Page 108 of Bad Teammate
“I just met with the general manager,” he said.
I stopped translating and listened as Derek explained everything to me. The Dallas Devils were ready to move on from Sasha. We had only a half hour to try to change his general manager’s mind.
Sasha could sense something was wrong. He looked to me for answers. “What’s going on? What’s he saying?”
I held up a finger. “Hold on.”
“Frankly,” Derek continued, “I don’t think there’s anything we can say to make him change his mind. And after seeing how he trashed my place, I’m not sureIbelieve Niko can change, either.”
“But there has to be something we can do,” I said. “You heard him—hewantsto quit drinking. He knows it’s a problem and he wants to change.”
“Yeah,” Derek said, “but wanting change isn’t enough. He needs help. In a bad way.”
“What if he enters some kind of rehab program?” I asked. “Wouldn’t that be proof enough that he’s serious?”
“The NHLdoeshave a program to help guys with drinking problems.”Derek stroked his chin, deep in thought. “It’s a thirty-day program. Would he be open to that? It’s probably our only hope.”
I turned to Sasha and quickly explained the trouble he’d gotten himself into, that the team was minutes away from trading him elsewhere.
Sasha frowned. “But I don’t want to go anywhere else. I love it here. We have a great team and the fans are amazing.”
“Then you have to stop drinking and you have to do something to show you’re serious about your sobriety. Derek said the NHL has a rehab program.”
He looked doubtful as he processed this information. “Will I be able to play when I’m in rehab?”
I asked Derek, who shook his head.
“No,” I said, relaying what Derek told me. “It’s an inpatient program. You’ll be there for thirty days.”
“Thirty days,” he muttered sullenly. “That’s a long time.”
My heart sank. I could tell he was getting cold feet. He’d never be able to quit drinking, just like Papa.
“Yes, but you’ll be with people who can help you,” I said. “I want to help you, Sasha. Derek and I both do. Think how proud Papa would be if he knew you were taking this step.”
Sasha mulled those words over. Slowly, he began to nod.
“I’m not strong enough to do it alone,” he said at last. “I need help. It’s the only way. I’ll do it, Katya.”
“You will?!”
“Yes.”
I turned to Derek. “He says he’ll do it!”
“No shit?!” Overwhelmed with excitement, Derek stole a kiss from me, mashing his mouth against mine—but he’d forgotten that his lip was still tender and raw. “Ow.” He winced with pain. His kiss was tinged with the metallic tang of blood.
“My poor guy!” I laughed.
I ran over to my brother and gave him a hug. “I’m so glad you’re doing this, Sasha. This is the first step. You can do this.”
“Thank you, Katya,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without you.”
Sasha and I separated. Derek wrapped his arms tightly around Sasha and clapped his back.
“Real proud of you, bud,” Derek said.
“Sorry again about your place,” Sasha said. “I’ll take care of everything, I promise.”
