Page 176 of The Glittering Edge

Corey has to stay away from Penny. And he can never tell her why.

A strange emptiness replaces the peace Corey has felt over the last few days. It’s dark, but it’s familiar. He lets himself adjust to this uncomfortable, unexpected new reality. Then he grabs the flowers and gets out of the car. There’s a trash can on the street, and as Corey walks by it, he lifts the lid and drops the flowers inside.

Corey walks up to Alonso, who doesn’t acknowledge him. Music is blasting in the witch’s earbuds and Corey smirks before he leans into his line of sight.

“Shit.” Alonso jumps. He takes out his earbuds. “You’re stealth, man.”

“No, your music is too loud.”

Alonso shrugs. “That’s the only way I can feel anything.”

“What about when Penny laughs at one of your stupid jokes?”

Alonso snorts, and he must see something in Corey’s face, because his smile fades. “It’s weird, right? Her and me?”

“Is it official?” Corey is smiling, but underneath, that emptiness rings in his chest.

But Alonso never answers; something in the distance catches his eye, and he grins. “They’re here.”

Penny

“DOTH MINE EYES DECEIVE ME, OR IS ALONSO DE LUCA WEARING GARDENINGgloves in my front yard?” Penny’s mom asks. “And Corey Barrion is here! Wow. And Ron was wasting time telling me about our profit-and-loss statement.”

“Those numbers are important, okay?” Ron says from the driver’s seat. “Anyway, I’m as curious as you are! Those boys are standing next to each other, so why don’t they look angry?”

“No idea,” Penny says, but she’s smiling so big that her face hurts. She rushes to get out of the car, waving to Alonso and Corey.

“I’ll grab your mom’s bag,” Corey says.

Alonso’s smile disappears. “Hey, no, I’ll get it.”

“I’m literally carrying it already,” Corey says as he hefts a duffel bag onto his shoulder.

“Gentlemen, please!” Anita says. “Don’t have a smackdown.”

“Mom!” Penny says, and Ron snorts.

As Corey heads into the house, Alonso shifts his focus to Penny. They lock eyes, and the unsaid words between them could fill a book. He takes off his gardening gloves and runs a hand self-consciously through his hair. His arms glisten with sweat, and Penny clears her throat and looks away.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Emberly,” Alonso says.

“Why thank you,” Penny’s mom says, her tone teasing. “I guess you were the one keeping my garden alive?”

“Penny mentioned that you’d be sad if you came home and realized they didn’t take care of it.”

“I watered,” Penny says weakly.

“We have a lot in common, don’t we?” her mom says, smiling at Alonso. “We both have green thumbs, a fondness for my daughter—”

“Mom.”

“Come on, everyone,” Ron says. “We can drag each other over glasses of lemonade in air-conditioning.”

“That sounds perfect,” Anita says, but her smile wavers. When Corey comes back outside, she says, “I thought your aunt might be coming? She’s welcome to join us.”

Corey’s face falls. “She couldn’t make it.”

Penny’s mom nods, smiles, makes some joke. The whole time, the heartbreak is visible. It makes her eyes go unfocused, like she’s not really seeing what’s in front of her.

---