Page 15 of Just Bromantically Invested

It also means throwing myself headfirst into my offer of helping Penn be less lonely. I’d selfishly suggested it so we’d spend time together, but I need to refocus that.

I have to move on. For the sake of our friendship, I need Penn to find someone. Someone who isn’t me.

Chapter 6

Penn

I’m too wired this morning. Apparently, yoga makes me horny because as soon as I get in the shower, I jerk off. It’s one of those days where everything feels like too much, and a quick orgasm helps take some of that edge away.

Madden is surprisingly still here once I get out, and even more surprisingly, he’s wearing clothes. Well, gym shorts. But it’s something.

“What are you doing?”

“Thought I’d hang around and see you off on your date.”

It takes all of my self-restraint not to correct him. He was there—he knows it’s not a date, and if it was, I probably wouldn’t be going. The dating sceneshouldexcite me. It doesn’t.

“Coffee and I are already well past the dating stage of our relationship, thanks.”

“Mhmm. So, make sure you ask Lana lots of questions. But don’t be too weird about it. Give her space to answer. And youwant to give a little bit about yourself too, dude. You used to play ball, you’re an incredible designer, you have your own place?—”

I turn to Madden so suddenly he stops following me to my bedroom. We’re face-to-face, and it’s a real effort not to laugh at how earnest he looks. “Sure you don’t want to date me?”

His mouth drops, and he blinks at me for a moment. “W-what? Don’t be weird, man.”

I step into my room to change while Madden takes up his usual space on the bed. Since I’ll be going to a client’s house today and spending the rest of the time in our display room, I pick out dress pants and a button-up. I hate wearing full suits since the jacket is usually too stifling, but I keep a blazer in the car with our logo embroidered on it to at least look professional when I’m meeting up with people.

“I’m just saying,” Madden continues, raising his voice so it reaches me in my walk-in closet. “If you’re lonely, she’s a great option. Same building means easy access, am I right?”

Once I’m dressed, I walk out, eyeing him like he might be sick. “Easy access? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Do you need me to explain the birds and the bees?”

He’s smiling, but this isn’t Madden. Madden is the most laid-back, easygoing man I’ve ever met. It’s one of the things I like most about him. He’s never pushy or awkward, but right now, he’s toeing that line.

“What’s going on?”

Before he can give me some bullshit excuse that’s definitely going to be a lie, judging by the look on his face, there’s a knock at my front door.

“Must be Laaaaana,” he says, pumping his eyebrows.

“How can you tell?” My tone couldn’t be drier if I tried.

I’m going to give Madden a bit of time to shake this …thinghe’s going through, but if he doesn’t stop being weird, I’m definitely going to have to rethink this helping me thing. Iwant to spend time withhim, not the alien-abducted version of him.

When I pull open my front door, I’m once again hit by how ridiculously pretty Lana is. Like she stepped off a magazine cover where the girl is dressed in baggy overalls and boots to make her look totally cute and approachable, but she’s still a fucking eleven anyway.

“Ah … hey.” I’ve hooked up with my fair share of hot people, but apparently, this level of hot makes my tongue turn to lead.

“Hey, are we still good? For coffee? I’m early, I’m sorry—it just felt really weird to be ready and hanging around two doors down when …” Her gaze strays over my shoulder. “Oh, hi! I’m Lana.”

I turn to find Madden hovering shirtless at the end of the hall.

“I know.” He doesn’t smile or introduce himself, which is more fucking weirdness when Madden is like a puppy with new people.

“That’s Madden,” I say for him.

“Nice to meet you.” She has dimples and really sweet eyes that slowly dim as Madden doesn’t say anything.

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