Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(32)

“Sure, Jump.” Xander leaned back in his chair and put an arm around his wife. “Glad to have you back with the team.”

“Nice seeing you, Jared,” Alicia said politely before looking away.

Jared stood to face his agent. “What’s up, Derek?”

“It’s not polite to leave your date,” Derek chastised.

“She disappeared with her friends, I was just thanking Xander and Trent for coming out. I know this isn’t usually their scene and I was really surprised to see them here,” Jared answered smoothly.

“I see.” Derek didn’t see. “Just make sure you are convincing everybody that you’re the same old Jump. They need to know you are fully committed to this team.”

“Done and done.” Jared clapped his hands together. “Now, how’s about you give me back my cell.”

“I had it messengered to your house.” Derek’s too-cool response betrayed his lie. “Should be there already.”

“It wasn’t there when I left.” Jared fixed an easy smile on his face to hide his fury. “But I can always get a new one, right?”

“Sure,” Derek said smoothly. “Whatever you need, Jump.”

“Have fun tonight, Derek.” Jared slapped his shoulder and took off in the opposite direction. He needed to keep as much distance between himself and his agent as he could.

Jared sought out Kyra and ended up on the dance floor, almost the last place he wanted to be at the moment. Unfortunately, once they started dancing, the team and their dates joined in so there was no place for him to run until the music stopped. Thankfully, Whitey took the mic at eleven and told them all to wrap it up and head out. Most of the team groaned but Jared felt nothing but gratitude for his coach. He pulled Kyra after him to locate Matt and Amanda so they could get out of there.

“Are you sure you’re clear to go?” Amanda asked as they climbed into Matt’s SUV.

“You heard Whitey,” Jared pointed out. “Besides, I’m exhausted. Jet lag and all that shit.”

“Oh, I hope you’re not too tired, Jump,” Kyra teased, clearly drunk and having trouble sitting up.

“I really am, Kyra,” Jared assured her, “I just want to curl up in bed since I have to be at the practice field early.”

Kyra pouted. “But I wanna have some fun, Jump.”

“Sorry, I just don’t think I’m up for it tonight,” Jared apologized.

“I’m not ready to go home,” Kyra leaned over and whispered in his ear, “at least not my home.”

“I’m really not up for it,” Jared told her again.

“What the hell, Jump?” Kyra exclaimed, a little too loud.

“I’m jet lagged, Kyra,” Jared soothed, “I just flew back today, seriously, it’s nothing against you, I’m just tired.”

“This was supposed to be my night,” Kyra’s complaint slurred and her head bobbed a little as she tried to stay awake.

“And it was, Kyra.” Jared tucked a hair behind her ear. “I had a great time with you.”

“Yeah you did,” Kyra mumbled as they pulled away. She passed out before they reached her house so Jared carried her in and put her to bed – fully clothed.

“That was interesting,” Matt said as Jared settled back in the SUV.

“It was another ambush,” Jared grumbled. “This is ridiculous. I can’t believe coach was in on it.”

“He may not have had a choice,” Amanda countered. “Nobody really did. The Panthers have a lot of money invested in you, Jared. This is a business above all else, you know that.”

“I know. Believe me, I know.” Jared looked out the window, watching L.A. speed past as they drove to his house. “I liked it in the Midwest. I thought it would be hell but it was nice. Quiet.”

“I see,” Amanda said. “And was there, by chance, a woman?”

Jared startled. Damn. “What makes you ask that?”

“You’re different,” Amanda replied simply. “You’ve been different since you landed. Normally, you wouldn’t have thought twice about Kyra or any other women at that party.”

“So? I’m tired. Jet lag, remember?” Jared tried to cover.

“Right.” Amanda chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“Would it be so bad if there were a woman,” Jared asked, “hypothetically speaking?”

“If this hypothetical woman is okay with you having a blonde cheerleader draped all over you and practically sucking your face off in the middle of a high profile party, then no, probably not a problem at all,” Amanda said.

Shit. How would he explain all of this to A.J? He needed a phone to be able to do that and it would take some work to make that happen. Jared fell quiet and brooded the rest of the drive home. Amanda and Matt respected his silence and chatted quietly in the front seat. He thanked them but didn’t invite them in when he got home.

“Jared,” Amanda called after him from the window of the SUV. He only half turned toward her, “just call her and explain. If she loves you, she’ll understand.”

She put the window up and they pulled away leaving Jared alone, again. He climbed the steps to his front door and let himself in.