The first week after the press conference was brutal.
Sebastian thought he was ready for the backlash. He had been in the public eye for years. He had faced criticism, boos, bad press. But this was different. This was personal.
The first teammate to turn was a veteran named Harris. He had been with the Storm for a decade. Sebastian had looked up to him.
“I do not have a problem with you personally,” Harris said in the locker room. “But this is a distraction. We are trying to win games.”
Sebastian kept his voice steady. “My personal life does not affect my play.”
“Everything affects your play and you know that.”
Harris walked away. Other teammates avoided eye contact. The locker room felt colder than it had before.
Louie sat down next to Sebastian. “Harris is an ass.”
“He is not wro
