Page 131 of The Glittering Edge

His dad and grandfather dragged him all over the party, making sure Corey said hello to everyone important—investors, company VPs, old graduate school classmates, executives at rival companies who can’t help but be impressed the Barrions pulled off a party like this in a place like Idlewood. Through it all, Corey smiled, and shook a hundred hands, and listened to multiple people say he has his dad’s “presence” but “must favor your mom.” Which is an unsubtle way of saying Corey looks Black.

James trained him well. Corey barely broke a sweat, and his smile didn’t waver. When there’s finally a lull in the conversation, he takes the opportunity to “get some water,” and instead he hides in his bedroom.

Now Corey stands on his balcony, which overlooks the woods. He checks his texts. There’s one message from Dylan, which he doesn’t even bother to read. There’s another text from Penny asking where he is, but it’s from over an hour earlier. He texts her back, but there’s no response.

It’s getting closer to eleven—almost time for the curse-breaker. Corey should go find her so they can head to Elkie Lake.

Excitement fills Corey’s chest, making him lighter. Every time his dad introduced him as the “future CEO,” Corey felt the words settle on him like boulders. His dad still hasn’t asked him how he feels about the sudden change, or about the fact that Julian’s life—and Corey and Julian’s relationship—is ruined. But after tonight, it won’t matter. Assoon as they break the curse, Corey’s future won’t be set in stone. His entire family will be free in a way they’ve never been before.

And Corey will figure out what kind of future he actually wants.

Corey turns to leave, but there’s a silhouette in the doorway.

“I’ve been looking for you,” Dylan says.

Corey doesn’t bother to ask how she got in. “Is Royce here?”

“He wasn’t on the guest list, so no. Then again, neither was I. Julian let me in.”

Corey lets out a bitter laugh. Of course he did.

Dylan pauses. “I wouldn’t have brought Royce anyway.”

“I don’t even care. Do what you want,” Corey says, and he brushes past her.

“We should talk,” she says.

He stops at the top step, because even after everything that’s happened, he can’t let himself think he’s better than her, or anybody else. “Not tonight. I’m going back to the party.”

“That’s it?” she asks, but he ignores her as he takes the stairs two at a time. Then she says something that makes Corey’s heart stop.

“Pretty sure I saw Alonso out back,” Dylan says. “You might want to put a collar on him before he causes a scene.”

Corey doesn’t acknowledge what she said. He keeps walking, hands fisted at his sides. But inside, fear tears him apart.

Because if Alonso is here, that means their entire plan is on the verge of imploding.

When he steps outside, Corey heads directly for the woods. He brushes past several people on his way out, including Naomi.

“Have you seen Penny?” she asks.

“No, sorry,” Corey says, and he almost asks if she’s seen Alonso, but Corey doesn’t want word to spread that he’s around. When he looks back, Naomi is marooned in the middle of the crowd, staring at her phone with a pained expression.

How could Alonso be here?Whyis he here? That second question is easier to answer: Penny.

After fifteen minutes of searching, Corey hasn’t found them. His stomach twists in apprehension. Are they together? He checks his phone again, but there’s still no text from Penny or from the Cozy Mystery Book Club chat. He decides to make his way to the lake; they’ll have to be there eventually.

When Corey reaches the tree line behind his grandfather’s house, someone calls his name. Julian appears behind him, clutching his side and breathing hard.

“Where are you going?” Julian asks.

“So you’re talking to me now?”

Julian manages to straighten up. The gel in his hair can’t hold up in the heat, and he pushes a few strands out of his eyes. “Yeah. I guess I am.”

“I was taking a break from all the intros,” Corey says, crossing his arms and trying not to look at his phone again. The full moon is already high in the sky; they need to cast the curse-breaker, and soon.

Julian lets out a bark of laughter. “Cut the shit, Corey. I saw Penny with Alonso.”

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