Removed as captain. Replaced by someone you know

Darcy

“I’m sorry. This is the latest information.”

Coach Lee’s voice rang through my ear like a fever dream.

My nails dug into the seat in front of me, veins popping as I stared at Coach Lee, who had just said words that flashed my life before my eyes. His head was down, scribbling into a piece of paper like none of it mattered.

“I can’t believe anything you say, Coach. You don’t want me as captain?” My chest rumbled at the words that hurt more than last night’s rough pleasure.

How could I get the benefits if I wasn’t in front of the team? I wouldn’t even get to snuggle things with me because basically, no one gives a non-captain the key to the safes.

Coach Lee finally raised his eyes from the table. His eyes were tired—not the kind from lack of sleep, but the kind that screamed *how I wish you could get the fuck out*.

“It’s not my doing, Williams. The board raised it and I have no say about it. They said the team needs a different kind of leadership this season.”

“The board? Who the fuck are they? I won several trophies for the team and I never heard about any board, but now they had to come in to remove me?” The words tore out of my throat, sore and dry.

I expected Lee to say something. I thought he would defend me. But his expression was blank, like he’d been in a meeting with them to cut my legs out from under me.

My eyes burned. I almost cried as I stared at him, my chest burning with anger and something more. “Coach.”

“I’ll see you later. Go back to training.”

I picked up my skating blades with slumped shoulders. The door shut behind me and I leaned against it for a second. Just like that. Go back to training, like it meant anything now.

I didn’t know which hurt more—the sudden news or the pain in my ass. Both hurt like hell.

Fuck.

This was gonna cost me another broke year. Hockey captaincy came with favors and freedom, but here I was, discarded like I wasn’t on scholarship, like I wasn’t trying to cope in a school filled with bullies who already treated me like I didn’t belong.

“Fuck you, Coach. Fuck all the board.” I cursed under my breath, trudging toward the team locker.

My footsteps quieted when I heard the boys jab and lock hands. Their voices were a mix of contempt and mockery. It always was. I was always the object of scorn.

“He’s probably going to cry to his mama now. That loser sucks like crazy.” Peter snorted with mocking gestures.

“Captain is no fit for him. Dude’s so feisty and cute like a doll.” Brian purred.

“You’re crazy! Cute? So you’re gay too?” Trey’s foot scraped the floor as he trudged toward Brian, who already cowered back in fear.

My fingers clenched at my side, trying to swallow every growing nerve, but I couldn’t. I marched forward with heavy knees.

“Touch him and I’ll break your hand.”

Trey turned with a smirk. “Little ex-captain. That wouldn’t work on me anymore.” His smile stretched too wide—he actually looked like a pig smiling. He let go of Isaac’s collar and walked slowly toward me.

“People like you always say that. What, does saying that make you feel bigger?” I scoffed, folding my arms into a defensive stance.

I didn’t run away. I never did. Even when Trey was twice my size, I still stood there, contemplating which side of the cheek I’d turn to him that wouldn’t hurt.

“You’re one to talk, gay bastard. Is your mama proud of you?” Trey opened his mouth again with an ugly smirk.

My chest tightened. “I don’t have a mama, you phony.” I lunged, fisting him into the wall. “Don’t act like a saint. Even if you fuck every girl on the team, no one would cheer for you. And besides, no one would look at that ugly, fat, stupid face of yours.” My teeth bared as I said it to his face.

The locker room became lively again—knocking tables and slapping arms.

A punch landed on my face. Trey’s expression turned ice-cold, his face flushed. My eyes spun as I tasted metal in my mouth.

The heat on my jaw made my eyes wet. I couldn’t let him look down on me. With a sharp turn I made to return the favor, but his hands caught mine.

“Don’t you dare. Unless you want to be off the team completely.”

I forced my hand free. I didn’t care about the board. I didn’t care about any person. But still my hand didn’t go up again. My glare stayed on him as I panted, fists folded.

Everyone became silent as we did the stare-down. Trey’s grinning face made my fist itch.

“You’re scared?” he grinned wider, like a senseless wolf.

I didn’t answer. I just kept staring until the sound from the door pulled me away.

“Coach Lee calls, ex-captain,” the guy said from the door.

No one knew what that ex-captain title did to me. I moved my legs, almost sluggishly. My jaw still pulsed from the punch.

It made me remember last night—the touch, the whisper, the roughness… everything. It still felt like a dream. Gawd, what shit have I put myself into. I don’t even know this dude but he keeps popping into my brain. That was why I’d stolen his bracelet. I saw it on the hotel room table earlier, after he was gone. I took it and I had the intention of selling it, but I couldn’t.

A very stupid part of me still wanted to keep it.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I picked it up. An unknown text from an unknown number sat there.

*Return My Bracelet*

My heart hammered in my ribcage. I held the phone to my chest for a second, like I was protecting it from prying eyes.

When I looked at it again—the text was gone. Like gone gone. How the—

All I knew was that it was only one person who texts this way—who deletes messages after sending. And I’d forgotten that person three years ago, and he’d probably forgotten me too. Fair enough. There was no freaking way it was Grayson, maybe two people could have the same useless personally.

My chest tightened as I stared at the screen, secretly hoping the text would write itself again. It never did.

I was an idiot.

I stood outside Coach Lee’s office for a moment longer than I needed to. My hand hovered over the door handle. Who knows what he wanted to tell me. It was surely not good news.

I took a deep breath and walked in. To my surprise, he wasn’t alone. Another guy with braided hair sat opposite him—back to me, a limited-edition jacket, and earrings that screamed *I’m not ordinary*.

My pulse increased. Why did he have to look familiar?

“Have a seat, Williams. A lot needs to be done.” Coach drew me out of my daze.

My stomach dropped. My legs couldn’t stay still any longer because I couldn’t keep my eyes off the braided guy.

“Williams?” Coach Lee raised a brow.

Damn it.

“I—”

“He asked you to sit, Darcy. Why are you squirming?”

The guy turned. His teeth were perfect when he smirked. His charcoal-grey eyes were distant yet smiling. And the way he raised his eyebrows made my knees go weak.

Grayson?

I suddenly couldn’t feel the air in the room. It was really him.

“What are you doing here?” My voice was so shaky I didn’t even catch what I’d said.

“I guess you miss me too, wifey.” His smirk was cruel. The way he said it made him look like the devil himself.

“Gray—”

“Don’t call my name. You have no right.” The grin didn’t leave his face.

I stood rooted to my spot. My body ached to make a move, to say something, but the weight of everything I’d done in the past made my bones stuck to the ground. I couldn’t look past that cruelty in his charcoal eyes—that fierce gaze I’d always fancied in the past, now hunting me down.

My life was already hell.

And he was about to make it worse without even trying.