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“Thanks,” I said, heading inside my building with a blast of warm air. “You’re the best.”

“Thanks.” I could hear the smile in her voice as I took the elevator to my floor. “What are you up to?”

“Walking into my building now, and I need to pack for my trip to Dallas.” I groaned, though, in truth, it wouldn’t take me very long. “What about you?” I asked, unlocking the door to my apartment and kicking off my shoes before settling on the couch.

“Wrapping some gifts for the players who will be coming to celebrate with my family.”

“That’s nice,” I said, tucking my feet beneath me and pulling on a blanket. “I know Carson’s looking forward to it.”

My eyes went wide, and I cursed myself for bringing him up. So, I quickly tried to backtrack by adding, “He mentioned it last night, when we went out to dinner after the game with Frasier, Boone, and some of my teammates.”

“Why are you acting so weird?” Georgia asked. “Did something happen between you and Carson? And doesn’t your brother hate him?” I could envision Georgia’s raised eyebrow perfectly.

“I, um—” I squeezed my eyes shut. This alcohol was beginning to feel more like a truth serum. “Yes. True. Levi is not Carson’s biggest fan. But that doesn’t mean I’m automatically predisposed to hate someone just because of it. I mean, there are people that you like that your brothers don’t like.” I needed to stop rambling. I was only making this worse.

“Lo…”

I toed the rug with the edge of my slipper. I hadn’t told any of my teammates about Carson spending the night, but I found myself wanting to confide in Georgia. In addition to being one of my best friends, she was friends with Carson, and I wanted her opinion on the situation.

“Don’t tell anyone this—” I let out a gust of air. “But over the past few months, Carson and I have become friends.”

“Friends with benefits?”

“No. No,” I said again, and I wasn’t sure whether that was more for her or a reminder to myself. Because after last night, it felt as if a line had been crossed.

We weren’t more, but I wasn’t sure we were just friends either. Friends didn’t want to kiss their friends. Friends didn’t straddle their friends. Friends… I sighed.

“So when did this friendship start?” she asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“Oh my god.” I rolled my eyes with a laugh. “Would you stop saying it like that?”

“You’re the one who’s reading more into my tone,” she teased. “Now answer the question, Logan.”

“Our paths crossed at Cece’s party last summer. We exchanged numbers, and we’ve been texting on and off since then, mostly about hockey or social media.”

That wasn’t a lie. Not entirely. Though lately, our conversations were less about hockey and more about ourselves. And when I’d dropped him off at the airport… I let out a sigh. His hug had felt meaningful. Less of a goodbye and more of a beginning.

“Okay. Interesting. Damn, now I really wish I hadn’t missed that party. Stupid family vacation,” she muttered.

“Apart from you, no one knows Carson and I are friends because I haven’t found a way to tell my brother about it yet.”

“Thank you for confiding in me. And of course I won’t tell,” she said. “But Logan, you shouldn’t feel bad about befriending Carson. He’s a nice guy.”

I blew out a breath. “Yeah. I know.”

“Why don’t you sound happy about it?”

“Because I didn’t want to like him, but I do. Particularly after all the nice things he’s done for me lately.”

“What kinds of nice things?” Her voice had a teasing tone to it that made me think she was envisioning orgasms.

If only. I could definitely use an orgasm and not by my own hand or a toy. It had been so long since I’d had sex. Too long.

Hence the gift from my teammates. I rolled my eyes. A travel vibrator, perfect for away games.

“Lo?” Georgia prodded.

Right. My silence wasn’t helping that impression.