Page 76 of Cohesion

“There’s no wrong answer.”

Peyton knew he meant that sincerely. How they were twins, Peyton didn’t know sometimes. Parker was so much better than him. A sweeter, kinder version of him. “Thanks.”

“Just don’t shut me out, okay?” Parker said. “We’re a team. Even if you have sixty guys in your bed—”

“Four. Let’s not exaggerate. How would I have a bed big enough for sixty guys?”

“We could buy a castle. And turn the ballroom into one giant bed.”

“That is a lot of mattresses.”

“A giant slumber party. I wonder if you could get one big mattress custom-made?”

“With enough money, I think you can get anything made.”

“True. If we pooled our money, how much would we have?”

“Not enough for a ballroom-sized mattress.”

“Being a peasant is so hard,” Parker lamented.

“It’s the worst,” Peyton agreed.

“Even if you havesixtyguys, Peyton, you’re still my brother. My twin. That means we talk to each other. Even if… even if we’re apart, right?”

Peyton narrowed his eyes in confusion. That had been too pointed. “Yes. Is there something you want to tell me?”

“You’re the one shacking up with four guys. You haven’t been home in like a week.”

“I’vebeenhome.” For clean underwear and clothes if nothing else. “Just not at the same time. I’d like to point out that neither have you.”

“I’m not staying here on my own when someone dumped a dead body in our apartment.”

“The one responsible has been taken care of. And they weren’t after you. Or even Will and me.”

“Do I want to know?”

“Probably not, no.”

Parker shrugged. “I’ve been staying with the married couple I’ve been seeing.”

“You’re still dating them?” Peyton used the word “dating” loosely, but Parkerhadbeen seeing them for longer than Peyton had seen him with anyone else, so maybe it was apt. “I guess you sorted out the issue you had with feeling like they were just using you?” Better have, or Peyton was going to go knock some heads together. No one got to make Parker feel like that. They didn’t deserve even a minute of his attention, if they did.

“Yeah.” When Parker smiled, it lit up his whole face, and Peyton couldn’t help but respond in kind. It was nice to see his brother looking so happy. “They’re wonderful. I’ve… hit a bit of a snafu, though.”

“Oh?” If Parker cried or even looked like he was going to cry, Peyton would be taking care of it himself. Once was already too many times.

“So I didn’t tell you their names.”

“No, you did not. I figured you’d tell me when you were ready?”

“Well… yes. But I’ve beendeliberatelyhiding their names.”

“Okay?” That didn’t sound good. Who the fuck was it?

“They asked me to move in with them.”

Peyton’s lips parted in surprise. “Jesus, Parker. That’s huge. Is that—do you want to? It’s okay if you don’t want to or you need time to think about it.”

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