Page 73 of The Edge of Always

Luna wanted to push for more info, but she didn’t. Still, his words were a balm for her frayed heart.

‘Why hasn’t he made a move then?’

‘Because he’s terrified. And this summer especially, he’s comfortable. Too comfortable. He has you right where he wants you.’

Luna didn’t like the insinuation that Emmett was using her in some way. She went to defend him, but Ahmed held up his hands.

‘I’m not saying that he’s doing it on purpose, or for any reason other than fear. I think we just need to jolt him out of it, that’s all.’

The party carried on around them. Luna watched as Emmett came in from the garden. His eyes briefly met hers before he moved to whisper something to Earl. Whatever Emmett told him, it made Earl frown. He continued to frown as he and Emmett huddled in the corner, deep in conversation.

‘Just think about it, Luna.’

‘What here? In my parents’ kitchen?’

‘No, we’d have to wait for it to have maximum impact. Really hit home. When the time is right, come find me. Let’s see if we can put an end to all this longing.’

The time was never right. Or at least, it wasn’t for the next five days. Emmett sunk into a dark mood, his first that summer. He wouldn’t meet Luna’s eye when they talked, but he agreed to let her sketch him. Luna couldn’t be sure that it wasn’t because that way, they wouldn’t have to speak.

‘Do you know what’s wrong with Emmett?’ Luna asked Earl one afternoon in the studio. ‘And also, I can’t get his eye right – what do you think?’

Earl peered over her shoulder. ‘Eyes are difficult, I think. Like a tiny universe on the page. But this is very skilled work, Luna. You’re too hard on yourself.’

‘All this time sketching an eye.’

‘It is very beautiful. You could add more dimension, perhaps, where the eyelid casts a shadow. But still, it is excellent work. You should become an artist.’

It was a thing that Earl kept saying to her. He smirked as he said it.

‘It’s not real art.’

He held up her pencil.

‘What is this?’

‘It’s a pencil.’

‘Okay, but does it know that it is a pencil?’

‘Well, no, it can’t think for itself. I know what you’re doing.’

‘Then you will know that so much of the world is subjective. This is a pencil because we all believe that it is a pencil.’

‘You can make your point now.’ Luna smirked, and Earl laughed.

‘Art is what we say it is, that is all. Oh, and Emmett has had word that Tanya will be out this September. I think that he has mixed feelings, as you say.’

Luna thought about the party. About how Ahmed had said that Emmett was too comfortable.

‘He’s down again,’ she said to Earl.

Earl had paused in front of his own work in progress. He frowned. ‘He is. I hate to see it.’

‘I do too.’

‘It will not last.’

‘But any sadness is too much, isn’t it?’