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“Thanks!” Cece pressed up on her toes to peck Gabe’s cheek. He seemed surprised but then relaxed, placing his arm around her waist.

It was the first time I’d seen her since she’d eloped and then vanished for the summer. The first time I’d seen the two of them together now that they were a couple. They were certainly playing the part, acting exactly like everyone would expect for newlyweds. But that was just it. It felt a little forced, a little bit like a performance.

I didn’t think anyone else had noticed; they didn’t know Cece as well as I did. And I couldn’t shake the thought that something more was going on.

Cece’s left hand rested on Gabe’s chest, and I was still getting used to the sight of a wedding ring on her finger. It was definitely a statement piece, a five-carat cushion cut design that was somehow both classic and modern. The ring, like the party, was tasteful and elegant yet still uniquely Cece.

Her backyard had been transformed into a fairy-tale vision of white flowers, gauzy fabrics flowing in the breeze, even a fountain. It looked nothing like it had the night of the Stanley Cup party.

So much had changed since then. And even though only two months had passed, it felt like so much more. I was in love. I’d embraced new friends and new opportunities, including signing with the Anaheim Bobcats.

It hadn’t been an easy decision, but I knew it was the right one.

When I’d told my LA friends, they’d been ecstatic. Bryn had started crying, though I mostly chalked that up to postpartum hormones. Georgia was already making plans for all of us to hang out, as was Cece. Kylie was excited about all the potential brand deals now that I would be based in LA. And Emerson was excited to have a new weekly yoga buddy.

My teammates on the Wolves hadn’t been surprised by my decision, though they were still disappointed, especially Annika and Steph. Change was hard—for all of us. And I was grateful they’d thrown their support behind me as always.

“I wish your mom could’ve made it,” Cece said.

Levi nodded. “She’s sad she couldn’t be here, but at least she’ll still get to go road trippin’ with Logan.”

Since Mom hadn’t been able to swing as much time off from work, she was going to meet me in Minnesota. We’d clean out my apartment and supervise the movers and then drive back to LA together. I knew it would be hard to say my goodbyes to the team and the city that had given me so much. And I was grateful Mom would be there to support me.

I hadn’t figured out where I was going to live in LA yet, though Carson had been trying to convince me to move in with him more permanently. The idea was certainly tempting, but it also felt like a huge step, especially considering the fact that my brother—and most of our friends—still didn’t even know we were dating.

“What about you, Logan?” Cece turned to me with a sweet smile, her voice deceptively innocent. “Did you bring a date?”

Levi barked out a laugh. “Who, Logan? She’s not interested in dating. Hockey first. Am I right?”

I let out a nervous laugh, sipping some champagne. I tried to keep my attention on the group, but my eyes kept drifting to Carson. Currently, he was standing on the other side of the garden, talking with Frasier and Bryn. We’d agreed to keep our distance until I’d gotten a chance to talk to my brother, but I didn’t like it. I didn’t like that we had to sneak around, pretending we were just friends.

I don’t want to live like this anymore.

My stomach had been knotted with anxiety and guilt ever since my brother had landed in LA. I sipped some more champagne in an effort to calm myself.

I just have to make it through tonight.

Tomorrow, we’d talk. Tomorrow, I’d tell Levi everything. And hopefully, we’d find a way through it. We had to. We were family, and he was one of my closest friends, not to mention my business partner. If this didn’t go well… I downed the rest of my champagne before handing the empty flute to a passing waiter. I didn’t want to think about it.

The party continued around me, but only half my attention was on the conversation. Finally, I excused myself to the restroom.

I braced myself against the counter, feeling just…so much. So many exciting things happening in my life, so many things I wanted to enjoy and be happy about. But my anxiety over this situation with my brother felt like a hurricane building off the coast. No one knew how bad the impact would be until it made landfall, until I told Levi.

For now, I was in a holding pattern. All I could do was prepare for the worst and hope for the best. So, I reapplied my lipstick and I stepped back out onto the patio, determined to enjoy this time with the people I loved.

“Psst,” someone whispered. “Logan.”

I turned to find Carson standing off the walkway, and I smiled. I glanced around, grateful we were in a relatively secluded area of the garden. I placed my hands on the lapels of his suit, needing to ground myself.

“Hey.” He brushed my hair away from my face. “How are you holding up?”

I lifted a shoulder. What was I supposed to say?

Fortunately, I didn’t have to say anything. Carson just…knew.

He stepped closer, dusting his lips against my temple before holding me to him. I sagged against his body—warm, solid, reassuring. Home. He felt like home, and I couldn’t believe it had taken me this long to put a name to the feeling.

“Well, fuck me,” said a deep voice with a hint of surprise.