Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(51)

**

“Jump! Are you up for a pregame interview?” Coach Smith yelled for him.

“Sure.” Jared pulled on a Panthers t-shirt and made his way toward his Coach.

“Did you invite a bunch of kids from the Amherst Hospital to come to the game?” Coach Smith asked.

“Um, yeah, why?” Jared played dumb, he’d expected this.

“Well, apparently, the local news channels picked up the story and they want to interview you.” Coach Smith seemed puzzled but not angry.

“Huh,” Jared shrugged, “I’m okay with that if you are, Coach.”

“Of course, Jump.” Coach bobbed his head and led the way toward the field. “I’ve been hearing rumors.”

“You have?” Jared asked innocently. “About what?”

“You.” Coach didn’t look at him. “That you’re looking to leave L.A.”

Jared didn’t know what to say. He walked beside his coach unsure of whether to confirm or refute the truth.

“You don’t have to say anything, Jump. Just hear me out.” Coach Smith exhaled a long, slow breath. “Your comeback has been remarkable. To return from an injury like that and perform as you have is a testament to your willpower. But you’ve changed in other ways, too. Firing that shithead, Derek, was a good move. I might have done so in a less public forum, but it was the right thing, nonetheless. Still, pressing for a trade is gutsy. I’m not saying it’s impossible but it’s going to take a lot to convince the team to let you go. Unless you had an ace in the hole, so to speak.”

Jared pulled up and stopped his coach with a light hand to his arm. “What are you saying, Coach?”

“I’m saying that if you can call off your agent, I might be able to get you exactly what you want.” Coach Smith’s brow furrowed. “This is a business, Jared. It’s always been a business and at the end of the day, you and your teammates are the currency of that business. I’m going to be leaving L.A. myself. Coach Davies is retiring today and they’ve offered me his position. That’s why I flew in a few days early and that’s how I knew about your agent’s maneuvers. None of this has been made public, of course, but it will be today. You will be a Nashville Cougar after today’s game.”

“Are you serious, Coach?” Jared couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Yes, I am.” Coach Smith held out his hand. “I don’t know why and I don’t need to, but I would love to have you come with me.”

Jared shook his hand firmly. “Thanks, Coach. It would really mean a lot to me.”

“Go out and take care of that interview but save some charm for the press conference after the game.” Coach Smith dismissed him and headed back toward the locker room.

“Hey, Coach,” Jared half-turned back, “what about Trent?”

Coach Smith nodded. “It’s a done deal. You and Trent for Wilson, McMasters, and a third round draft pick.”

Jared beamed. “Thanks, Coach.”

“Everybody is entitled to find their own happy endings, Jared. Just make sure you’re finding yours.” Coach gave a half wave and disappeared down the hall.

Jared sauntered out onto the field where reporters were waiting expectantly. He brushed his hair out of his face and smiled at the group before him.

“I heard you all had some questions for me?”

“Jump! Is it true you invited children from a local hospital to attend the game today?”

“Who are those kids, Jump?”

“How did you score so many tickets for this game, Jump?”

“Is this a publicity stunt?”

Jared shook his head. “Whoa, slow down. Yes, I absolutely invited a large group to this game. I figured it was a great place to start thanking all of those people who helped me through my recovery.”

“A bunch of kids helped you recover, Jump?”

“Yeah, they did,” Jared confirmed. “When I was having a tough time with physical therapy, those kids reminded me that there’s something to fight for. They never asked anything of me, never begged for autographs or expected me to perform for them. Those kids reminded me why I love the game of football and that I can do amazing things. They are accompanied by a group of people who have come to be a second family to me.”

“What about your medical team? You’ve given them a lot of praise, are they here?”

“I believe some of them will be.” Jared hesitated for a minute. She said she’d be here in that text but that’s all he’d heard. What if she didn’t come? “But I won’t know until I catch up with them after the game. Speaking of the game, I really need to get ready.”

He spun on his heel and headed back toward the locker room pushing everything else out of his head to focus on the game. If everything went according to plan, his crowd would fill a good part of one end zone and he hoped to score at least one right in front of them. Jared hoped for at least a glimpse of A.J. before the game started.

**

A.J.’s heart thrummed in her chest. Most of the kids were cleared to attend and their eyes were as big as saucers as they entered the stadium with their families. She expected seats in the upper deck but Rick led them toward the lower levels where an usher directed them to seats in the end zone. These were her favorite seats and Jared knew it. She loved being so close to the field when players scored so you could see their faces, the effort and relief when the whistle blew. A.J. settled between Jaida and Ally in the second row.