Page 69 of Just Bromantically Invested

I sigh. “A hickey. He gave me a hickey.”

Dryden lets out a throaty laugh. “Looks like he gave you two. Unless the second one was from someone else.”

My face is burning up but for another reason now. “Nope. All him.” I almost say it’s okay, though, because I got him back with the scratches I left in his back, but they both already know way too much about my sex life as it is.

Dryden leans their hip against my desk. “Are you two a couple?”

“We’re …”

Not exclusive.The reminder plain pisses me off.

“We’re new. Taking things slow.”

“Well, don’t take things too slow because a man like that won’t stay single for long.”

“He’s been single the majority of the time I’ve known him.” Any relationship Madden’s had didn’t last long, and Ialways felt like a bit of a dick to be relieved by that. If he doesn’t have a partner, it means he has more time for me. Yes, yes, I’m a monster, but also, the more I think back on things like that, the surer I am that these feelings aren’t new.

Dryden hums and looks me over. “No clue why that might be.”

Them implying that maybe Madden’s been single because it was me he wanted makes my chest balloon in a new and amazing way.

“We’re seeing where things go,” I say firmly. Gushing isn’t a thing I do, and I’m definitely not going to get all goo-goo over Madden in case it doesn’t work out. Not only will it hurt, but that sounds fucking mortifying.

“I don’t know about the two of you, but it’s getting late, and I could use a drink. Want to wrap things up early?”

“Oh, I do,” Lisa says, bouncing in her chair.

“Should we walk up the street for a couple of beers?” Dryden suggests.

“Umm.” Lisa plays with her desk calendar. “Do I have to drink beer?”

Dryden thumps their forehead. “No, you don’t have to drink beer, you silly girl. I’ll get you whatever you like.”

“You’re buying?” I check.

“Why not?”

Going out with only the two of them? It’s not something we’ve done before, and my default is to say no and text Madden, but I stop myself. He’s all I have, and maybe that’s not such a great thing. Dryden and Lisa are both so far from the types of people I normally gravitate toward—Madden and Lana are both overly warm, have no boundaries, and are almost pushy about our friendship—but maybe that’s a good thing.

I’m not expecting best friends or anything, but maybe having relationships in my life that I have to work for wouldn’tbe the worst? Or maybe it would. I won’t know until I actually give this a try.

“I could go for a beer,” I say.

Dryden claps their hands. “Perfect. Shut everything down, and we’ll head out.”

Finishing work half an hour early isn’t the worst thing either.

“No,I’m telling you. It was a nun. Full habit and robes and … what’s that little white thingy on their foreheads?”

I snicker into my beer. “No clue.”

“She was my teacher,” Lisa says. Considering she was planning to stick to soda but thought trying a beer for the first time in front of her boss and her colleague was a smart idea, I probably should have expected this.

One beer down, and the alcohol has all gone to her head.

“I’m not surprised you went to a full religious school, if I’m honest.”

“Why?” Lisa is in her early twenties, has flawlessly made-up skin, big, bright blue eyes, and white-blond hair slicked back into a ponytail. Our clients love her for being so bubbly and pretty, but I’m starting to see that there’s a lot more going on under her pageant queen face.

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