Page 34 of Just Bromantically Invested

“What do you mean?”

Lana looks at me like I’m missing a few brain cells. “Accidentally brush up against him. Touch his neck, slap his ass, whatever it is you dudes do to rile each other up. See if he pops some wood.”

“I’m straight.”

“Okay, sweet pea.”

I don’t like her tone. “You want me to try and turn my best friend on. That’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.”

Lana throws up her hands. “I don’t know. I don’t know how to be gay. Or straight, for that matter. I’m still learning it all, but Idoknow that if I was attracted to someone and they were paying me attention, there’d be signs. I wouldn’t be pitching a flag post like you men folk do, but it would be obvious.”

“It’s a terrible idea.”

“Of course it is—it came from me—but I think you owe it to yourself to know. If you’re straight and he’s into you, that’s a crummy position for you both. Ignoring it will only make things worse when it inevitably comes out.”

“And, uh, why would that be inevitable?” Maybe it makes me selfish, but I want things to stay the way they are between us. We could spend more time together, obviously, but our dynamic is perfect.

Lana sighs and squeezes my arm. “Because loving someone who doesn’t love you back is the hardest fucking thing in the world to go through. It tears your heart into itty-bitty shreds. You don’t want to tear his heart into itty-bitty shreds, do you?” She gives me a soft smile. “Good luck.”

I can’t reply as I watch her walk up the hall.

The idea of Madden being into me is a joke. We’re comfortable together. Fit together seamlessly. I don’t think we’ve ever had an argument or gone for long stretches without seeing each other. I need Madden. When I think of what a perfect day looks like, he’s always there.

Madden’s mine, and I wouldn’t do anything that would risk losing him.

But if his heart isshredding?

I don’t buy into him having feelings for me, because it’sMadden,and if that’s the case, then her little suggestion wouldn’t hurt.

Madden will probably think I’m having some kind of episode, but once I’m done proving myself right, I’ll be able to relax again. I can fake date Lana, and nothing between me and Madden will change.

I take a deep breath and go back inside. The first thing I notice is that Madden’s clothes aren’t hanging where they normally are. He’s sitting on my couch, fully dressed, remote in hand as he flicks through the channels.

“Ordered Mexican. Hope that’s okay.”

“Your comfort food.”

He doesn’t answer me.

I join him on the couch and tug the side of his shorts. “What’s all this?”

“Wasn’t sure if I should …”

The uncertainty breaks me. I grab his shirt and pull it up, giving him a second to raise his arms and help me. Once it’s off, I press it to his chest and say, “You always should. I’m sorry I didn’t say something before, but it was a first for us. You know I see this place as yours too, and I never want you to be uncomfortable.”

“And … Lana?”

“If she has an issue with it, I’ll go to her place to hang out.”

His eyes search mine. “I’m okay with wearing clothes. Really.”

“You hate them. So, no. Please stop second-guessing and get naked already.”

He pumps his eyebrows at me. “Wanna strip me off?”

I laugh with relief at his playfulness coming back. “Sorry I didn’t pick up any dollar bills on the way home. I didn’t realize I’d be getting a strip show.”

Madden, being the idiot he is, stands up andba-da-bum-bumshis way through a beat as he pushes his shorts off his ass. I watch as the material slides over his beefy thighs, then drops once it reaches his knees. He has nice knees. Strong ones. And very round calves. We used to run laps in college, and I couldn’t keep up with him.

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