Page 35 of Cohesion

That was a specific number. Peyton ran back over everything he knew about Riley. AndQuinn. “That was when Sebastian and Quinn were first dating.” When Riley had been partnered with Quinn. Before Peyton had even met him. Will had mentioned to him what little he knew of what had happened, what Sebastian and Quinn had told him. A cheating accusation centred around Peyton’s brother, of all people. He hadn’t known what to make of it and not enough to talk to any of them about it.

“Yes.” Riley’s expression dared Peyton to continue the current course of conversation.

He knew Peyton better than that. “I know what happened. With them. With you.”

“I highly doubt that,” Riley replied. “I don’t think even the two of them know what happened.”

“I know you had something to do with it.”

“Indirectly, I suppose. The choices they made were their own. They both had secrets, and it destroyed them. That’s on them alone. I won’t take credit for something that had nothing to do with me.”

“Quinn is better than that.”

Riley picked up a pen, twirled it, then caught it between two fingers. “Don’t make the same mistake that Sebastian made.”

“And what is that?” Peyton asked flatly.

“Forgetting that Quinn is only human. The pedestal that Seb put him on was unfair to them both. It didn’t give them any room to grow together.” Riley put the pen on the blank notepad in front of him. “I’m not going to gossip with you about it. If you’re going to be involved with them, be aware that their past is filled with mistakes theybothmade.”

“Noted.” Peyton sat up straighter. “Wait, how do you know they’re the ones I’m involved with them?”

“Quinn declared a conflict of interest for Sebastian and Will. I know that Will wouldn’t go anywhere without you, so the leap of logic is obvious. I’m also aware that you slept with Sebastian, together, remember? What tangled webs you weave, Peyton.”

“Fuck off.” Peyton bit his lip. “He declared a conflict of interest?”When? Before he’d been attacked and put on leave. Quinn had been serious about all of it from the start. Wanted him—and Will—for more than just sex.

Peyton had a sudden urge to call Quinn. To find him. Kiss him.Touchhim.

“Quinn is nothing if not up front and honourable.”

“Don’t put him on a pedestal, huh?” Peyton asked. That sounded awfully like Sebastian wasn’t the only one who did that.

“Even good people do bad things. Don’t mistake one for the other. He stillisa ridiculously decent person. That doesn’t make him infallible. He made a lot of decisions that hurt Sebastian, that he still—that they both still—carry around with them.”

“Like what?”

“That’s not my place to say. You should ask them.”

Peyton huffed and sat back. Of course. Except that both of them seemed to be shying away from the topic. Even when talking to Will, they’d been vague and danced around the issues. “Are you trying to scare me off them?”

“I would if I thought it would make a difference. They have a lot that they need to work through if they’re going to make it. I don’t agree with either of them dragging anyone else into it while they navigate that. Don’t even get me started on Jericho.” Riley frowned. “He’s sleeping with you.”

“We established that already.” Was Riley going senile? Bit young for that.

“You alone or…?” Riley trailed off.

Peyton bristled at the implication. “Are you fucking kidding me with that question? I’m not cheating on anybody!”

“That isn’t what I asked,” Riley said. “Open relationships exist. I’m trying to establish if you’reallsleeping with Jericho, or if it’s just you.”

“We’renotin an open anything,” Peyton growled. If anyone else even tried to touch Will, or Quinn, or any of them, Peyton would have something unpleasant to say.

Riley’s lips pursed. “I’m gonna kill him,” he muttered.

“I’d prefer he be alive, thanks. Not into necrophilia.”

Riley grimaced. “Not the mental image I need. What the hell is he doing?”

“Well, he—”

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