Unexpected Mess
1300 Words
Tristan’s POV
Lights flashed blue and red across sweat faces. Music thumped from the speakers in ever corner of the club. Bodies swayed to the music on the dance floor.
I couldn't join in the fun. My whole body was stiff as I sat deep in the VIP. Bottle of expensive drinks littered the table, but I was in no mood to drink. I wouldn't be here at the club if it weren't for Paul. He brought me and some other teammates so I can take the incident off my mind.
"Hey, man. You just been staring all night," Paul said. "Take this."
He handed me a glass of Hennessy. I took a sip and dropped it.
Honestly, I didn't know what came over me that day. I had lost many games in the past, and I didn't react that way. Yes, it was our first loss this season, but I should have stayed calmer. We had more important games ahead.
"Drink up, man," Paul called, raising his voice above the loud music.
"I'm okay like this."
He shrugged and kept conversing with our teammates. I pressed my palm to my forehead and squeezed my face. I wished I could take that moment back.
"You missed an empty netter. Sterling, the flop," the kid had screamed as he flashed his camera in my face on the way to the tunnel, right after the game.
People had said worse to me, something inside me cracked open when he said that. My hand shot out before I even processed what I was trying to do. I struck the phone and it scattered on the floor.
The kid had stumbled back, mouth open in shock. I heard gasps behind me. Nobody expected me to f**k up like that.
Paul waved a redhead in a mini gown over to me. She tried to sit on my laps, but I told her no. I didn't need any woman's company. Heck, I wanted to be all alone!
"What's the point of coming here if you're not going to have fun?" Paul rolled his eyes.
"I don't feel like like it."
“I know your records were clean until now, but a ban is not the end of the world. The playoffs are the most important part, and you'll be back by then."
Carter, another teammate, leaned in. “Paul is right. Shake it off. It's just one bad moment. People forget things very fast."
"I'm sure before the week ends, something will go viral and everyone will move on from what you did."
My phone buzzed against my thigh. I pulled it out. It was a text from Marc, my agent.
I'm at your house. Where are you? We need to talk!
"Guys, I need to go."
"What?" Paul's eyes widened. "We just got here."
"I need to see someone urgently."
Before Paul could protest further, I stood up and headed for the side exit. I squeezed through the crowd and went straight through the service door.
The stinging cold welcomed me as I stepped out of hit like a slap. I got into my car and drove back home.
Marc waited at my door. He wore a black coat that was buttoned to the top. He seemed to have grown more grey hair over the past few days. His eyes had dark circles under them.
“You were clubbing?" he asked.
"I went with some friends so I don't lose my mind," I replied as I opened the door and let him in.
"Wrong move. This might suggest that you don't care about the situation you have created. You shouldn't be seen clubbing now."
"Okay, I'll stay away from there. You said we needed to discuss something urgent?"
He pulled his phone from his pocket and showed me the screen. “Two of your brand partners are threatening to cancel our contract. One wants an email explaining what happened. The other has not even given us a chance to do that."
I rubbed my jaw. “If they want to leave, they can."
“Do you realise what that means?” Marc leaned closer. “More brands with drop you. This is career damage. Sponsors don’t stick around for guys who assault fans on camera. Why the hell did you do it?”
I looked at my fingers. “I don’t know. He was right chatting s**t and shoving the phone in my face. We had just lost and I didn't have a good game. Everything piled up. I just reacted.”
“You assaulted a minor. In front of the whole stadium."
I clenched my jaw. “It won’t happen again.”
“It better not.” He pocketed his phone. “Let's talk about the thirty days of mentoring the kids in the youth hockey center downtown. They are underprivileged kids with low-income families. You have to show up every single day. You will coach them and smile for the cameras. You dare not lose your temper at any point. People are watching you with more scrutiny than before."
"Sure, I'll do it."
“This is a lifeline.” Marc’s eyes narrowed. “Put your soul into it. Right now the world sees a spoiled, angry millionaire who can’t control himself. Show up and prove you’re more than the guy who smashes phones.”
"Yeah, I got it."
"I'll leave now."
"Stay for a drink."
"Nope, I have other meetings this night." He got up and adjusted his coat and stepped out. His doorsteps faded down the hallway.
I leaned back in my chair and pulled out my phone. The screen lit up my face. My phone was crowded with notifications across different social media.
I opened Twitter and saw my name as number one on the trend table. It's been two days and people have not stopped talking about what I did.
One account posted a picture of me in the VIP section of the club. People were already dropping negative comments on it.
Who the hell took that picture?
I was about to exit the app when my eyes caught a tweet from the NHL’s official account.
. . .Tristan Sterling has been removed from the 2026 NHL All-Star Game roster.
"Oh, damn it!"
For four years straight, I was always on the ice with the best during the All-Star Game. And now, I had been dropped. All because of a dumb mistake.
I growled and slammed my fist against the wall.
Pain exploded in my knuckles. I hit the wall harder and my skin tore. I felt warm blood trickling out of the cut.
I was about to punch the wall the third time, but I stopped. What the hell was I doing? I was panting and bleeding.
My hand throbbed like hell. I sat on the floor and
stared at my bloody hand. I had once again let my emotions get the better of me.
"f**k!" I screamed.
I couldn't explain this sudden temper. I was out of the All-Star Game roster and brands were turning their backs on me.
"Is everything okay, sir?" Liam, my chef, rushed in. He must have heard me punching the wall.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I quickly got to my feet.
Liam's eyes widened when he saw the bloodstains on the wall. "Do you want me to. . ."
"Don't worry. It's just an accident. I'll handle it."
Liam reluctantly left and I sighed. My phone buzzed with another text from Marc.
You've been dropped from the All-Star Game. This is why I said it's bigger than you realise. You have to put your all into that the mentorship arrangement. Please don't mess it up.
I read the text over and over again and shook my head. How did I get into this mess?
- Writer
