Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 98

“I’m banned from playing?”

Ashley’s voice involuntarily rose in agitation at the sudden notification. The coach sighed with a serious face and continued.

“The regulations have changed in a few states. Alphas or Omegas who have presented, whether junior or professional, cannot play in games.”

“Why, suddenly.”

Someone’s face flashed through Ashley’s mind as he barely managed to speak. The coach took another deep breath and offered words of comfort.

“Anyway, that’s how it is, and I’m sorry. I’ll miss your presence very much, but…”

Ashley remained silent for a while, then spoke with difficulty.

“So, when does it start?”

The coach paused before answering.

“From next year.”

Thanksgiving was coming soon. Then there would be no games until the new year. And after that, the season finals would be held, but to be excluded from the game after coming this far.

“…Haa.”

Ashley took a deep breath to suppress his boiling anger. He couldn’t take it out on the innocent coach. Buffalo wouldn’t be the only team in trouble with this changed regulation.

“…Understood. Then the next game will be my last.”

“Uh… about that.”

The coach scratched above his eyebrow and said.

“I’ve already found someone to replace you, and that guy needs time to adapt to the team, so… he’s going to start playing from the next game. It would be too much to put him directly into the finals, wouldn’t it?”

Ashley lost his words and just stared at the coach’s face. To be suddenly expelled like this. A high school ice hockey team wasn’t professional; it was closer to a hobby. But he had played with all his heart and soul until now. The daily routine that had naturally continued after school suddenly disappeared overnight.

The faces of his friends, with whom he had played, flickered in his mind, and he covered his eyes with one hand. Many emotions flooded him, but they were all meaningless. Ashley took a deep breath and slowly lowered his hand.

“…Then, I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

“…I’m sorry.”

The coach lowered his head and apologized. It must have been difficult for him too. To lose his ace in the middle of the season. Ashley didn’t bother him further and stepped back.

“Thank you for everything.”

As Ashley bowed, the coach stood up and extended a hand. Ashley briefly shook his hand and then left the office.

No wonder there was no practice today.

He felt bitter as he recalled his friends who had excitedly gone home first. When he was told to stay alone, he vaguely thought it might be about giving comments on the game. But to be suddenly expelled. Who else would have expected something like this?

The answer soon came. Ashley’s expression darkened as he heard his phone ring and checked the caller ID.

– Did you have a good talk with the coach?

At the business-like voice from the other end, Ashley paused before speaking.

“…Was it Father? Who changed the regulations.”

His father’s secretary casually replied.

– You were going to quit from next year anyway, weren’t you?

But why would he go to the trouble of changing the regulations just to ‘make him quit’?

He knew the answer. That man just wanted to mess with Ashley’s life as he pleased.

As if to show off that I’m in his hand.

“Should I have sent flowers on Father’s Day?”

Ashley sneered, but she still calmly replied.

– If thinking that way comforts you more, then I’ll say yes.

Ashley suppressed the urge to scream and instead clenched his fist. She was just doing her father’s work. The person to scream and get angry at was his father. Of course, Ashley wouldn’t do that. There would be nothing more unnecessary than meeting his father for that. Instead, he suppressed his emotions and, as calmly as possible, began to speak.

“Anyway, tell Father congratulations, since things went his way. Though I know perfectly well why he didn’t bother to wait until the end of the season.”

– Understood. Anything else you need?

At the mechanical response, Ashley asked with full sarcasm.

“Put me back on the ice hockey team.”

– No, you know that.

She simply refused and asked, “Anything else?” It seemed like she was teasing him, but Ashley also knew that she was just doing her job.

“No.”

– Understood. Then.

The call ended first, and Ashley looked down at his phone for a moment before putting it back in his pants pocket. The sound of his own footsteps echoing in the long hallway somehow sounded pathetic.

“Ash!”

As usual, after the cheerleading team’s practice ended, Koi came running, breathless. Ashley, who had been leaning against the car waiting for him, opened his arms wide, and Koi naturally jumped into them. Like two opposite poles of a magnet attracting each other, they clung together.

“I missed you.”

Ashley whispered. Koi hugged him with all his strength and rubbed his cheek against Ashley’s thick chest.

“Me too.”

Ashley smiled and rubbed his face against the top of Koi’s head. He wanted to stay like this forever. But if they don’t leave soon, someone might discover them.

“You waited a long time, didn’t you? You said there was no practice today. It would have been okay if you went first.”

Koi, who hastily got into the passenger seat, waited for Ashley to sit in the driver’s seat before speaking. He felt guilty and sorry for making him wait unnecessarily, and as he started, Ashley started the engine and replied.

“I didn’t wait long. The coach said he had something to tell me.”

“Oh, really? What about?”

He thought it might be about the game, when Ashley spoke.

“I can’t play from the next game.”

“What? Why?”

At the words that came out so casually, Koi doubted his ears. Leaving Koi with wide eyes, Ashley continued, still looking straight ahead.

“The regulations changed, and players who have been presented as Alphas or Omegas can’t play in games. It seems to be only here and a few other states, but anyway, it’s against the rules, so I can’t play anymore.”

“Such…”

Koi didn’t know what to say and trailed off. He knew how much Ashley loved ice hockey. Every time he played, he shone brighter than usual and was filled with happiness. But now he wouldn’t be able to see that anymore.

“Why did such a regulation suddenly appear? It was fine until now.”

“Well…”

Ashley stalled for time, pretending to check the traffic light, then replied.

“I don’t know either.”

“That’s really too much.”

Koi mumbled, genuinely upset. It was an absurd regulation. How much could being an Alpha or Omega affect a game that they would ban it?

“This is discrimination.”

Koi, uncharacteristically, burst out in indignation. He was usually someone who would just let things go, no matter how unfair they were, but when it came to Ashley, he couldn’t tolerate it. This was an extremely unfair treatment.

“Ash, can’t you file a lawsuit? It’s ridiculous that you can’t play just because you presented.”

Ashley burst into laughter for the first time since hearing this awful news from the coach.

“I could, but.”

His lips curved into a smile automatically, seeing Koi getting angry for him, so cute and lovable. He continued in a gentle voice.

“If I waited for the results, I’d graduate high school when I’m over forty.”

“Ah…”

At Ashley’s words, Koi became dejected again. Ashley felt somewhat relieved thanks to Koi, but he didn’t say anything, wanting to see him keep trying. Then, Koi, who had been contemplating, suddenly turned his head and asked.

“Want to touch my butt?”

“Pfft.”

Laughter burst out, and he almost slammed on the brakes. Startled, Koi hastily asked.

“A-are you okay?”

Ashley slowed the car to avoid an accident, but the smile on his face didn’t fade at all.

“Would touching your butt make me feel better?”

In a voice still full of laughter, Koi carefully eyed him.

“Is it, not okay?”

Of course it would feel good, Ashley thought, but there was a better way.

“How about you touch my anaconda?”

Koi couldn’t say anything. Ashley just saw his eyes widen as if they would tear, and he added in a light tone.

“Just kidding.”

Saying that, Ashley released the hand that was holding Koi’s and instead moved it to his waist. Koi slightly lifted one side of his butt to make it easier for Ashley to touch, and Ashley slowly kneaded his butt, which fit perfectly in one hand.

“How do you feel, a little?”

At the careful question, Ashley replied, “Good.” In fact, what he wanted was to pull over and kiss Koi, but it wasn’t good to refuse Koi’s rare suggestion. He could kiss him later.

Meanwhile, Koi was thinking something entirely different. He had gotten used to Ashley touching his butt and thought he could give in to that much, but the sudden ‘anaconda’ attack had momentarily dazed him. Why did I forget that? Ashley is just holding back.

Right now, that might be more comforting…

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Ashley suddenly spoke.

“Koi.”

“Yes.”

He answered hastily, and Ashley, still looking straight ahead, continued.

“Do you want to come to my place for Thanksgiving?”