.A. It was really fun and I’m really good at mini golf so I knew I would win.”

She continued on but Jared had lost interest. He felt Amanda’s eyes on him, like twin weights surveying every inch of him.

Kyra nudged his knee and asked again, “So, let me give you my number and I promise we’ll have a great time.”

Shit. Jared realized just how much Derek had screwed him over. “I don’t have my phone.” Amanda flashed him a “don’t be mean” look and Kyra looked wounded. Jared didn’t want to look like an asshole. “Seriously. Derek took it from me and he was supposed to give it back at home but then we left and he’s still got it.”

“I’m sure he’ll get it back to you.” Amanda’s face flushed, her eyebrows knitted together. He knew that look, she’d crossed from the land of frustrated to the realm of pissed off. “Kyra, I’ve got your number, I’ll make sure Jump has it and we’ll all go together, okay?”

Kyra bit her lip. “I guess that would be okay.”

“It will be,” Amanda confirmed. “Matt planned on driving anyway. We’ll pick you up and then head over to get Jared, ‘kay?”

“That works for me,” Jared said quickly, “it will be fun, Kyra.” He flashed the lop-sided smile the ladies all seemed to favor and Kyra melted.





Chapter8

“What’re you gonna do, Jared?” Matt asked expectantly. “You’ve got a contract.” Of course, as his attorney that would be the first concern.

“That’s why I’m talking to you, man.” Jared pinched the bridge of his nose. “Derek has gone too far. He ambushed me, forced me to fly back here today, and now he’s holding my phone hostage. They fucking auctioned me off as a charity prize without my knowledge. How is that okay?”

“It’s not,” Matt agreed. “I had no idea you didn’t know. Neither did Amanda. They forbade her from entering, only the single cheerleaders were allowed to compete.” As an afterthought, he added, “At least it wasn’t publicized at all. Only those involved knew about it and we were all told to keep it quiet.”

“That makes me feel soooo much better,” Jared said dryly.

“C’mon, man, I’m just trying to help,” Matt pleaded with him. He considered them friends but Jared had always tried to keep a little distance. “I think you’re only option is a trade at this point. But I don’t know how you are going to make that happen. You have to prove you’re still able to play and if you put up the usual numbers, it’s going to be tough to get the Panthers to agree to trade you.”

“So, I’m up shit creek? Is that what you’re telling me?” Jared asked.

“Unless you retire.” Matt shrugged. “But this all goes away. I don’t know that you have enough put away to walk away and live comfortably.”

“I can work, Matt.” Jared downed the rest of his whiskey. “I’m not afraid of work. I just don’t know if I want this anymore.”

“Is it your leg?” Matt asked plainly.

“No. My leg is great. I just realized that I really don’t like being controlled. I’m not a puppet,” Jared pushed off the bed, “and I feel like there are more and more strings attached to everything I do.”

Matt clapped him on the back as they walked out of the room to join the ladies. “You’re definitely not a puppet. Let me look into some things and see what I can find out, okay?”

“Yeah, Matt,” Jared agreed, “I’d appreciate it.”