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“Yeah.” He sighed, bringing me back to the present. “I’m fucking exhausted.”

“Then why are you talking to me?” I teased.

“Because I like talking to you.” He fell silent a moment, and then he said, “I like you, Logan.”

His voice was deeper, raw from his confession, and it struck a chord inside me. I closed my eyes, my body tingling all over, even as my mind whirled with questions. Did this mean that he liked me as a friend or he like-liked me, as Georgia had suggested, and was looking for something more?

Before I could process everything, my mouth decided to respond for me. “I like you too.”

Fuck. My eyes went wide. Had I really just admitted that?

I was so busy thinking about what I’d said that I’d almost missed the way he’d exhaled as if in relief.

“Flight 393 to Dallas,” the gate agent said over the PA system. “We will now begin boarding any active-duty military…”

“I, uh—” I cringed because I was going to have to end our conversation at the worst possible moment.

“I know. It’s the same for me—hockey first.”

“For now,” I blurted, surprising even myself.

“For now,” he repeated.

I stood, gathering my things and shoving my water bottle into the side pocket of my bag. “My flight is boarding.”

“Talk later?”

I bit back a smile. “I’d like that,” I said, then hesitated. “But I’m not sure I’ll have much free time. Apparently, my brother has a surprise for us.” Whatever that meant.

“Interesting,” Carson said. “Any guesses?”

“With Levi, you never know.”

Carson chuckled, though he sounded relaxed, drowsy. “That’s true.”

As I waited in line to board, Carson told me a story about a time Levi had tried to plan a surprise when they were juniors. I stayed on the phone until the last minute before finally saying goodbye.

It only reminded me of how close they’d been and how far apart they were now. And as I settled into my seat on the plane, I wondered if they could ever get back there again. If there was any way Levi would ever be okay with Carson again, even if it was just as my friend.

“This is so fun!” Mom was beaming. We were squeezed together to fit on the screen of Levi’s computer monitor in the makeshift podcast studio in his guest bedroom. “I’m excited you asked me to join. I only hope I don’t embarrass you.”

“I thought that was your ‘job,’” Levi teased, and she cupped the back of his neck, eyes narrowed. “Levi Joseph⁠—”

Cam laughed from the screen as Levi lifted his hands in the air. “I’m only repeating what you’ve said yourself a thousand times.”

She laughed, kissing the top of Levi’s head before releasing him. “True, but only I get to say that. Not you.” She turned to me, eyes narrowed. “Or you, Logan.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Mom. You always make me proud.” Truly. I’d always admired my mom, even more so now that I was an adult.

Behind her back, Levi rolled his eyes and mouthed, “Suck-up.”

I smiled sweetly, grateful that it felt like we were back to our normal dynamic.

Levi and I always had a good time for the pod, but for the last month, things had felt off. There was a lot going on, and this season was no exception. But I sensed that he’d been pulling back from me lately, and I didn’t understand why.

I wondered if it had something to do with the failed deal with Brightside Sunglasses. Or maybe it was my own guilt talking and the fact that I’d been so busy texting with Carson that I hadn’t checked in with my brother as often as I normally would’ve. I still talked to Levi a ton, but it felt…different lately.

“I know we’re not planning to cover any news this week,” Cam said. “But do you want to address the rumors about the PWHL expansion teams? Several listeners submitted questions about it.”