by Lacey Legend
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.
“These are great seats!” Ally exclaimed. “I can’t believe he did this!”
“I don’t even want to know how he pulled this off,” Rick commented as he scooted past them to join Marie.
“Alex! Look, it’s Jared!” Jaida shrieked and pointed, not that anybody in that stadium needed to alert her to his presence.
“Calm down,” A.J. said out of the side of her mouth as the row in front of them turned to look. “Sorry,” she apologized to the Nashville fans.
“You’re the group that’s here for Jump Jackson, right?” one of the guys asked.
“Um, yeah, I guess we are,” A.J. answered. “Why?”
“Awesome! We heard how y’all helped him get back in the game,” the guy said.
“You heard how?” A.J. probed.
“It’s all over the news.” The guy nodded toward the field. “He did a short interview about thirty minutes ago. The press ate it up, said he’s gonna play a hell of a game today for the kids.”
“He did, did he?” A.J.’s suspicion grew; it was just a show after all. He was just using them for more publicity.
“Yeah, he gave a great speech and said some of his medical team would be here, too.” The guy looked at her quizzically. “did I say something wrong?”
“No, no you didn’t.” A.J. frowned. “He’s just about what I expected him to be.”
“A great guy?” the Nashville fan asked. “Cuz that’s what everybody around here is sayin’ about him.”
“Really?” A.J. wasn’t convinced.
“Yeah, he’s all kinds of grateful and says he can’t wait to hang out with y’all after the game. Rumor is that he has something planned for after the game.” The Nashville fan shrugged. “Nobody knows what because he’s worked real hard to keep it a secret but my cousin works for the team and he says there’s all kinds of whisperin’ goin’ on and his agent was here yesterday.”
“His agent was here?” A.J. practically choked. Ameryst was in Nashville and didn’t call her?
“Yep,” the Nashville fan nodded seriously, “but that’s all I know. I hope y’all enjoy the game, I’m gonna go grab me some food before kickoff.” He took off with a few of his buddies leaving A.J. to process these new developments.
“You weren’t supposed to know about all that,” Jaida whispered. “It’s a surprise.”
“I hate surprises,” A.J. whispered back.
“Not this one,” Jaida said smugly. “I think you’ll like it.”
“Jaida, are you sure this isn’t just a big publicity stunt?” A.J. watched Jared warm up. Had he seen her? Should she stand up? Try to go see him? Ignore him completely and run away? Her palms were sweating.
“Alex, will you just relax and enjoy the game?” Jaida reprimanded her. “Stop being so suspicious. Who cares why he did this? Look at the kids. This is fun. Besides, I am pretty sure he did this because he loves you. That’s why we’re all here.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty positive he is desperately in love with you, A.J.,” Ally added. “Give the guy a break, okay? You heard what that guy said. When the opposing team thinks you’re awesome, you pretty much rock the world.”
A.J. had to admit that it all seemed pretty great. The kids were really having a great time and even though a few parents were clearly anxious, it seemed to be a pretty great experience for them. The squeals of delight rippled through the entire end zone and A.J. noticed that several of the locals were chatting with their group, much as the guy in front of her had.
“The game’s about to start!” Jaida exclaimed as the teams lined up for kick off.
A.J. had seen Jared’s first few games, impressed at how well he played, but nothing prepared her for seeing him in person. He ran faster and jumped higher than A.J. though humanly possible after an injury like his. Every hit made her cringe, worried that they’d hit his bad leg. No, his leg is healed, it’s not bad anymore, she reminded herself each time. Then she’d recoil again the next time he was hit. Why did it affect her so much? Wasn’t she over him? Hadn’t she convinced herself that she was better without him?
Halfway through the second quarter, the Panthers lined up at the fifteen in a spread formation so that Jared was directly in front of her. The play unfolded in slow motion, or it felt that way in her mind as Jared leapt to catch the pass in the back of the end zone and was hit as he came down.
A.J.’s heart skipped a beat as she waited for him to get up. The safety who’d made the tackle peeled off him and Jared held the ball up. Both referees called the touchdown but Jared didn’t get up. A.J. grabbed Ally by the arm, stricken. Jared rocked up and leaned forward as if winded. She couldn’t tell what he was doing, was he hurt?
Jared popped upright, winked, and tossed the ball to her. A.J. caught it automatically, more of a reflex than anything. She fell into her chair, folded her arms over the ball and put her head down. A.J. choked back the sobs that threatened to let loose.
“A.J.?” Ally nudged her. “Hey, he’s okay.”
“I know.�
�� A.J. lifted her head. “What was he doing?”
Ally shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe some new end zone dance?”
A.J. looked at the ball, turned it over in her hands. Something was written on it. He was writing on the ball, that’s what he was doing. A.J. couldn’t help but smile. Jared was good, really good.
“What?” Ally asked.
“He wrote on the ball,” A.J. explained and held it out for her friend, “see?”
“What the hell does that mean?” Ally studied it.
“It’s an inside joke,” A.J. replied. “I think you guys may be right about him.”
“It’s about damn time, sheesh” Jaida chimed in.
“Hey! Watch your mouth!” A.J. teased her sister. Maybe things would work out alright after all. A.J. looked at her football and traced the question he’d written. “Convinced?”
**
“That was amazing!” Jaida’s eyes danced with excitement as they were ushered toward their meeting with Jared.
“Yeah, it was pretty great,” A.J. admitted, still clinging to her football.
“Right this way.” The portly usher had collected them at the end of the fourth quarter and insisted they accompany him so they could meet with Jared after the game. They were escorted to a large press room that seemed prepped for a Nashville Cougars press conference, not the L.A. Panthers.
A.J. asked the usher but he claimed to be doing exactly what he was told. They were given seats in the back of the room, behind a few members of the press who’d apparently been too bored by the blow-out on the field to watch the end of it.
“Jump looks great,” one of the reporters said to nobody in particular.
“Yeah, who knew an injury like that could change a guy so much?” another chimed in.
“Anybody know what this is all about?” A woman walked in, seemingly bored by what she found there. A.J. recognized her and shrunk behind Rick’s family. Gloria Castle. She loathed that bitch and her tendency to gossip. It took everything in her to not hit her once before, A.J. really hoped she didn’t give her a reason today.
“Some big story, apparently.” The first reporter attempted to sound bored but the simple fact that he’d selected a seat in the front row betrayed his eagerness to land whatever story they were cooking up.
“Nobody knows anything?” Gloria pressed, clearly annoyed she didn’t have them all scooped.
“Nope, it’s been real hush, hush. We’ve been waiting, hoping to get a clue, but nothin’ exciting has happened other than Jump’s fan section.” The chatty reporter gestured toward their corner. Gloria’s eyes followed but she dismissed them almost immediately. Apparently a group of sick kids wasn’t flashy enough for Gloria Castle’s column.
A.J. watched the mousy woman scrutinize her competition and ultimately settle in a folding chair at the end of an unoccupied row. Gloria flipped out her notepad, ever the old school reporter, and crossed her plump, veiny legs. A.J. longed to throw something at her but opted to hug her football tighter instead.
The room filled up, several faces that A.J. recognized entered the mix. She began to realize that whatever this press conference was about, it must be pretty big because some of the most recognizable names in sports journalism were clamoring to find a spot in the room. Finally, a PR rep from Nashville strolled in and took a seat at the table. “We’ll be starting in a few minutes, folks. We ask that you hold all questions until the end. Thank you.” The rep slid over to the furthest chair and watched the door he’d just come through.
A ruddy-faced man with sprouts of white hair over his ears emerged from that same door a few moments later sending a wave of whispers through the room. A.J. leaned forward, she knew that face well enough, none other than Nashville Cougars head coach, Bill Davies. She nudged Ally who just raised her eyebrows in response.
Davies took the seat beside his PR rep and greeted the room with his warm, southern drawl. “Hey, y’all, thanks for sticking around today. I promise it’ll be worth yer while.” He paused as if trying to catch his breath, then continued with an easy grin. “It’s a bear gettin’ old, ain’t it? I’m about as old as they come in this league and I recently got some bad news.” Davies paused again, the PR rep patted his shoulder encouragingly. “It turns out that smoking is real bad for you.”
Nervous titters rippled through the crowd as the room began to understand what was coming. Several of the more seasoned reporters hung their heads.
“I have stage IV lung cancer and after discussing options with my family and the team,” Coach Davies sucked in a breath, “I’ve decided that it’s time for me to retire and spend what time I have left with my family.” Davies raised a hand as the crowd threatened to erupt in objections and questions. “Now, I’m not done, y’all. I’m plannin’ to leave the Cougars in capable hands and thanks to the negotiations by our owner and our GM, I’m pleased to announce my replacement as none other than Bill Smith from L.A.”
Coach Smith stepped through the door on cue and took the seat beside Coach Davies. He grinned at the crowd and addressed them with his usual air of authority. “I have to admit that I was surprised to get the call from Coach Davies because I expected him to coach football until the end of time. Bill Davies taught me everything I know about coaching football and I am honored to succeed him in this position.”
Hands shot up in the audience but Coach Davies waved them off. “Now, now, in case you haven’t noticed, there are two empty chairs at the end of this table and I am to fill them before I leave so if y’all will give me just a few more moments of your time I’d be much obliged.” The hands all went down.
“A wise man once told me that you should always bring a gift when you sign on with a new team,” Coach Smith began, “and I have always honored that tradition. So, today, as I take on the role of Head Coach of the Nashville Cougars, I bring with me two phenomenal offensive weapons who I hope will help get us to the playoffs.” Coach Smith paused. “Please welcome your new Nashville Cougars, tight end Trent Roberts and wide receiver Jared “Jump” Jackson.”
A.J. clapped a hand over her mouth as Jared burst through the door and popped up to the table followed by the other man who she vaguely recognized. The crowd around them erupted into a flurry of questions and flailing hands, all vying for attention.
“Now calm down, everybody, one at a time.” Jared smiled his 1,000-watt grin at the crowd. “I’m sure you all have a lot of great questions but my man, Trent and I can’t hear you if you ask them all at once.” Jared gave them a few minutes to collect themselves, flashes snapped and he just kept grinning at them. Once they stopped yelling questions, he continued. “Now, I’m sure you’re wondering why we made this move. Trent can tell his own story, but for me, it’s about a woman.”
The crowd erupted again. A.J. scrunched into a ball in her seat, wrapped around the football. Her group ignored the media circus and focused on her instead, very aware of which woman Jared was referring to.
“He’s talking about you, Alex!” Jaida whispered excitedly in her ear. “C'mon, sit up. Don’t hide back here!”
“Oh! You want to know who she is?” Jared’s voice carried back to them. “I don’t think she’d like the way you’d treat her so I’ll just keep it quiet for a while if you don’t mind.”
“C’mon, Jump! We’ve seen all your flames!” a voice called out from the other side of the room.
“My man, there haven’t been any other flames. This woman is the only woman, period,” Jared said firmly into the microphone in front of him. “And anybody who says otherwise is perpetuating the lies set out by my former manager, who, in case you haven’t heard, is facing several charges for his illegal actions.
“If you have any questions about the lady in my life, please feel free to refer them to my agent, Ameryst Rice. In the meantime, I would ask that you respect my privacy as I make the move to my new team and try to get things moving with the lovely woman who sparked this transition.”
“Where are you going to live, J
ump?” another voice chimed in.
“Now, I’m not stupid enough to tell you that. And I can assure you that my new agent’s not so easy to buy off.” Using his hand, he shielded his eyes and scanned the crowd. “Ah! There they are! If you will excuse me, I have a very special group of kids here and I’d really like to take them out on the field if you don’t mind.” Jared stood, shook hands with both coaches, patted Trent on the back and pushed through the throng of writers until he reached their group.
Rick stepped forward and embraced him. “Well done, Jay, well done.”
“Thanks, Rick.” Jared grinned, he looked so relaxed. “Now, how’s about we go out on the field and have a little fun?”
Jared led the way, ushered the whole group out of the room and ignored the media begging for his attention. It occurred to A.J. that he was really making a statement with this. The media would never forgive him for this, would never look at him the same way. A.J. fell into step behind Jared who was already chatting happily with Ally’s brother, Paul.
