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Levi rolled his eyes. “Oh jeez, Mom. Not you too.”

I gritted my teeth. Mom lifted a shoulder then excused herself to check on something in the kitchen.

“I still can’t believe you’re friends with him,” Levi said, returning his attention to me.

“Why?” I asked, feeling defensive but trying not to let it show. I was so much more than just friends with Carson. I was in love with Carson.

“Because you usually see through guys’ bullshit. And he is full of it.” I cringed, knowing Carson had heard Levi’s words.

So much for moving on. Levi’s past with Carson was sure as hell having a huge impact on my future.

I could understand that my brother had been hurt by Carson. I could even understand that Levi was trying to protect me. But what had happened to trusting me to decide what was best for me?

“Lee…” I swallowed hard. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

I could feel my mom and Carson watching me, waiting. But when I opened my mouth, the words simply wouldn’t come out. Instead, I found myself saying, “I’m moving to LA.”

“Holy shit! You’re going to be a Bobcat?” Levi smiled, and Mom smacked his shoulder. “Ow. Damn.”

Carson lifted a hand to his mouth, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. I was trying not to glare at him. Instead, I returned my gaze to my mom and Levi and nodded. “I am.”

I’d told my family that I was in negotiations with the two teams, and they knew I’d been torn on who to sign with. But that was about it. I’d already had too many competing ideas in my head to ask anyone else for their advice. I’d wanted to make this decision for myself, and I had.

“That’s exciting,” Levi said. “New team. You’ll be playing in a new city. How are you feeling about the move?”

“Good,” I said, then glanced at Carson. “Great, actually.”

Carson’s expression softened, and then he winked. When I returned my attention to the screen, Mom was watching me with an arched brow.

“Awesome. If it weren’t for Alan,” Levi said, and I gnawed on my lip, wishing I’d had time to grab my headphones. It wasn’t fair or right to have someone on speakerphone without telling them another person—especially a person they didn’t like or trust—was listening in. “I’d be angling for a trade to the Hawks. But then I’d have to play with Kovi.” He pulled a face, and my cheeks heated.

I kept my attention glued to the phone. Partially because I knew I’d only look even guiltier if I glanced away. But also because I couldn’t bear to look at Carson to see his reaction.

The look Mom was giving me made it clear she thought I needed to tell my brother. But I quickly shook my head. Now was not the time, not when Carson was standing only a few feet away.

“Are you going to come to Cece’s party?” I asked both of them, desperate to change subjects.

“I’m hoping to,” Mom said. “I’d love to be there for Cece and celebrate you signing with the Bobcats.”

“And then maybe we could fly to Minnesota together and road trip back to LA with some of my stuff?” I asked Mom since I planned to hire a moving company to handle the bulk of it.

She laughed. “Sure. I need to talk to my boss, but I can probably swing that.”

“Lee,” I said, turning my attention to my brother. “What about you?”

“No to the road trip.” He shuddered. He’d never been big on car travel. “But yes to the party. If it weren’t the off-season, no way. But I guess Cece gets it. She’s a hockey wife now.”

I stood, walking to another room and praying there wasn’t anything to indicate I was at Carson’s. I closed the door to the bedroom, careful to keep the camera angled close to me as I sank down on the edge of the mattress.

“Are you going to bring Alan?”

Levi dipped his head, cheeks turning pink. “It might be a good way to soft launch our relationship, and I’ve been toying with the idea of coming out.”

I jerked my head back, stunned by his admission. Mom placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I hate the fact that I even feel like I need to announce my sexuality,” he continued. “But I also know how much I appreciated when Coach Cross came out. He was a huge role model for me, and if I can be that for even one person, then I want to.”

“Lee, that’s incredible.”