Page 122 of The Glittering Edge

Corey averts his eyes. “Yeah. I did.”

“Why?”

He lets out a bitter laugh. “Because I’m a fucking child.”

The venom in his voice makes Penny clutch the envelope a little tighter. Whatever anger she had toward him—and therewasanger, she recognizes that now—fades. But there’s another problem.

“I met your grandfather today.”

Corey’s jaw drops. “You… what? Where?”

“He’ll probably tell you the story. But he wants me to stay away from you.”

“What? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“He knows we’ve been spending time with Alonso. He’s suspicious. He thinks you’re in danger or something.” Penny holds the envelope out to him. “Me going to the gala is not a good idea right now.”

Corey stares at the envelope. Then he pushes it gently back toward Penny. “I’ll tell him I invited you.”

“But—”

“My grandfather has dictated enough in my life,” Corey says. “I want you there.”

Penny takes the envelope back. She probably shouldn’t ask the burning question, but she can’t help it. “And Alonso—?”

“Don’t tell him.”

“Right,” Penny says, her voice cracking.

Corey hesitates. “Penny, is there…”

She waits. He seems to mull over the words, but she can almost hear them:Is there something going on between you and Alonso?

A blast of warm summer air hits Penny. Her hair sticks to her neck. Her heart pounds.

How would she answer that?

“Never mind,” he says, turning to walk back to his car. “Text me if you can make it.”

Penny sits on the porch for a long time staring at the invitation. This istheBarrion gala. And she could bring Naomi. It wouldn’t make Penny a good friend after weeks of being MIA, but it would be a start.

Penny sends Corey a text:I’ll be at the gala. Thank you.

Even after she messages Naomi and gets an enthusiasticYES OFC I’LL COME OMG, Penny has a feeling she’s not making the right decision. Because she’s too far into the Barrions’ world already. She needs distance, and not just because Mr. Barrion told her to stay away from Corey.

Corey’s family has suffered from the curse for decades. They’re the victims here. So why is Penny’s gut telling her that getting any closer to the Barrions is a bad idea?

Corey

WHEN COREY GETS HOME FROM HIS UNANNOUNCED VISIT TO PENNY’Shouse, he goes straight to the basement.

Julian is in the screening room, where he’s been living since Grandpa Charles announced the new hierarchy. He sits in the middle of five rows of theater seats, slumped back as if he’s asleep. But his eyes are open.

Corey sits next to him, but Julian doesn’t move a muscle. On the screen, Daniel Kaluuya’s face is large and terrified as he’s forced into the Sunken Place.

“Did you need something?” Julian asks, his voice distant.

“You have to talk to me eventually.”

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