“Good luck,” Ashton says. “Text me when you’re done.”
“I will.”
I walk to his office like I'm walking toward my own execution.
I knock once and push the door open.
Coach is behind his desk. Next to him is the athletic director, a woman in her fifties named Dr. Patricia Reeves, whom I've met exactly twice. She looks no happier than Coach.
"Sit," Coach says.
I sit.
For a long moment, neither of them says anything. They just stare at me as if I'm something they scraped off the bottom of their shoes.
Finally, Coach leans forward. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I wasn't."
"That's obvious."
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Mr. Hayes." Dr. Reeves speaks for the first time, her voice sharp. "You assaulted another student at a party. There are witnesses. Video evidence. The other student's parents are considering pressing charges."
My blood runs cold. "Charges?"
"Yes. Charges. As in criminal charges." She pinches her lips together. "You're lucky Connor decided not to involve the police. Yet. But that could change. And if it does, you're not just off the team. You're expelled."
I feel like I can't breathe. This is worse than I thought. So much worse.
"You're on probation," Coach says. "Effective immediately. One more incident—and I mean anything—and you're benched for the rest of the season. No playoffs. No scouts. No NHL. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"I don't think you do." He stands up, walking around the desk to lean against it, arms crossed. “You were this close to getting an offer. But now? Now they're seeing a liability. You think they want that kind of player on their roster?"
"No, sir."
"Damn right they don't." He shakes his head. "I've been coaching for twenty years. I've seen talented kids throw away their futures for stupider reasons. But you? You're smarter than this. Or at least I thought you were."
The disappointment in his voice hurts. It’s worse than the disappointment I usually get from my dad.
"You're going to apologize to Connor," Dr. Reeves says. "Publicly. And you're going to complete twenty hours of community service. Consider it a gift. Because the alternative is suspension."
"I'll do it. Whatever you need."
"Good." She stands. "Don't make me regret giving you this chance, Mr. Hayes. Because you won't get another one."
She leaves. Coach watches her go, then turns back to me.
"Get out of my office. And get your head straight."
I leave his office feeling like the biggest idiot on the planet.
My phone buzzes as I walk across campus.
It's my dad. Again.
