Page 85 of Just Bromantically Invested

Her face flushes red, and she doesn’t answer as she sets up at her desk. I guess I’m not the only one with a lot on my mind.

But if I can’t talk to a psychologist and I can’t talk to Madden, who does that leave me with?

Sure, Lisa and I had a moment, but we’re not close enough that I’d consider spilling my feelings to her. Lana is great if I need her to tell me like it is, but that’s not what I need right now.

I need judgment-free. I need someone who might even have ideas for me on how I can handle things.

Pathetically needy in relationships?

It immediately brings one person to mind.

Two hours into my shift and I’ve done fuck all except angry click from screen to screen in a fit of looking productive while being anything but. So I do something I completely hate and fob off early.

Dryden’s sympathy makes me feel like shit as I walk out the door and climb into my car. I really should go home, but while Madden is at work, I’m going to take advantage of him being out of the house to visit.

Big Boned Bertha is what their house is affectionately known as. Every time I’m here, it both hits me with nostalgia over family and belonging while simultaneously awakening my bitterness. I really wish I could love it here.

I pull up on the front curb and climb out of my car. The front garden mostly blocks the house from view of the road, and as I walk up the path to the porch, I ignore the hissing tabby cat in the bushes. Kismet is the only member of Bertha who doesn’t go out of his way to make me feel welcome.

I don’t bother knocking since Xander and Molly should be the only ones here, but when I get inside the large, echoey front entrance, I lift my voice and call out.

“Molly? You here?”

Overly needy? That’s all Molly. Madden’s told me everything about his relationship with Seven, and I remember a little of him in college. He’s sweet but intense, and I know there wassome boy drama at school, but fucked if I know what went down.

I climb the stairs to his office and give a light tap on the doorframe. Molly’s wearing headphones, and he clearly hasn’t heard me, so, because I don’t want to creep up and scare him, I pull out my phone and send a text instead.

Turn around.

The message alert goes off, and Molly grabs his phone, stares at it a second, and then his head snaps in my direction.

I smile and flick him a wave as his surprise melts, and he pushes his headphones back to hang around his neck.

“Are you here for Madden? Because he’s at work.”

“Actually …” I take a measured step into the room. “I was hoping I could talk to you about something.”

“Of course.” He lights up with surprise and points to the free computer chair on the other side of the room. “Get cozy.”

I do, but it’s mostly so I can buy myself time.

“What did you want to talk about?” Molly asks. “Ohh! Are you going to ask Madden to marry you? I’ll help you plan the whole thing.”

I chuckle, wishing we were anywhere near ready for that. “I’ll keep your offer in mind when we reach that point.”

“So …”

“Now that I’m here, I’m worried you’re going to be offended.”

His pretty eyes blink faster. “Uh, why?”

“Because I need relationship advice, and I thought of you because you’re, umm, like me. A bit.”

“Like you?”

My eyes fall closed in embarrassment. “Needy.”

“Ooohhhhh …” He drags the word out dramatically but doesn’t say anything else.

---