Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(47)

“Jaida, you don’t understand.” A.J. sighed, exasperated. “Everything he did here was just an act, just something to fill the time. It wasn’t real.” She gestured toward the TV where Jared was pictured signing women’s breasts and then making out with a petite blonde at a party. “That’s the real Jared Jackson.”

Jaida didn’t believe it. She’d read his letter to her, the one A.J. threw in the trash, unopened. They were going to that game in Nashville, one way or another. Jaida texted Jared that they’d be there, now she just needed to convince her sister and it was proving far more difficult than she imagined.

“Alex, he fired his agent and hired Ameryst.”

“So? That makes it worse. He’s trying to use my friends to get to me,” A.J. said bitterly.

“I don’t think so.” Jaida shook her head. “Why won’t you give him a break? Didn’t you hear what he said about what his agent did? How do you know he didn’t prevent Jared from saying good-bye to you?”

In truth, Jaida believed that’s exactly what happened. The letter from Jared detailed everything, explained everything. She wished Alex would just read the letter but she’d be really angry if she knew that Jaida pulled it out of the garbage. Why was she so determined to make Jared into a bad guy? Jaida didn’t understand at all.

“Jaida, when will you let it go?” A.J. sighed. “He’s gone and he’s staying gone.”

“He’s going to be in Nashville,” Jaida stated simply.

A.J. glared at her sister. “I don’t care.”

“Yes,” Jaida refuted, “you do. You care and you know it. You could just go see him and then you’ll know. Even if you just scream at him that you hate him or whatever else you want to say, wouldn’t it be worth it? Come on, Alex. Let’s just go to the game.”

“No. Would you stop already?” A.J. flipped the television off.

“I’m going to the game,” Jaida said firmly. “I’ve got a ticket and I’m going whether you go with me or not.”

“What?” A.J. gasped. “How did you get a ticket?”

“Jared sent us two tickets. I already talked to Ally and I’m going to ride with them. We’re all going and you can’t stop me.”

Jaida challenged her sister to refuse her, to try to ground her or make her stay but all she saw was pain in Alex’s eyes.

“You opened the letter, didn’t you?” A.J. whispered.

“Yes, I did. And I’ve read the texts he’s sent,” Jaida confessed. “I like him. I liked you when you were with him. You can’t spend your whole life taking care of me, Alex. You can’t keep hiding out, either.”

“When did you get to be so smart?”

Tears pricked at A.J.’s eyes, as she regarded her sister. She wanted to tell her everything, to give her side of the story, to explain, but, how could she burden Jaida who had more than enough to deal with?

“I’ve never been an idiot. I keep trying to tell you that.” Jaida rolled her eyes. “So, are you going to go with me, or what?”

“I don’t know.” A.J. hesitated. There were things her sister didn’t know, actually, one really big thing that may change everything.

“I already told him you’d be there. Or, rather, I pretended I was you and texted him that you got the letter and will be at the game,” Jaida explained sheepishly.

“Oh, Jaida, you didn’t….” A.J. groaned. Dammit, she just wanted to move on with her life.

“I did,” Jaida confirmed. “I’d hoped you would just come around on your own but it seemed you needed a little push, so I pushed.”

“We need to have a serious conversation about boundaries.” A.J. couldn’t believe her sister could be so manipulative.

“Okay, after we go to the game and talk to Jared,” Jaida agreed.





Chapter13

“Everything is set, right?” Jared asked Rick over the phone.

“Sir, I need you to disconnect your call now.” The flight attendant, clearly losing her patience, stood over him, her plastic smile faltering.

“Yes, Jay, everything is set. We’ll see you at the game.” Rick’s voice crackled a little in the phone. “We’ll pick up the kids and then A.J. and Jaida. Ally confirmed with Jaida that A.J. is planning to be there so I think we’re all set. As far as I know, she has no clue what’s really happening.”

“Great. Thanks, Rick. I owe you,” Jared promised his friend. “I owe you big.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Jay. It’s what we do,” Rick assured him. Marie hollered something in the background. “Oh, and Marie says she’s proud of you for giving Glover hell. You should have heard her during that game. It was something else.”

“Sir! Your phone!” The flight attendant stomped her foot and glared at him.

He put his hand over the receiver., “Yeah, sorry. Just a sec.” Jared interrupted Rick’s praise. “Sorry, Rick, I have to go. We’re taking off soon and the lovely flight attendant needs me to hang up and turn my phone off.”

“Alright, Jay. See you soon!” Rick crowed into the phone.

Jared hung up on Rick and smiled up at the attendant. “I’m so sorry, it’s just that I’ve made these really important plans and a lot of people would be disappointed if it’s not handled before I get there.” He made a point of turning his phone off and promised to keep it off until they landed.