Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(44)

“Jared looked like himself again,” Jaida continued after a gulp of orange juice.

“Yep, back in the spotlight,” A.J. answered bitterly.

“You should call him,” Jaida urged again. “I know that he’s calling and texting you.”

“So?” A.J. served the pancakes to her sister and returned to the stove. This conversation was wearing on her.

“He mentioned you,” Jaida pressed. “Jared is trying to reach you and he talked about how you helped him without saying your name.”

“So?” A.J. repeated.

“So, he cares. He could have given your name and he didn’t. He could have said he did it all by himself but he didn’t,” Jaida pointed out. She was not letting this go.

“Drop it, Jaida,” A.J. snapped and then thought better of it when she saw the wounded look on her sister’s face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I just don’t want to talk about it, okay? Jared is in L.A. and we are here. He can do what he wants and we are going to keep on living our life here.”

“We could move there,” Jaida suggested hopefully.

“Jaida,” A.J. groaned, “we’ve been over this.”

“No, you’ve been over this. You’ve said we are staying but I am eighteen and not a complete invalid,” Jaida snapped.

“That’s not fair, Jaida.” A.J. recoiled.

“Are you ashamed of me?” Jaida asked.

“What?” A.J. nearly dropped her plate. “Why would you ask that? Why would you even think that?”

“Well, why else can’t we go to L.A.? Why do you hide me away?” Jaida pressed. “I’m not ashamed of what happened, why are you?”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m not ashamed of you at all!” A.J. dropped to her knees beside her sister. “I just hate the press. It’s their fault that Momma’s gone and that you got hurt. I couldn’t handle that happening again. What if I lost you this time? You’re my sister and I love you. Please, please believe that.”

“So you would give up true love to hide out here?” Jaida’s wide brown eyes challenged A.J. to deny the truth.

“I don’t believe in true love, Jaida. This is real life, not a fairy tale,” A.J. pointed out. “I know you believe in happy endings but I don’t, not anymore.”

“Maybe you should,” Jaida snapped and pushed away from the table, “or you’re going to end up bitter, angry, and alone.”

Jaida stalked out of the kitchen as best she could manage. She did wish her leg worked a little better so she could stomp off with a little more effect, but Jaida managed. Fortunately, her sister was so surprised by her outburst that she didn’t notice Jaida swiped her phone on the way out of the kitchen. Maybe she wasn’t one hundred percent, but, it didn’t mean Jaida couldn’t contribute. Her sister just needed a push in the right direction and Jaida had an idea of just where to start.





Chapter12

“Are you sure you wanna do this, Jared?” Ameryst Rice asked across the patio table, still incredulous that he wanted a change in representation.

“Absolutely,” Jared confirmed. “I have no doubt in my mind that this is the right move.”

“Making enemies of Derek and his agency is a risky move,” she said carefully, her brunette bob swishing back and forth with every shake of her head.

Jared had been careful about inviting Ameryst over and actually had his mom make the arrangements in case Derek really was monitoring his phone activity.

“I can’t be his puppet anymore, Ameryst.” Jared felt at ease with her, like he could be himself and not the media freak Derek had created. “I want to commit to the game and I’d like to do some charity work and it’s not easy to do those things when I’m expected to hit all of the major parties.”

“No, I suppose not,” Ameryst conceded. “He’s not going to let you go without a fight, though.”

“He’s not going to have a choice,” Jared explained. “I’m going to fire him very publicly and I’m pretty sure that once he no longer represents me, he’s not going to have access to Panther Stadium or of the facilities.”

“That’s a ballsy plan, Jump,” Trent observed while peeling the label off of his beer bottle. “But why are you doing all of this now?”

“Let’s just say that my injury gave me a new appreciation for the life I have.” Jared added, “And yes, there was a woman and I hope to make things work with her. To do that, I need to be myself, not the dickhead party guy the media loves to stalk.”

Trent roared with laughter. “A woman? This is all about a woman?”

“Not just a woman, but yeah, she sort of made me see some things differently.” Jared shrugged. “Why?”

“Man, women leave,” Trent looked at the ladies and apologized, “present company excluded. No offense, I like you both but I was faithful and my lady just up and left.”

“She’ll come back, Trent,” Alicia soothed and reached across the table toward him, “she just needed a break, you know that.”

“A break?” Trent croaked. “She took my kids and flew back to her parents on the other side of the world.”