Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(34)

“Thanks, Coach.” Jared shook his hand firmly. “Now what did you need me to do?”

“We’ve got a press conference arranged to show the media that you are back in shape and ready to roll,” Coach Smith started. “You’re going to lift some weights and do a little sprinting and then jump for them, okay?”

Jared nodded. “Sure, that’s easy. I don’t know if my vertical is quite what it was, though.”

“You passed your old mark this morning. I think your vertical is actually a bit better,” Coach Smith said encouragingly.

“Better?” Jared asked. He had no idea, not that he’d measured. He’d actually been afraid to look when they had him jump that morning.

“Yeah, your sprint times are a touch faster, too,” Coach added as he led Jared toward the work out facility they used for media engagements. “I don’t know what you did while you were gone, but it worked, Jump.”

Jared considered confessing to Coach Smith but decided against it. Not now at least, not with the media just down the hall. “I had a great PT, Coach, and I worked really hard.”

“You should send that guy a medal,” Coach Smith added, “better yet, get him out here for a game.”

“That’s a good idea.” Jared smiled to himself. He planned to get A.J. out here for a game alright, maybe for good.

They approached the double doors. Coach Smith stopped. “Just go in there and do what you do best. Smile, assure them, and remember that it’s okay to show off today.”

“Got it, Coach.” Jared nodded and pushed open the swinging door. He stepped in to greet the handful of media brought in to witness the show. “Hey everybody! Good to see you.” He smiled easily, bolstered by the idea that he could out perform his pre-injury body.

“Hey, Jump!” They were unusually quiet for reporters.

“You guys are awfully quiet today,” Jared observed. “Afraid I can’t bring that wow factor to the game anymore?”

“Nah, that’s not it, Jump,” one of them called out.

Jared nodded to the trainers in the room. “I think I’ll go with the sprints first if that’s okay with all of you?” He made a show of stretching his legs a little even though he was already warmed up. There were a few murmurs from the crowd as they noted his scar, visible beneath the hem of his shorts. He ignored them and took his mark.

One of the trainers blew a whistle and Jared took off, breezed past the media and ignored the flashes. It was over in a heartbeat. The room broke out into applause and whoops of praise. Jared’s eyes flicked toward the time clock on the wall – 4.3, more than respectable and better than his previous best.

“How’d you do it, Jump?”

“What’s your secret?”

The media clamored for more information, exhilarated by his 40-yard dash. Coach Smith stepped in while Jared stretched a bit more. “Okay, give him a minute. Jump’s not done with his little expo. Would you like to see his vertical?”

Jared beamed when the crowd erupted into cheers. He stepped up to the platform, crouched and let loose. There was no need for a second attempt. Reporters rushed him, a cacophony of questions and compliments.

Coach Smith stepped in front of him to address the onslaught. “Give him room, he’ll be more than happy to answer your questions one at a time. Go ahead, Phil, you’re up first.”

“Jump, how did you do it?” Phil, from the Times, made for a strategic choice.

“I worked hard and I had a great physical therapist.” Jared made a point of making eye contact, he learned long ago that it was the best way to convince a reporter. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I was gone for a while.”

“Yeah, you were hidden away in the Midwest, why was that?” another voice chimed in, Gloria from the Sun, maybe?

“My family and my team thought it would be best to avoid distractions and focus on my recovery. As you can see,” Jared gestured toward the counters still showing his numbers, “it paid off.”

“There will be rumors that you used performance enhancing drugs, what do you say to those people?” Definitely, Gloria Castle from the Sun. She loved exposing dirty players and cherished the opportunity to leak gossip, even if it wasn’t true.

“You are welcome to pull my medical records,” Jared answered firmly, never losing his trademark grin. “I had weekly drug tests done just in case somebody cared to question my comeback.”

Undaunted, Gloria pressed, “Records can be doctored, can’t they?”



“Gloria, are you accusing me of using drugs?” Jared asked her pointedly. She faltered a little at being called out directly. “Because I can assure you that the last drugs I took were the ones they imposed on me during and immediately after surgery when I was unconscious.

“Anybody who feels the need to question me can seek answers with my medical team. I’ll even take a test now. I have never needed performance enhancers and I definitely don’t need them now. The simple truth is that I ate healthy, had a supportive physical therapist, and worked very hard. Let’s face it, I had a few months to do nothing but recover.”

“Are you saying it’s better in the Midwest, away from L.A.?” Gloria arched an eyebrow at him, determined to find a story where there was none.