POV: Liam

The letter sat on Jake's coffee table like a bomb waiting to explode.

Due to your violent conduct during the championship game, you are hereby suspended from all team activities for five games, effective immediately. Furthermore, your status as team captain will not be reinstated. This incident will be noted on your permanent athletic record.

Five games. Five games that college scouts would be watching. Five games where someone else would be wearing my jersey number, playing my position, living my dream.

"It could be worse," Jake said from the kitchen. "At least they didn't kick you off permanently."

"Might as well have." I crumpled the letter and...