Page 72 of The Captain

I scoffed at the audacity his words displayed. “I think you should let Mick decide who she wants to be with and what she’s ready for.”

I knew Tanner would never force her to do anything she wasn’t ready for. They were made for each other, and anything she wanted, I was confident he would deliver.

Of course, Lincoln didn’t know that because he hadn’t gotten to see them together.

“You remember Mark? Yeah, I don’t think dating another pro hockey player is a great plan.”

I did remember Mick’s ex-boyfriend. Well, at least the stories I heard, which were that he was a jerk and treated her like crap. When they were both twenty…

Lincoln being that age, I didn’t think it was fair to throw it in his face, so instead I said nothing and thought about how we were going to move past this.

“You need to decide if you can even be with me because I don’t want secrets between us.”

I flinched and took a step back. “What? I don’t have any secrets with you.” I let the man read my book, for crying out loud. Mick and Victoria don’t even know I wrote one. If anyone knew everything about me, it was Lincoln.

“You did. You kept this from me, knowing that it would upset me.”

“Lincoln.” I sighed, holding back tears that threatened to fall. I desperately did not want them to fall. “I kept it from you because Mick asked me to keep it to myself. She was planning on telling you.”

Lincoln flattened his lips, his anger radiating from him like steam. “Yeah, except she didn’t. I had to find out. And not from my girlfriend, either.” He shook his head. “Do you know how much it hurts to hear about my sister and my coach and know that I was left out of the loop? That I was going on my merry way, pretending my coach was just my coach and my sister was dating some mystery guy? I feel so fucking stupid.”

“You shouldn’t feel stupid,” I said, taking a step forward and trying to reach out.

“No.” He shook his head again at my outstretched hand, making me feel like I was just slapped. “Don’t…” His eyes met mine, and the pain there had me stumbling back. “You hurt me too.”

“Lincoln, that wasn’t what I meant to do. I was going to tell you—”

“You lied to me, Cassie. And I don’t know where to go from here.” He took another step back, then another until he was nearly to the door.

“Me either,” I replied, feeling anger and hurt and frustration and desperation all clawing their way through me, vying for the number one spot. “I don’t know how to make you see that I never intended to hurt you, but you don’t get to place all the blame on me, either.” I crossed my arms, shielding myself from him.

He shook his head. “Don’t go acting like you’re innocent.”

I looked at him sadly. “You know what? I am innocent. This wasn’t a secret that I kept from you intentionally, because when I was with you, I was all about you. I wasn’t thinking about Micayla and Tanner. I was thinking about how happy I was with you. But you know what? You have to figure this shit out all on your own, because I will not be your punching bag because you’re comfortable with me.”

I felt the anger coursing through me, winning the number one spot. “If that’s the way you act, then I want nothing to do with you.”

He flinched, and, in that moment, I saw him realize what he was fucking up. He was pushing me away without even realizing he was doing it. He was placing the blame on me because, right now, he was uncomfortable around his own family.

I was his safe space.

Unfortunately, that also meant that he thought I could take the brunt of his anger.

I wouldn’t do that, though. I refused.

“Get out,” I said, hating the words as they left my throat.

“Cassie,” he started, taking a step forward, regret and guilt all over his face.

“No, get out,” I said, standing my ground even as tears spilled from my eyes. He looked heartbroken at the sight of them.

Good.

“Cassie, I’m sorry.”

I just shook my head, angry and tired and hurt.

He took my gesture to mean we were done, and I was. I was done. I wouldn’t allow myself to be treated that way.

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