Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(40)

“I don’t think that’s what she meant. They aren’t used to the media circus that has been your trademark,” his mom plucked at a raveling on her pants, “but I explained that you were looking to trade out of that lifestyle and she didn’t even seem surprised.”

“Good. Then, we just need to figure out timing and how we are going to make this work. I need to prove that I can play this year before another team is going to want to take a risk on me,” Jared explained for his Mom’s benefit. “But if I do well then the Panthers are not going to want to let me go and I still have two years left on my contract.”

“But you could be traded during the season, right?” his mom asked, struggling to understand the business aspect of the game.

“Yes, it’s possible, but it means I have to play lights out for the first few games, manage to fire Derek, hire Ameryst, and have her work some real magic before the trade deadline.” Jared counted off the steps on his fingers. “It’s not going to be easy.”

“Nothing worthwhile ever is,” his mom remarked. “And it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind.”

“I have,” Jared said firmly. “I know where I’m supposed to be now, Mom.”

“Then, I guess you have all the motivation you need to play great football in your first few games.” His mom shrugged. “The rest is up to everybody else.”

“She’s still not returning my calls.” Jared checked his phone every five minutes hoping to hear something from A.J. “What do I do about that?”

“Keep trying,” his mom said simply. “Have you sent flowers?”

“A.J. is not really the ‘flowers’ type.” Jared had already thought of that and discounted the idea. “She’s more of the under the radar, picnic lunch in the park kind of woman.”

“I see.” His mom contemplated this. “So maybe you need to visit her?”

“How? There’s no way I can go anywhere now,” Jared grumbled. “I’m practically being stalked.”

“It’s not that bad. And, if you can get rid of Derek then some of that may go away,” his mom pointed out. “Don’t you have any games near her?”

“Yeah, we play in Nashville week four,” Jared answered dully, it seemed so far away.

“That time will fly. Maybe it would give you the chance to plan something big,” his mom suggested. “It sounds like that might be what you need to win her over.”

“But what? I don’t even know why she won’t talk to me.” Jared frowned, all the progress he made was lost in a few days.

“Didn’t you say you have friends there? Why not reach out to them? Have them here for a game and see if they’ll help.” His mom smiled. “It’s not like you to give up so easily.”

Jared glared at her. “I didn’t say I’m giving up. I’m just trying to figure out how to get her to listen. I mean, none of this was my fault. I didn’t arrange any of it. It was all Derek.”

“But this used to be your life.” His mom could spell things out from another perspective like nobody else he knew. “How is she to know that you didn’t up and leave to return here to the life you’ve been living for the past few years? Everything that has happened since you left is what you would have done before your injury. She has no way of knowing how you really feel.”

“That’s why I’m trying to call her. And text her. And email her,” Jared grumbled. “I was even thinking of writing her a letter.”

“It couldn’t hurt.” His mom tilted her head as if listening for something. “Did you hear that?”

They both went still. Sure enough, there were voices outside in the yard. Nobody was supposed to be able to get in without the passcode for the gated community but Jared had found fans in his yard on more than one occasion. He crept across the room toward the front door, careful to avoid the windows even though they were all covered with blackout curtains.

“I saw a woman in there with him,” one voice hissed.

“So what, why is that a story?” The other voice, huskier, didn’t even try to whisper.

“Because, if he went and got married while he was gone we wanna be the first ones to publish it, stupid,” the first voice hissed again.

Jared rolled his eyes, plastered on his media-friendly grin, and flung the front door open.

“Actually guys, it’s my mom visiting for the weekend. If you’d like to meet her, we can arrange breakfast in the morning but I’d love a little mother-son time tonight.”

The two voices slunk into the light and he recognized them as tabloid reporters. They reminded him of Frog and Toad from the children’s stories. One was taller and slimmer with slicked back hair like a mobster and the other looked just like a toad, squat with a smashed face and ruddy complexion. They looked like you would expect tabloid writers to look.

Frog looked sheepish. “Sorry, Jump. We must’ve got some bad information.”

“Yeah, I’d say so.” Jared grinned wider. “I really don’t think if I had a secret wife that she would have been too keen on me attending that party the other night with Kyra, do you?”

“But you couldn’t have taken a secret wife to that party,” Frog pointed out.