A Good Boy Is Hard to Find (The Naughty List #3)(16)

“Good,” I said. “First things first, now that we’re suspended, we’ll have to move tryouts to my backyard.”

“How about mine? I have more room,” Leona suggested. She was right. Her house was on nearly an acre with a beautifully manicured lawn. Way better than the hillside that I had.

“That’ll be perfect. Now, Izzie,”—I looked at her—“can you contact the candidates and give them the address?”

“Sure.”

“Am I invited?” Kira asked, trying to look as if she didn’t care, but I knew that face. She was feeling left out.

I sighed. Under normal circumstances, I’d freeze Kira out. Let her serve her punishment. But this was certainly not normal, and the fact was, we needed her. “Kira,” I said, carefully putting one crutch after the other to get closer to her. “Will you rejoin the squad and help us?”

Leona gasped, but I heard a few girls in the back clap. Shock crossed Kira’s face, and a smile pulled up the corner of her mouth.

“That would be … lovely,” she said, suddenly realizing that she was still mad at me. “Glad you’ve come to your senses.”

“Uh, hello, Tessa,” Leona said from behind me. “Love how we got to vote on it?”

She may have been right, but I didn’t have time for squad politics. Decisions needed to be made. Captains needed to be strong.

“These are desperate times. We need her,” I said.

“Like a hole in the head,” Leona retorted.

Kira scoffed. “Why would anyone need a hole in their head, idiot?”

Leona looked at me, a told-you-so expression on her face. I shrugged.

“Well, then,” Kira said, stepping in front of me to face the squad. “Since I’m back on the squad, I’d like to propose that we stop tryouts and go straight to a vote.”

The knife was just plunged into my back. She’d been on the squad 2.1 seconds, and she was already taking charge.

“No,” I said, but Kira turned to smile sweetly at me.

“Desperate times,” she answered and then swiveled her head back to the squad. “All in favor of inducting Chloe Ferril as the only new Smitten Kitten?”

It was straight out of a nightmare. Kira had filled my shoes (cast or not) and swooped in on my leadership. Every squad member (except me) raised her hand. I nearly blew a gasket.

“It’s settled,” Kira said, spinning back around. “Chloe is our newest member. Izzie, deliver the good news to her and make sure she’s at practice. We have a killer cheer to prep for ESPN.”

Kira started to walk away but paused, her mouth near my ear. “They’re all yours, Tess,” she whispered. I stood frozen as she strolled down the hall, clearly proud at how easily she had circumvented me. I glanced at the squad. They were watching me, waiting to be dismissed. At least, I still had the final say.

“So we’ll meet up at Leona’s in a few and get another practice under our Gucci belts,” I began, a bit unsteady. “After that, we’ll plan out the next mission. If Garrett Bash is cheating, he is so busted. We are in crisis mode, ladies. It’s time for true commitment. All Kittens on deck. Understood?”

They nodded enthusiastically. I appreciated their support. In fact, I needed it.

When I stole a sidelong glance at Leona, she pressed her lips together tightly and swallowed with a click. I remembered how brave she seemed when she faced Chris in the hall. And I knew that whoever turned us in was going to feel her wrath. Catching a traitor splintered the squad last time. I wasn’t sure we could survive it again.

Just then Izzie broke away and jogged down the hall after Kira.

Witch’s brew! We were all in a heap of trouble.

SOS

INTENT TO INVESTIGATE

CASE: 068

CLIENT: Janet Springer

SUBJECT: Garrett Bash

This is the SOS official notice of intent to investigate Garrett Bash. The client has accused Mr. Bash of spending more time with his band as a cover for a cheat. We suspect that the subject has been playing more than the guitar.

If you wish to cancel this investigation, please text a stop-work order to 555-0101. Stop orders must be placed within 24 hours of this written notification.

Thank you for thinking of SOS, and we truly hope that our investigation ends with positive results. Have a great day.

Keep smiling,

SOS : )

SOS

Text: 555-0101 * Exposing Cheaters for Over Three Years

Chapter 7

The Washington sky was beginning to cloud over, the rainy season getting ready to start. Glancing at it through Leona’s windshield, I wondered if it were a sign of things to come. Sunshine would feel so much more upbeat right now.

Leona sighed just as she entered my side of town on her way to drop me off at home (no driving until my cast came off). When I looked sideways at her, she was chewing nervously on her bottom lip. Poor thing. She was probably still distraught about Chris.

“Chris is such a jerk, you know?” she said before I could offer my sympathy.

“Oh.” I was obviously way off base on this one. She continued to watch the road as she spoke.

“Did you know that he applied to Harvard?”

Definitely not. “I didn’t know he was that bright.”

She snorted. “He’s not. But he said he wanted to go away to school with me.”