Page 71 of Just Bromantically Invested

Not so amused anymore. “What?”

“I’ve never had alcohol before. And I’ve heard all about alcohol poisoning and people having to have their stomachs pumped. What if I pass out and I’m home alone and no one is there to call an ambulance?—”

“Whoa. Stop. You’ve had two beers.”

Her voice shakes. “Is that … is that okay? My head hurts.”

“It’s very unlikely you’d get alcohol poisoning from two beers.” I think. I’m not a doctor, but that sounds right to me.

“Can I stay with you?” She’s close to tears, and all I can do is stare at her.

With … me? “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“My fingers are all tingly, and I can’t feel my mouth. I’m freaking out here. Please, Penn?”

There is no fucking way in hell I’m letting her stay with me, and while we might work together, we don’t actually know eachother. Is Lisa really that sheltered that she doesn’t even know about stranger danger?

“Is there anywhere I can drop you off? With a friend, maybe?”

“All my friends live on campus in the U District. They’re always partying. It’s loud. I don’t like it.”

Well, shit. I can’t leave her alone, and I’m not taking her to my place …

An idea hits me, and I pull out my phone to call Lana.

She answers after only a few rings.

“Hey, I need a favor.”

There’s a very long pause, and she doesn’t even break it to ask me what the favor is. “Fine. But you owe me about twenty by this point.”

Chapter 25

Madden

“What on earth have you done to this poor, little princess, Pennwick Beaverington?”

My head snaps toward Penn’s front door at the shriek from out in the hallway.

Pennwick Beaverington?

The voices are muffled this time, but I still pull on some shorts and pop my head out into the hall, mostly because I’m nosy but also because I want to make sure everyone is okay. I’m met by the sight of Lana in a shower cap and slippers, while Penn is struggling to keep a drunk Lisa on her feet.

“What’s going on out here?”

“Help?” Penn squeaks.

I hurry to join him on her other side, and we guide Lisa into Lana’s apartment while Lana holds the door open for us to pass.

Even though the place has the same layout as Penn’s, itlooks completely different. There’s bright-colored furniture everywhere, art on all the walls, and what looks like lumps of clay spread out over her kitchen counter.

Penn’s place has its own style, but he’s a minimalist.

As soon as we get close to the dark orange suede couch, Lisa lets go of us and slumps down into it.

“Feel so yucky,” she mutters.

“There, there,” Lana says, pressing a bowl into her lap and a glass of water into her hands. “I’ve got a spare bed and pulled out some pajamas for you, so why don’t we get you in the shower and rested for tonight?”

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