Page 42 of Just Bromantically Invested

Chapter 15

Madden

I’m lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling, when a text comes through.

Damien owns one of the larger architecture firms in Seattle. We met at a conference where his business was up for an award—that they won—and hit it off. Damien regularly recommends Leaf It to Us and we’ve always stayed in touch.

He divorced a few years ago, and I tried to set him up with Molly before I knew he and Seven were together, but he’s never held that against me. And since I told Damien about the Fever Ridge naturist community, he’s been interested in the lifestyle.

I open his message and read it.

I need yourhelp.

Weird.

Instead of doing the back-and-forth, I click on his number and call him. “What’s going on?”

“I bought a place that I need you to consult on.”

“Consult?”

Damien chuckles. He’s a bit older than me, but he’s made a lot of money, and everything from his clothes to his laugh gives me the impression of someone refined who knows what they’re doing in this world. “If I send you an address, can you meet me there?”

“Sure. For … consulting?”

“Exactly. Bring Penn too.”

Ohhh,landscapingconsulting? That would surely be the only reason he’s asking for Penn as well.

“When do you want to meet?”

“Today, if you’re free.”

I think Penn was going out with Lana, but they should be back by now. My jaw clenches. If they’re not banging. “We’ll be there.” Because if this is a business opportunity, I won’t feel guilty for dragging Penn away.

“Awesome. See you then.”

The address comes through, and I flick Penn a text that I’ll pick him up in an hour.

I hunt down some clean clothes—thankfully, I have enough work shirts to cover me for the week, but it’s the shorts that prove difficult. It’s so exhausting to have to do this every fucking day. I can’t imagine what it’s like for people who actually care what they look like.

“Where are you off to?” Xander asks when I stop by the kitchen to grab a banana.

“Job.”

“Molly and Seven are out too.” He pouts. “Everyone has a life except for me.”

“You wanna come with? I don’t know how interesting talking landscaping will be.”

His expression immediately clears up. “Yeah, I’ll pass on that. Your butt looks good in those shorts.”

“Cheers, Z,” I say around the bite of banana I’ve just taken. “You’ll be okay here?”

“I might go next door and see if I can annoy Agatha.”

“Good idea. Seven hasn’t blasted his music at her house in a while.”

Xander leaves, and I jump in my truck and head for Penn’s place. Even though he didn’t write back to my message, he’s waiting for me when I get there.

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