Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(8)

A knock at the door startled Jared to action. “Jay?” Rick’s voice. “Are you alright?”

“Um, yeah,” Jared responded shakily. “These crutches just get in the way sometimes. Everything seems to take longer.” He washed his hands in the sink and dried them hastily.

Rick stood outside the door, his face awash with concern. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, but I’m tired.” Jared leaned on his crutches. “Do you think you could take me home?”

“Of course!” Rick seemed relieved. “We understand about the fatigue, I’ll just let Marie know.”

“I’d like to say good-bye to everybody,” Jared insisted. He followed Rick back toward the kitchen where Marie was occupied with cleaning up.

“Marie, I’m going to run Jay home.” Rick crossed the room and kissed his wife on the cheek.

She dried her hands on the nearest towel and strode across the room to hug Jared gently. “Please come back next weekend. We love having you here.”

Jared nodded. “Thank you, I would truly love that.” *

“Where are your crutches?” Rick called from the SUV.

“Don’t need them anymore!” Jared hollered back. Though he’d been a little unsteady and his gait a little awkward, he made it to the passenger side of the SUV on his own. Jared carefully climbed into the seat and grinned at Rick. “The docs cleared me on Wednesday.”

Rick swatted at him playfully. “You didn’t tell me that!”

“I wanted to surprise you.” Jared felt more than ready to take on PT with A.J. “And I wanted to practice walking without them so I wouldn’t make a fool of myself.”

“You’re really coming along then,” Rick said, almost proudly. “Aren’t you a few weeks ahead of schedule?”

“Yep,” Jared confirmed. “I don’t even need that stupid back brace anymore, just the leg brace for stability.”

“That’s incredible.” Rick grinned. “I won’t tell the family; you can surprise them on Sunday.”

“Thanks, I was hoping for that. I can’t believe I’ve been here for a month already.”

“And I was just telling Marie that I can’t believe you’ve only been with us for a month. It feels like you’ve always been a part of our family.”

“Thanks, Rick. I’m so grateful to you and your family for welcoming me into your home and your lives.”

“It’s the right thing to do, Jay.” Rick nodded, his cheeks flushed and ears tinted pink at the show of emotion. “Besides, you’re a good kid.”

Jared looked out the window to avoid Rick’s heavy gaze. He wished things were moving along as well with A.J., but he continued to strike out. He talked to Ally several times, knowing full well that she’d seen A.J. more than once in the past month, but no luck. Their patient-therapist relationship remained coldly professional and the only words they exchanged were related to his treatment. She was very good at her job, Jared had to admit that; because of A.J. he was weight-bearing again and looking at the real possibility of returning to football in the fall.

“Jay?” Rick asked.

“Yeah?” Jared answered.

“How are things going with your therapist?” Rick always seemed to know what Jared was thinking about.

“Not so great.” Jared admitted aloud for the first time what he’s known for a long time.

“Maybe it’s time for a different approach?” Rick suggested. “Now, I wasn’t going to stick my nose in it but Marie insists I help you if I can. She’s really taken a shine to you.”

“I like her too, Rick.” Jared contemplated letting Rick help, not sure if it would be right. “But I don’t know that you can actually help me with this one.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Rick said. “I’d like to try, though.”

“Alright, lay it on me.” Jared gave in. If he’d learned one thing since being here, it was useless to try to refuse Rick and Marie.

“Ally’s wedding is in two weeks. A.J. is going to be there, we just got her RSVP. So, you just have to show up and win her over. What better place than at a wedding?” Rick waited for his reaction.

“So you want me to crash Ally’s wedding and win over a woman who can hardly stand the sight of me.” Jared turned the plan around on his friend.

“You’re not a wedding crasher if you are invited. And you are definitely invited. Just show up, be yourself, and let her see who you really are. Let A.J. get to know you the way we have and everything else will fall into place.”

“You make it sound so simple.” Jared remained more than skeptical. “I don’t think it works that way.”

“How else do you expect it to work?” Rick asked. “You like her, no?”

Jared nodded. “Yeah, of course I do.”

“Then, go for it,” Rick urged. “And, in the meantime, Ally suggests you scope out the pediatric wing. She didn’t say why, just told me to tell you to go there after your appointment. I can pick you up later today so you have time.”

“The pediatric wing?” Jared frowned.

“Yeah,” Rick nodded, “just check it out. I’ll be back around three.”