by Lacey Legend
“Let’s wait until we get home, okay?” Jared fought back the tears. “A lot of stuff happened while I was away and I would rather hear about Dad first.”
“Okay.” True to her usual form, his Mom let it drop. “Your father had a stroke but we caught it early and he should recover most of his function. Of course, he’s not so happy about the lifestyle changes and being laid up right now. He had big plans to fly down to watch your first game. Now, not so much. He’s really proud of you, though.”
“He’s really okay?” Jared asked.
“Yes, he is going to be fine,” his mom assured him. “I actually just needed a break. Working at the restaurant has not been enough time away from your dad. He’s like a caged animal at home right now. Your siblings have been taking turns staying with him. It was their idea for me to visit you for a few days and take a break and your dad thought you could use some family.”
“Well, let’s see if we can get you some rest this weekend, okay?” Jared had arranged for a spa day but he’d get around to telling her about that.
She took his hand and squeezed. “It’s really good to see you. It’s been a long time. I know things have been kind of strained but I hope you know we are always here for you.”
“I know, Mom.” Jared blushed. “I’m sorry I was such a dick for so long. I promise that things will be different.”
“I wouldn’t say you were a dick,” his Mom began. He gave her a look and she retracted. “Alright, you’ve been a real shit, but we still love you.”
“I know, but I get why you guys didn’t really come around,” Jared said glumly. “I wish I could take it back.”
“I don’t,” his mom said firmly. “We all learned a lot over the past few years. Look how much you’ve grown up” She studied him, “I sure would like to know how that happened, but I’m not complaining at all. You look and talk like the old Jared, the one who just wanted to play football and do the right thing.” His Mom reminded him of the kid he’d once been, wide-eyed and hopeful. That kid had been swept up in the glamor of major league football and all of the celebrity that came with it.
“I’ve changed a lot, Mom. And, I think I’m going to need to make some big moves so that my life fits me again.” Jared noticed the tears glistening in her eyes and changed the subject. “How’s the restaurant?”
“It’s great! I have a really good manager who can handle things when I’m gone and my sous chef is fantastic. I am so grateful for everything you did to make it happen,” his mom gushed. “It feels so good to cook again. It’s tough having skills that you can’t really put to use.”
“But you did, Mom,” Jared reminded her, “you taught all of us how to cook and trust me, it came in very handy for me.”
“Mmhmm,” his mom murmured. “So this is all about a girl, isn’t it?”
Jared’s heart caught in his throat. It started out that way but he wasn’t sure there was still a girl in the mix. Jared didn’t even know how to begin to fix things at this point. A.J. hadn’t returned any of his calls or texts. Honestly, it hurt more than anything that she iced him out.
“Mom, I need your help with this one.”
“Okay, honey. Tell me what happened.” His mom patted his hand gently.
Despite his plan to hold off until they were safe in his house, Jared found himself explaining about A.J. and everything that transpired while he was on hiatus and then what Derek pulled and everything that happened since. By the time they walked through his door, Jared’s mom was up to speed.
“Well, you’ve got quite the mess to work out, don’t you?” His mom had kept quiet until he finished the story before affirming what Jared already suspected.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Jared admitted.
“It sounds like you need a new agent for starters.” His mom scrunched up her nose. “I never liked that man but your father thought that he was the best to get you what you needed and deserved, whatever that means.”
“He’s very good at his job,” Jared pointed out, “but he doesn’t give a shit about anything else.”
“Sounds like it,” his mom noted. “Do you have any leads?”
“A.J. gave me a list and, as it turns out, one of the agents represents Xander and Trent Roberts. They like her a lot and she played basketball with A.J. so she understands the life of an athlete more than Derek ever could,” Jared explained. “I gave her a call and she’s actually open to meet with you tomorrow. I arranged for a spa day and you’ll just casually get to meet with her. I hope that’s okay?”
His Mom’s eyebrows shot up. “When did you learn to be so devious?”
“I learned from my agent,” Jared said bitterly. “I can’t be seen taking a meeting with another agent, can I? Derek has eyes and ears everywhere. But, if you were to casually bump into her at a spa and have a conversation, there’s nothing nefarious about that.”
“Okay, so what do I do?” his mom asked. “I mean, I’m more than happy to help but I don’t know what say.”
“Just talk to her, see what you think. Tell her my story.” Jared practically begged, he needed to figure something out soon. It wouldn’t work to fire Derek without a back up option with opening day just around the corner.
“I can do that.” His mom seemed uncertain.
“Mom, just think about what I need to be successful and see if she is willing to take me on as a client. That’s it.” Jared simplified it a bit but, basically, that was all he was asking of her.
“I’ll do it, honey, if that’s all I have to do, I can manage it.” His mom grinned at him. “I’m really proud of you.”
“Be proud if I pull this off.” Jared sighed. “There’s so much left to sort out. Matt says it’s going to be tough to land a trade and I don’t see a way to get A.J. to move here if she won’t even talk to me so I need a trade.”
“Then, let’s just take one step at a time.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “You can do this, Jared Jackson. If this is what you want, then I know you will make it happen.”
**
“I really like her, Jared.” His mom looked younger after her day at the spa, or maybe not so much younger as refreshed. Curled on his couch in lounge pants with a cup of tea, she recounted her meeting with Ameryst Rice. “She’s sharp and motivated. I think she will be fair.”
“So she agreed?” Jared asked again, still waiting for the bottom to fall out of his plan.
“Yes, honey. She’s more than happy to take you on.” His mom sipped at her tea to hide a smile. “She was surprised you were interested in her firm at all. They don’t have any big names.”
“Xander Tate is pretty big,” Jared argued.
“I don’t think that’s what she meant. They aren’t used to the media circus that has been your trademark,” his mom plucked at a raveling on her pants, “but I explained that you were looking to trade out of that lifestyle and she didn’t even seem surprised.”
“Good. Then, we just need to figure out timing and how we are going to make this work. I need to prove that I can play this year before another team is going to want to take a risk on me,” Jared explained for his Mom’s benefit. “But if I do well then the Panthers are not going to want to let me go and I still have two years left on my contract.”
“But you could be traded during the season, right?” his mom asked, struggling to understand the business aspect of the game.
“Yes, it’s possible, but it means I have to play lights out for the first few games, manage to fire Derek, hire Ameryst, and have her work some real magic before the trade deadline.” Jared counted off the steps on his fingers. “It’s not going to be easy.”
“Nothing worthwhile ever is,” his mom remarked. “And it sounds like you’ve already made up your mind.”
“I have,” Jared said firmly. “I know where I’m supposed to be now, Mom.”
“Then, I guess you have all the motivation you need to play great football in your first few games.” His mom shrugged. “The rest is up to everybody els
e.”
“She’s still not returning my calls.” Jared checked his phone every five minutes hoping to hear something from A.J. “What do I do about that?”
“Keep trying,” his mom said simply. “Have you sent flowers?”
“A.J. is not really the ‘flowers’ type.” Jared had already thought of that and discounted the idea. “She’s more of the under the radar, picnic lunch in the park kind of woman.”
“I see.” His mom contemplated this. “So maybe you need to visit her?”
“How? There’s no way I can go anywhere now,” Jared grumbled. “I’m practically being stalked.”
“It’s not that bad. And, if you can get rid of Derek then some of that may go away,” his mom pointed out. “Don’t you have any games near her?”
“Yeah, we play in Nashville week four,” Jared answered dully, it seemed so far away.
“That time will fly. Maybe it would give you the chance to plan something big,” his mom suggested. “It sounds like that might be what you need to win her over.”
“But what? I don’t even know why she won’t talk to me.” Jared frowned, all the progress he made was lost in a few days.
“Didn’t you say you have friends there? Why not reach out to them? Have them here for a game and see if they’ll help.” His mom smiled. “It’s not like you to give up so easily.”
Jared glared at her. “I didn’t say I’m giving up. I’m just trying to figure out how to get her to listen. I mean, none of this was my fault. I didn’t arrange any of it. It was all Derek.”
“But this used to be your life.” His mom could spell things out from another perspective like nobody else he knew. “How is she to know that you didn’t up and leave to return here to the life you’ve been living for the past few years? Everything that has happened since you left is what you would have done before your injury. She has no way of knowing how you really feel.”
“That’s why I’m trying to call her. And text her. And email her,” Jared grumbled. “I was even thinking of writing her a letter.”
“It couldn’t hurt.” His mom tilted her head as if listening for something. “Did you hear that?”
They both went still. Sure enough, there were voices outside in the yard. Nobody was supposed to be able to get in without the passcode for the gated community but Jared had found fans in his yard on more than one occasion. He crept across the room toward the front door, careful to avoid the windows even though they were all covered with blackout curtains.
“I saw a woman in there with him,” one voice hissed.
“So what, why is that a story?” The other voice, huskier, didn’t even try to whisper.
“Because, if he went and got married while he was gone we wanna be the first ones to publish it, stupid,” the first voice hissed again.
Jared rolled his eyes, plastered on his media-friendly grin, and flung the front door open.
“Actually guys, it’s my mom visiting for the weekend. If you’d like to meet her, we can arrange breakfast in the morning but I’d love a little mother-son time tonight.”
The two voices slunk into the light and he recognized them as tabloid reporters. They reminded him of Frog and Toad from the children’s stories. One was taller and slimmer with slicked back hair like a mobster and the other looked just like a toad, squat with a smashed face and ruddy complexion. They looked like you would expect tabloid writers to look.
Frog looked sheepish. “Sorry, Jump. We must’ve got some bad information.”
“Yeah, I’d say so.” Jared grinned wider. “I really don’t think if I had a secret wife that she would have been too keen on me attending that party the other night with Kyra, do you?”
“But you couldn’t have taken a secret wife to that party,” Frog pointed out.
“Do you really think that I would have a secret wife? How many secrets have I kept from you guys over the years?” Jared countered.
“We heard you went to a wedding though, Jump.” The hiss came from Toad.
“I did attend a wedding,” Jared admitted, “but it was not for me, it was for the youngest daughter of my driver. He was a good guy and asked me to attend for his daughter who’s a huge fan of the Panthers. The man drove me around for weeks, it was the least I could do.”
“Man, Jump, now I feel like an asshole.” Toad shifted uncomfortably.
“Nah, don’t feel that way. I get it, you boys are just doing your job,” Jared said diplomatically, “but I assure you, I am not married and the only woman in my house right now is my Mother. She had a relaxing day at the spa and I have promised her a relaxing evening so if you want to talk to her, unfortunately, you’ll have to wait for morning.”
“That’s okay, Jump. We’ll just head out.” Frog tugged at Toad’s arm. “Sorry, again.”
“Have a good night, guys.” Jump waved them off and disappeared back into his house. His mom hadn’t moved from the couch but her eyes danced with mirth. “Derek has got to go.”
“I think that would be wise,” his mom agreed. “They’re probably not the last ones we’ll see this weekend, huh?”
“I doubt it.” Jared flopped on the couch opposite his mother.
“Awesome.” His mom frowned. “Honey, what if you write A.J. a letter explaining everything and inviting her and her sister to join you for the game in Nashville. You could have your friend Rick and his family attend so there would just be one big group.”
Jared contemplated this. “That may work. I am sure I can get a lot of tickets from the team for that game. Not many people have family or friends who live near Nashville. It would be great to have a crowd there.”
“It may help your case for a trade to Nashville,” his mom added. “If it looks like you have a crowd, I mean.”
“You’re right, Mom.” Jared smiled his real smile, the kind that reached his eyes. “It could work. If she will even read my letter.” Then he had an even better idea. “Mom, I think I know a way to make sure A.J. shows up at that game.”
“What do you have in mind?” His mom arched an eyebrow, suspicious.
“Let’s just say, I have a lot of friends that would love to see their first professional football game.” Jared knew it would take a lot of work to make it happen but he knew it would be worthwhile if he pulled it off.
Chapter11
“Are you sure about this, Jump?” Trey asked for the third time as they walked out of the stadium.
“Yeah, man. I’m good,” Jared assured his teammate.
“It’s gonna be a great party, lots of fine ladies around.” Trey had been trying to entice Jared to join him for some post-victory partying.
“Have fun, Trey,” Jared laughed, “but not too much fun.”
“Fair enough, bro.” Trey took off down toward the others as they argued over who would drive and piled into a few cars.
Jared sauntered over to his Camaro and tossed the duffel into the passenger seat. He surveyed the crowd screaming at him from beyond the wrought iron gates, grateful his mom had stayed at the house. A few of his teammates, Xander and Trent included, were already signing autographs but most of the crowd seemed to be clamoring for his attention now.
Riding the high from their victory and his triumphant return to football, Jared knew he couldn’t avoid the crowd and hope to maintain his fan base. He grabbed one of his token green Sharpies from the cup holder and headed across the lot toward the fans, careful to catch the kids first.
“Hey, Jump! Can I get your autograph?” A young kid, probably middle school-aged with a head of curls similar to his own caught his eye first.
“Absolutely, what’s your name?” Jared offered up his lop-sided grin.
“Brett,” the kid gushed. “You played a great game, one of the best I’ve seen and I’ve seen a lot!”
Jared chuckled. “Thanks, it wasn’t too bad. You play football?”
“Yeah, I’m a cornerback,” Brett said sheepishly.
“Have you met Xander Tate yet? He’s one of the be
st in the league,” Jared said, noticing his friend a few paces down the line. “You should definitely look up to him.” He winked at the kid, handed back the program, and moved on.
“Great game, Jump!” Another kid stepped up and handed him a football. “My name’s Chris, with a C-H, not just a C.”
“Okay, Chris with a C-H,” Jared confirmed and scrawled a message on the ball with his own name and number attached.
Kids came and went, sprinkled with adults looking for memorabilia to sell but Jared smiled and talked with each one, casually working his way closer to Xander and Trent who were known for spending time at the fence after games – win or lose. A few women stepped closer and asked Jared to sign their breasts, nothing new but not quite as exciting as it used to be. Xander laughed beside him as the cameras flashed to commemorate the moments. Jared took it all in stride, answered questions about his recovery, much as he had during the post-game press conferences, but it felt sort of empty. He didn’t know how long he was out there before Derek walked up with security and put an end to the autograph session.
