Impossible To Resist (BWWM Romance Book 1)(9)

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“How is the weight-bearing coming?” A.J. asked casually. She definitely noticed he arrived without crutches.

“I’ve been without crutches since Wednesday evening. I’m still a little stiff,” Jared answered casually. He’d taken to answering only when A.J. spoke to him, an uneasy and unspoken agreement they’ve come to.

Jared couldn’t understand how she could ignore the tension between them and he’d had to fight the urge to kiss her on more than one occasion. They’d been working closely as she monitored his exercises and worked on his leg. Jared dreamed of her almost nightly, from her scent to the warmth of her fingers on his skin, but he’d gotten nowhere with the real, live A.J.

“Good,” A.J. commented blandly. “I think we’re about done here for today.” She helped him to his feet and re-adjusted the leg brace before leaving.

Jared contemplated Rick’s advice. Despite feeling sore and tired from PT, he ultimately decided to head down to the pediatric ward. Jared navigated the maze that is Amherst Hospital until he came to the pediatric ward, marked by two bright blue doors with cartoon characters painted on them. He peered through the window.

The hall was empty. Jared pushed through the swinging doors into a brightly painted hallway with rooms staggered along both sides. He heard voices and laughter in the distance. Jared slunk down the hall toward the noise and found a room full of kids watching A.J. perform tricks with a basketball.

She was still incredible, even better than he would have guessed. The kids laughed and called out requests, which A.J. obliged. Jared watched from the shadows until the show looked to be dying down. He slipped back down the hall and was almost through the double doors before being discovered.

“What are you doing here?” A.J.’s voice carried down the hall.

“I was walking by, heard the laughter, and thought I’d peek in. Sorry,” Jared lied, hoping the dim hall hid his face enough.

“Ally told you, didn’t she?” A.J. asked quietly.

“No.” Jared smiled to himself, not a lie.

“Will you just leave me be?” A.J. practically groaned. “I’ve spent the past three years building a life here, I don’t need you messing it up.”

“I’m not trying to mess up your life,” Jared said, “I just wanted to know why you hate me so much.”

A.J. shook her head. “I don’t hate you. I don’t like you very much, but I don’t hate you.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“I’m sorry you think I hate you,” A.J. apologized, “but I don’t have room for people like you in my life and I don’t like that I had to take time away from these kids to work with you.”

“I didn’t know.” Jared stepped backward. “I didn’t even set this up. I just needed to get away from the media and this was the best option they gave me. I didn’t even know who you were until I got here. I’m out of here. I’ll see you Monday.”

He walked off before she could say anything else, feeling like an asshole for taking her away from the kids in the ward. How was he supposed to know that she worked with kids? Did Derek know when he set this up? He headed for the lobby to meet Rick, relieved that his friend was waiting patiently.

“Did you see what you needed to see?” Rick asked curiously.

“Why didn’t anybody tell me that A.J. works with kids?” Jared blurted. “She’s a pediatric physical therapist? I’m taking time away from kids!”

Rick startled. “We thought you knew. You didn’t know?”

“No!” Jared practically yelled. “I understand why she resents me now. She works with kids and some spoiled, rich, egomaniac strolls in and tears her away to get back to some sport. I really am an asshole.”

“You aren’t, especially if you didn’t know,” Rick assured him. “Did you tell her you didn’t know?”

“Yeah and then I left, it’s the least I could do,” Jared said as he slumped into the SUV’s passenger seat. “I really had no idea.”

“Then you did what you could, kid,” Rick patted Jared on the arm, “just keep positive.”

“Easy for you to say. How do you come back from this kind of thing?” Jared asked.

“You work that much harder and show her how serious you are about getting better. Make it worth her while, show her who you are,” Rick advised.

“I have been, Rick.” Jared hung his head. “You know I’m ahead of schedule.”

“It’s not just about your physical recovery,” Rick said softly, “it’s about who you are inside. Show her that part. My whole family has seen the real you, maybe A.J. should, too.”

“I’m not somebody different when I’m with A.J.,” Jared said. “I’m just me, all the time.”

“If you say so,” Rick answered halfheartedly, “but, I’m not so sure about that. The guy we see on TV is not the same guy who shows up at my house on Sundays.”

“Of course not. That guy on TV is putting on a show,” Jared explained. “But he’s still me. The game energizes me, makes me competitive, gives me an edge but – you’ve heard me mic’d up, right? Don’t I sound the same as I do on Sundays?”