Page 87 of Just Bromantically Invested

“What?”

“You’d do that for me?” My tone is suspicious as hell. “Why?”

“You’re Madden’s, so you’re ours. That’s how it works. Wewant him to be happy, which means you need to be happy as well. If I can do one little thing to help, I’ll do it.”

None of this is what I was expecting Molly to say. I thought he’d give me a list of all the things I needed to fix about myself and warn me not to hurt Madden and to stop being a possessive dick. “What if it doesn’t help though?”

“You have my number. You just texted me.”

“Ah … yeah?”

“Then you call me. Bottling things up makes it worse, and I usually find that all I need is a good vent and I’m ready to move on.”

I eye him. “And you’re okay with me calling and whining in your ear?”

“It’s not whining. You’re allowed to have feelings, and that’s what friends are there for.”

Friends?

I sit here looking at the messy-haired, doe-eyed man in front of me, never having considered him a friend in my life. I’ve always thought that there are criteria to hit for friendships and milestones you have to meet in order to qualify. Apparently, Molly doesn’t feel the same way.

“We’re friends?”

Molly frowns. “Of course we are.”

“Can I … don’t get offended because I’m being genuine, but … what makes us friends?”

Molly almost laughs. “You’re a person I know and care about. I like you. Does it have to be more than that?”

“If it was as easy as that, I’d have a lot of friends.”

“And who says you don’t?”

I’m about to open my mouth and point out that I obviously don’t, but Seven pushes through the door, carrying a coffee and headphones around his neck. “Hey, Penn.”

“Hi.” I look the giant man over. “Are we friends?”

He stops, looking from me to Molly like he’s worried this is a trick. “Yeah?” He pulls an “are you okay” face. “Why?”

“Just … curious.”

“Penn doesn’t think he has friends,” Molly says.

“Well, we’re either friends or adopted barnacles. Either way, he’s stuck with us.” Seven snorts and continues to his desk. “Unless you don’t get out of my chair, Penn. Then we’re going to have issues.”

I jump straight up and push it his way. “Thanks for the talk.”

Molly stands too. “That’s okay, but did you really think we weren’t friends?”

“Well, it’s not like we talk all the time, or …”

Seven sets down his cup. “Those are the best type of friends. You can count on them, but they don’t smother you.”

Molly clutches his hands to his chest. “My man. So many feelings.”

Seven rolls his eyes while I shift awkwardly.

“I guess I never thought of friends like that.”

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