Chapter 5

Cassie's POV

I shuddered slightly at the contact. Thankfully, the Arena was cold enough to warrant such a reaction. Ledger's next words proved my thoughts. “You're shivering.” Ledger said, his voice gentle as his eyes roamed over me. “Enough of this, Cassie. Let's go.”

He grabbed my wrist, not forceful, just enough to guide me, pulling me away from Otto and Jade, who were still frozen like they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. 

Otto snapped out of his daze first. 

In a blur of movement, his hand shot out and grabbed my other wrist. “Cassie, wait!”

My gaze dropped to his hand around my wrist. For a long time, I had waited–begged in silence–for him to claim me. Not for clout. Not for status. but simply to feel like our relationship meant something to him.

It had sucked all this while to feel like I was some secret he had to hide behind closed doors. But now, with his grip on my wrist, all I felt was disgust.

Otto let go of my hand as soon as he saw the withering look I sent his way. “We should talk.” He carried on, undeterred.

I scoffed. This was the same dude who had ghosted all my texts and acted like I didn’t exist the previous night. 

With my other hand, I untangled Ledger’s hand from my wrist. Just as a smirk began to form on Otto’s lips, I reached for Ledger’s hand and laced our fingers together.

The smirk vanished.

“About what?” I asked sweetly, daring him to say it. To admit the fact that I had caught him cheating on me.

He blinked, as though willing his eyes to unregister the sight of my hand linked with Ledger's. I watched Otto silently as he struggled to speak. “W-We were together for…”

I inclined my head to the side, pretending to be clueless. “Were we?” I shifted my gaze towards a grinning Ledger who mirrored my expression, playing along. “Did you ever hear we were dating?”

Ledger pretended to think. “Nope. Not once.”

He leaned in a little. “Though I do remember girls asking if Otto was single. What was it he always said? Oh, right—” He suddenly perked up, snapping his fingers. “He said, ‘Still skating solo. No ties, no penalties. My jersey hasn’t been claimed yet.’”

He gave a mock shrug. “The girls were pretty thrilled.”

“Well, there we have it.” I answered, clapping my hands together like the conversation was settled.

Ledger shot Otto a smug look before tugging me closer to him. “Feel free to strut around in my jersey anytime, darling. It's yours for the taking.”

We were playing a game, I knew that. Ledger was just helping me shut them down. Though I didn't know why, and I needed him to get these traitors off my back.

However, as I stared into Ledger's eyes, I was taken back by the sincerity I saw in his eyes. 

There was no teasing there. No sarcasm. Just truth.

He meant every word. 

A new wave of shudders slipped through me. Ledger's perceptive eyes caught it once more and before I knew what was happening, he was pulling me out of the Arena. Otto looked like he was about to follow, but he was soon swarmed by fans.

“Yo, Ledge!” a loud voice called from somewhere behind us. “Where’s the party at?”

We turned. A guy with spiky hair was waving wildly, a red cup in his hand, trying to catch Ledger’s attention.

Ledge? Not Ledger.

“It’s a nickname Coach gave me,” Ledger said, shooting me a knowing smile. “He says I play on the ledge of the rink.” 

Ah, so he is a risk taker when he plays, I thought to myself. That checked out from the little I saw today.

Ledger cupped his hands around his mouth. “Ask Freddie!” he called back.

“What the– What about you, bruh?” the guy shouted again.

“Have fun without me.” Was all Ledger said in response, already tugging me away.

“Yo! Coach's not gonna like that!” 

Ledger just laughed and kept walking.

It was only when we stepped outside the Arena that I realized just how crowded the facility was.

“We had some scouts visiting tonight. That's why the turn out is this high.” He explained as if he had read my mind.

I said nothing. Staying silent as I let Ledger pull me all the way to the parking lot. Once I was sure that we were out of earshot, I shook him off. 

“That's enough. I'll leave on my own.” I said, turning away.

Ledger shoved his hand into his pockets. “Don't I even get a thank you?” 

I stopped with a sigh. I turned my gaze towards him and was surprised to see that he was smiling. “You did all of that all on your own, though. I never asked for your help.”

Ledger shrugged. “Touché.” 

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Whatever.” I muttered in annoyance, turning away from him.

I hadn't even taken three steps when my eyes caught the sight of Otto glancing around, searching for something… or someone. Damn it, I couldn't even catch a break.

“Get on.” The muffled voice of Ledger Rivers came from behind me. When I looked back, he was sitted on a motorcycle, already wearing a helmet. He held another one out to me. “Quickly. Before he spots you.”

I hesitated, eyeing the empty space behind him on the bike. The last thing I wanted was to end up in Ledger’s bed. He was not exactly known for sticking around after a one-night stand. But the version of him standing in front of me now felt different from everything I had heard.

But between Otto, the guy who had betrayed me with my best friend and Ledger, a guy that was offering me an escape from my problems–It was obvious who the lesser evil was.

I wordlessly took the helmet from him and slid it on. Within seconds, we were zooming off. 

It took some effort to not look back to check on Otto.

Ledger was driving over the speed limit. After a couple seconds of deliberately not grabbing onto him, a few jerks was all it took to make me wrap my arms around him, holding on for my dear life. 

His body was firm and warm, and I hated that I noticed. The leather jacket did little to dull the feel of the muscles beneath it.

I wondered if he could feel the rapid beating of my heart where my chest was pressed against his back. 

Could he feel that?

Get a grip. 

To focus on something, anything else, I turned my gaze outward. Even through the visor, the night was beautiful. The road was well lit with light from the street lamps and soft light rays from the moon.