Chapter 16

Author's POV 

“What?” Cassie choked out, her throat burning with emotion.

“Alison, that's enough.” Ledger's voice hardened. He had known the chances of his sister working with them was 50/50, but everything was going downhill quickly, and he had promised himself that he wouldn't just sit by and let someone hurt her. Even if that person was his dearest sister. “You’ve done enough.”

“No.” Cassie said softly. “What do you mean by that? What was obvious?”

Alison glanced at Cassie and a strong emotion of pity grew within her. She took a step closer to Cassie. 

“No, Alison.” Ledger cautioned her, grabbing her arm.

“She needs to hear this, Ledger.” His sister shit back, shrugging his arm off before making her way towards her. “Listen to me, Cassie. Otto was never yours to begin with. He's known to be a ladies’ man and he has slept with so many girls on campus.” She said gently. “You broke up with him because he was kissing your best friend? He's already done much worse with other women… while you were together.”

Those words were like a slap to Cassie's face. She stumbled backwards in shock and would have toppled backwards if Ledger hadn't been there to keep her still.

She glanced up at him. The Captain of the esteemed hockey team who had suddenly shown interest in her. She remembered his words the first time he had seen her, “you look like you just caught your boyfriend cheating.”

He had been so accurate. She had always thought that he was really just perceptive. But now… As she watched his face which was devoid of the surprise and shock she was feeling, it suddenly dawned on her.

“You knew.” She whispered, the words coming to life as she spoke it.

“Cassie…”

She shoved him off. “You knew!” She repeated, loudly this time.

“I did.” He admitted. There was no point hiding it now. Lying would only make things worse. “I was going to tell you—At the right time, but we were still trying to figure stuff out, and I didn't…”

He stopped speaking. Cassie had covered her ears. Tears were pouring down her cheeks. “I'm guessing the whole team knows.”

How could she have been so stupid? The school tabloids had always referred to him as the ‘second player who could not be tied down.’ She had assumed they were referring to his abilities on the rink.

Laughter bubbled to the surface. She couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. She became hysterical as she realized just how worse the situation was.

It had been so obvious, but she had been blind to it. She had spent the better part of her academic years, vying for his attention. She had done everything to appease him, and had taken a backseat from the spotlight at his request. She rejected so many guys who had tried to hit on her over the years, all because she was waiting for the moment that he would announce their relationship to the public.

And the whole time, he had been fooling around behind her back. Was it really behind her back tho? The signs were there after all.

“Cassie…” Ledger repeated.

His voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Her laughter subsided.

She faced him, really staring into his eyes. “Ah… I must have looked like an idiot that night. You must have recognized me as the one Otto was using.”

Ledger shook his head. “That's not true. I only found out about you two by accident, but I had already seen you before then.”

If Cassie had heard his words, she didn't show it. “I guess I should be glad that he never took our relationship public.” Cassie continued. “The humiliation would have been a lot worse to bear with the emotional damage.” She muttered.

“Cassie…” Ledger tried again. “You don't have to deal with this alone. I'm here if you…”

“You knew.” She cut in. “You knew the truth and never told me. I kept wondering, why her? Why Jade? When did it start? What did Jade have to offer that he couldn't have gotten from me? Am I not good enough?” Fresh tears fell as those questions flowed out. “You have no idea how many times I asked myself all these questions. What did she have on me? Why did they do this to me? Why?”

She sighed. “But perhaps it was never about me. I know that now.”

With that, she wiped her tears and began to pack her stuff. “Cassie, wait, let's talk about this.” Ledger pleaded.

Cassie ignored him and once she was done, she headed toward the door. 

Ledger began to reach for her, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. The door shut and Ledger began to see red.

“Why did you do that? You had no right to tell her!” He yelled, flaring up at his elder sister.

Alison shot him a stern look. “Mind your tone with me. She needed to know the truth. How could you keep it from her?”

Ledger shoulders dropped dejectedly. “I was trying to protect her.” He said weakly.

Alison's gaze softened at that. “Ignorance is not protection, brother. The longer she went without knowing the greater her resentment towards you and everyone around her would have become later.” His sister explained. “There is no ‘right time.’ The best time is now.” She concluded.

Ledger let out a deep breath, rubbing his face. “What am I supposed to do now?”

Alison smiled kindly. “Give her some time to think things through. She'll come around.”

“What if she decides she doesn't want anything to do with me anymore?” 

Alison watched him silently. He looked like a little boy in that state of dejection, and it reminded her of things she'd rather forget. 

Alison stepped closer to her brother and wrapped her arms around him. “That's impossible. You're too much of a catch for her to resist.”

Ledger chuckled to Alison's great relief. “We'll figure this out. I'll help you.” She assured him, and she would make sure she followed through on that promise.