Suspended

CASPIAN POV

His statement snaps me back to reality as the floor seems to fall from beneath my feet.

This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to avoid. But here we are,my heart crawling into my throat at hearing the consequences all the same.

“Suspend me for something I didn’t do?”

His lips form a tight line, and then he sighs. “I have to until I can prove you aren’t using, kiddo. My hands are tied. You have to realize it’s my ass on the line too, especially with the way the sports league is cracking down after the shit that happened with the rival team. I look between the three of them again, unsure where to go from here.

But from the solemn expressions aimed at me, there’s nothing to do but accept the punishment.

There has to be something that can be done. Anything.

I’m damn near getting on my knees and begging at this point.

Because this can’t be the way my hockey career ends. No team in the League would dare touch me if this catches wind and I’m suspended for drug use.

Drugs I didn’t even fucking use to begin with.

That won’t matter to them, though. This would be a black mark on the resume I’ve been building since the first time I put on skates as a kid.

Dejected and defeated, I cradle my head in my hands.

“But…” he says, trailing off.

That one word breathes new life into me, and I lift my head. “Please tell me that’s the good kind of but and not the kind that will make this even worse.”

The coach lets out a bark of laughter, eyes softening around the edges. "We can get you retested. Today, before we start talks of complete ineligibility.

After all, if you were a habitual user, the drugs would still be in your system. And if that doesn’t work, we’ll submit an appeal on your behalf.

Like I said, I don’t think you did this. The last thing I want to see is you being punished for someone else’s mistake, if that’s truly what this is.”

“None of us do,” Coach Daniel's one of the assistants cuts in.

“That’s good,” I breathe, letting out a sigh of relief. “That’s really good.”

The coach nods. “We still can’t let you play until the second set of tests come back hopefully, negative at the very least. Which could very well be another week. But it’s better than nothing.”

“Better than nothing,” I repeat, feeling a small amount of hope blossoming in my chest.

It’s all gonna be fine. I’ll test negative and the appeal will go through and everything will be back to the way it was before I pissed in that damn cup.

I’m too busy chanting silent prayers to listen in on what the three discuss among themselves. After all, if this has been my luck lately, I’m gonna need all the help I can get. Especially from the hockey players.

But something Coach says snags my attention, causing my hair to stand on end.

“Get Orlov in here for me, will you?” Coach says to Coach Daniel's, who nods and exits the office silently.

“Orlov?” The dread in my gut returns. He’s the last person I want to see or talk to me right now. “What’s he got to do with this?”

Coach sighs, like he always does when the bastard and I are involved. It’s not like we’ve made it easy on him these last few years, and honestly, I’m sure he's ready to be rid of us. Even if Dmitry is  his own cousin.

“We need another captain on the ice while you’re on temporary suspension,” he says just as the door opens again, revealing Dmitry and Coach Daniel's .

“Suspension?” he  says, clearly catching the tail end of his cousin's sentence. His eyes land on me while the door clicks shut behind him.

“What’s going on?”

“You’ll be taking over as captain, Boy . Effective immediately,” Coach says gruffly, and I flick my attention back to him to find his attention still

locked on me.

Another rush of embarrassment floods me, even though I know Coach is on my side in this and more importantly I did nothing wrong. There’s absolutely no circumstance where I’d ever think of using any kind of drugs.

Dmitry steps further into the room, and I feel his stare burning the side of my face like a white-hot brand. Penetrating, even. Like I’m as transparent as glass.

When I maintain my silence, keeping my stare directly on Coach who is watching us like a hawk, Dmitry  lets out a bark of laughter.

“What’d you do this time?”

I try not to give him my attention or let him get under my skin, but the freedom in his laugh and taunting tone ignites a fuse inside me. Hard not to, when this jackass is being handed everything I’ve worked for, and for no real reason.

But I cave, letting my gaze collide with his, boring into each other. I know mine have to be showcasing every bit of rage and defeat coursing through my veins, because Dmitry's eyes narrow, like he’s reading the silence between us to figure out just why—

“You tested positive,” he says. Not a question; just an incredulous statement. When I don’t respond, a shit-eating grin slides across his face.

“Damn, Beckett. I knew you were reckless, but I didn’t know you were stupid too.”

“Bite me,” I snap between clenched teeth.

“I’m good, thanks,” he retorts before letting out another laugh. “I just wanna know why. Because even you have to be smart enough to know Drowse shrinks your dick.”

My lips curl up in what has to be a sneer. “It’s actually your balls that shrink, Orlov, but regardless, your concern for what I’m packing is duly noted.”

He  goes to open his mouth again, a flare of red tinting his cheeks at my inadvertent comment about his sexuality. Which…I’ll admit, was tacky.

But it’s too late to take it back now.

“Cut it out  The both of you,” Coach bites out, for which I’m grateful.

This entire situation already has me on edge, and Dmitry  running his mouth like the jackass he is, antagonizing me for sport, will only make

things are worse. Which could lead me into even more trouble if I let my temper get the best of me.

Biting my tongue is the safest option, so I do just that. To the point of blood filling my mouth. And though it kills me, I don’t use the moment of silence granted by Coach to correct Dmitry's assumptions. He doesn’t need the specifics as it is.Nor does he deserve them.

The coach's eyes drift between us, studying and analyzing in a way that makes me feel almost naked. And again, transparent.

Guess that’s a family trait.

“The two of you need to get it together. I haven’t said anything until now because I was hopeful that putting you on the same line this season would help you find some common ground. Apparently that’s not working, so I need the two of you to actively find a way to fix your shit. Am I clear?”

He doesn’t even have to leave a threat hanging over our heads like an executioner’s blade. Simply getting chewed out for our little spats is enough

to make both of us straighten our spines and hear what he has to say.

“Crystal,” I murmur at the same time a quick “Yes, sir” comes from Dmitry  I fight the impulse to roll my eyes at him calling his own cousin sir, no doubt to garner more favor with him. Shit, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him

refer to Coach as anything other than just that. Coach.

Damn suck-up.

“Are we done, then?” I ask, looking between the three coaches. When I get the nod, I make a move to get up, ready to get the hell out of here as quickly as possible.

“Okay, great. Well, I’m gonna go get dressed, and then—”

“You can’t suit up, kid,” he tells me, a look of remorse on his face.

“You’ll have to watch from the stands. As a spectator.”

A poorly disguised laugh comes from Dmitry, and I roll my lips inward before clamping my teeth around them to keep from screaming.