It’s been almost three weeks since Cyle Larin was handcuffed in the back of a police car.

“I was nervous,” Larin said Monday in an exclusive interview with the Orlando Sentinel. “I hadn’t been in a situation like that before. Your whole life you do everything right and something happens by mistake...it's hard.”

Larin, 22, was a good student growing up in Canada, just outside of Toronto. He often skipped social activities in order to focus on soccer and complete his schoolwork. He went to the University of Connecticut on a full scholarship for the sport. After a year and a half of college, he was drafted by Orlando City. He supports his mother and two younger brothers with his paycheck.

And the morning of June 15, Larin was arrested and charged with DUI, blowing twice the legal limit during a field breath test.

He still has legal processes to work through so could not discuss details of that morning, but he returned to the field last week after a three-game suspension and evaluation in MLS’ Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.

“I’ve been good,” he said, forcing a half smile. “I’m happy to be back with the team. They supported me through the time.

“The first couple of days were obviously hard, but I’m getting through it. I'm just happy to be back. I put all that behind me and I'm moving forward from there.”

Larin returned from helping Canada’s national team win a friendly the morning before his arrest. It was a good trip. He went to the Lions’ U.S. Open Cup game that night to support his teammates from the stands, and snapped selfies with young fans who clamored, smiles broad, to pose with him.

He went out with some friends afterward, visiting ONO nightclub downtown, according to the dash cam video of the state trooper who pulled him over for driving the wrong way down Orange Avenue around 5 a.m. June 15.

Larin knew right away it was going to be a big deal.

When news of his arrest broke, the story quickly spread through domestic and international soccer circles.

Fan reactions varied from sympathetic to disappointed to angry to concerned for the team having to play without him. Some offered Larin their Uber codes for discounted rides. He tried not to look at his Twitter account.

Reporters and television cameras flocked to the jail awaiting his release.

“I had to go deal with some legal stuff that day,” Larin said. “Then the rest of the day, I just relaxed and got some sleep. [In jail,] you don't get to sleep."

The club’s public relations director escorted him out. Then, he called his mom.

"She was supportive,” Larin said. “She knows that's not me and she was like, everyone makes mistakes, but I have to learn from it. That's all.”

Orlando City staff and players gave him the same message. He also received phone calls from players around the league offering support.

“I have to gain everyone's trust back,” he said. “I know it will take time and I have to perform on the field to do that and take care of myself off the field, too."

Before the Major League Soccer season, Larin said the players were made aware of the league’s rules regarding substance abuse, and he knew he would undergo an evaluation after the incident.

The following Sunday, he headed up to a rehabilitation center in South Carolina, where he had minimal contact with the outside world.

Larin said he is not an alcoholic and does not struggle with substance abuse. He had never met anyone who did until he entered the evaluation program.

For five days, he attended classes to learn about addiction and listened to the stories of people who lost everything because of theirs.

Inherently quiet and private, Larin answered doctors’ personal questions about his daily activities and tendencies. It made him think about the big things: his loves, his dreams, his accomplishments and his future — life.

After his arrest, Larin was left off of Canada’s Gold Cup roster and he wondered how it might affect his growing interest from clubs overseas.

“I learned a lot while I was there just about life, just about consequences of doing certain things,” he said. “It made me realize what’s important in my life. I’ve done a lot to get where I am, since I was a little kid, and to throw it all away just for one mistake.

“Everyone said it could have been worse. It could have been worse. But what happened, happened. I'm happy I'm safe, I'm happy everyone's safe, everyone on the road's safe and nothing bad happened."

Larin was allowed to work out during his evaluation, and he returned in time to help Orlando City beat Real Salt Lake 1-0 over the weekend. It was the Lions’ first win since May, and Kreis said Larin “really worked” and was “strong on the ball a lot of times.”

Defender José Aja said Larin apologized to the group upon his return. His teammates accepted, happy to have their leading goal-scorer back in the fold.

“He was fired up for it,” goalkeeper Joe Bendik said of Larin’s return. “I mean, he was very understanding, and we, he’s part of our family. I think every single guy sent him a text message hoping he could get back as soon as possible.”

Larin will continue to deal with the fallout of the DUI charge, both legally — he entered a written not guilty plea last week, a routine legal motion, and has a court hearing scheduled for July 21 — and morally, but is eager to prove it was a one-time aberration.

The search for redemption began in Salt Lake City, he said, and will continue Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. against Toronto FC at Orlando City Stadium.

“I think I’ve learned from the [situation] and I won't ever do it again,” Larin said. “Now, I’m back. I’m back and ready to help this team win, ready to gain their trust back.”

ardelgallo@orlandosentinel.com