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

With a heavy sigh, I pushed her voice away. Right now, I just needed some sleep. The Blaze Harmon mission was draining my energy.

I walked into the kitchen and put the cream-puff bag in the fridge—to be honest, I didn’t much care for them. But I hadn’t wanted to hurt Joel’s feelings. My dad would surely devour it, and then maybe I could use it as a way to get them to like each other. Pastries are generally a good bonding tool.

My house phone rang, and I crossed to pick it up as I kicked off my sneakers. “Hello?”

“Don’t hang up.”

I froze at the sound of Aiden’s voice. He’d been sending me e-mails—nearly every day—and I knew he was in town this weekend. But I’d made sure to avoid anywhere I could bump into him. And now that it was Sunday, I’d expected him to be gone. What was I supposed to say to him? I mean, he slept with Mary Rudick.

Images filled my head. The day I saw her sneak away at the bookstore. The horrifying moment when I saw them kiss through the back window of his car. My eyes immediately watered, and I hung up the phone. My breath caught as I stared at it, half expecting it to ring again. But it didn’t. It didn’t.

From: Tessa Crimson <[email protected]>

To: Joel Fletcher <[email protected]>

Sent: Sun, October 6, 11:45 PM

Subject: I meant to tell you …

I really don’t think Kira is okay with us hanging out. I feel terrible! Am I a bad friend?

Tessa

From: Joel Fletcher <[email protected]>

To: Tessa Crimson <[email protected] >

Sent: Sun, October 6, 11:48 PM

Subject: Re: I meant to tell you …

Are you seriously up stressing about this? I’ve told you, Kira and I have talked. We didn’t break up because of you. Even though I’m completely (and excuse the bad pun) smitten with you, I wouldn’t do something like that to Kira. She knows this.

So can you please let it go? I think maybe you’re reading too much into it.

Now go to sleep! Lol

J

Chapter 2

“All right, girls,” I said, clapping my hands. “Let’s take it from the top.” The candidates were bent over, hands on their knees and staring at me as if I were crazy.

“Tess,” Leona whispered from my side. “I think you’re going to kill them.”

I considered this. Little Maureen’s normally well-tanned face was beet red and swollen. Sara and Anne were leaning against each other, murmuring something that sounded like, “Water. Water.” And then, of course, there was Chloe Ferril. She was standing up straight, retying her blond ponytail, and wearing a black-velour sweat suit, even though she wasn’t even breaking a sweat.

“I think they’re fine,” I whispered back to Leona. Okay, maybe I was being a bit overzealous, but I was committed to making the Smitten Kittens the best team in Washington! This was it—our senior year. And I wanted to leave with a stellar reputation.

Truth was getting new candidates for the squad was extremely difficult. Especially since it meant they would become members of SOS. There was extensive psychological testing, physicals, and then nominations. It was only after a girl was vouched for that she could officially try out—and of course, sign a legally binding confidentiality agreement. Since Chloe Ferril had known about our SOS identities after trying (and failing) to steal my ex-boyfriend, she got an automatic pass to tryouts. Not to mention that Kira vouched for her. My guess was that she did it to spite me.

“Take a break everyone,” I heard from behind me. Before I turned, the candidates sighed with relief and ran for the hall water fountains. See. They were totally fine.

When I looked over my shoulder, I saw Kira standing there, her blond curls perfect around her face. My eyes narrowed as I met her cool blue ones.

“Kira,” Leona said immediately. “You’re suspended. You’re not allowed to—”

“Relax,” she interrupted. “I’m not trying to interfere. I just need to talk with Tessa for a minute. If you don’t mind.”

Leona tensed next to me. We’d only recently discovered that Kira was secretly trying to destroy me, trying to steal the squad, and more importantly, trying to turn SOS into something vengeful. But in the spirit of the Smitten Kittens, we decided to forgive her. Or at least, that was the way it looked on the outside. She and I were still far from okay.

It didn’t help that I was racked with guilt about her and Joel splitting up. Even though, technically, he and I weren’t even dating. Still, it was bad form. And if I could have prevented it, I would have. I’m sure I would have.

“Why don’t you take a break, too,” I murmured to Leona, touching her arm. “You’ve been working double overtime with these tryouts.”

Leona chewed on her lip for a second, then glanced at Kira before nodding at me. “Fine. But I’ll be outside if you need me.”

“Whatever, Leona,” Kira snapped. “What do you think I’m going to do?”

“Don’t know, Kira. Bat-shit crazy is your department.”

“Language,” I said.

Leona rolled her eyes. “See you in five.” She walked slowly to the gym doors, looking back once. I smiled reassuringly. Even though Kira had been a bit out of control, she and I had agreed to behave. No public displays of dissention.