A Good Boy Is Hard to Find (The Naughty List #3)(5)

I was going to break her.

From: Kira Reynolds <[email protected]>

To: Tessa Crimson <[email protected]>

Sent: Mon, October 7, 2:45 PM

Subject: btw

I think your cheer lineup is all aerobics and no skill. I know you think you’re the supreme leader of all things SK, but I’ve been working on a routine that I think will fit better.

Unless of course you want to steal that too.

K

From: Tessa Crimson <[email protected]>

To: Kira Reynolds <[email protected]>

Sent: Mon, October 7, 3:15 PM

Subject: Re: btw

My cheers are a test in endurance, K. I don’t expect you to understand since you haven’t properly trained in months. And I didn’t steal anything. Unlike you, who stole my black one-piece kitten suit.

See you at tryouts.

Tessa

Chapter 3

When practice ended, I was aching in places where I didn’t even know I had muscles. I could tell Chloe was hurting, too, but she kept a brave face. And well-paced breathing. The other girls had to stop a half hour before practice ended, but I wouldn’t hold it against them. I was working them hard.

After we dismissed the candidates, the squad gathered on the front bleacher to discuss the practice. I paused to stretch out my throbbing hamstrings.

“I have to say,” Kira announced, “Chloe’s doing a spectacular job.”

“Figures.” Leona began to chew on her thumbnail. “You nominated her.”

I looked down at the wood floor, not wanting to really talk about Chloe or her quest for my crown. “How about the other girls?”

“I don’t know, Tess,” Izzie said. “Chloe seems to be the only one that can keep up.”

Suddenly, the doors of the gymnasium cranked open and Coach Taylor stomped in. I didn’t mind Coach T, especially since he let us manage ourselves, but as he hiked his pants up around his considerable waist, I tensed. That was a sure sign of something important.

“Afternoon, Coach T,” I said, smoothing my ponytail. “Everything okay?”

He stopped short, his lips pressed together under his bushy mustache. “Tessa, would I be here if everything was okay?”

Good point. Coach T made a habit of avoiding our practices when he could. Something about “too much estrogen” for him to handle.

“Just got a call about our upcoming game against the Ducks,” he said.

“Biggest football game of the year,” I added. The Ducks were the Wildcats’ rival team. Cocky and obnoxious, they beat us every game no matter what. But this year, with Blaze Harmon leading the pack, we had a chance. Unless, of course, he was distracted. Hm …

“Now Principal Pelli just called me into his office with some news. And it’s big.” Coach T nodded his head and looked around at us so we could feel the gravity of his statement. Mostly, we just blankly stared back at him.

He sighed heavily. “The game is going to be televised,” he said, sounding annoyed. “ESPN is coming here as part of their high school spotlight program.”

“Oh. My. Word.” Kira stood up, clutching her chest. “We are going to be so famous!” The other Kittens squealed but I saw Coach T roll his eyes.

“So what do you need from us?” I asked, sensing that this wasn’t just a social visit.

“I need you to fill the stands. I need you to make this game exciting. I’m not sure we can beat the Ducks—”

“Why would the Wildcats start winning now? Suck much?” Leona mumbled. Coach T shot her a look, and she apologized before he continued.

“Like I was saying, the Ducks are a tough team. And with ESPN coming, we need to look like contenders. We do that by having an excited, raucous crowd. That’s your job. And those are my orders.”

I nodded. It seemed simple, cheering for a big game, but I could read between the lines. Coach T wanted something special. He wanted a sellout stadium. And the Wildcats football team hadn’t sold out a game since Phil Collins played our halftime show, like, eighty years ago.

We needed to swing for the fences. Wait. Wrong sport.

Suddenly, Leona’s phone beeped loudly with a message, and both Coach T and I glared at her. It was very frowned upon to have your cell on in the gymnasium. She glanced down but then snapped her head up to widen her eyes at me.

Man on the moon! It was about the mission. Thinking quickly, I reached forward to put my hand supportively on Coach T’s forearm. “Thanks for your belief in us.” I smiled. His lip curled slightly. “We’ll make you proud.”

Coach T stepped back, seemingly made off balance by my sweetness as he looked around at the squad. Then he hiked at his waistband again and snorted, “See that you do, Tessa.” With that, he turned and hustled his way out of the gymnasium.

The minute the metal doors clicked, I rushed over to Leona. “Give me the double scoop.”

She handed me her phone as I sat on the wooden bleacher next to her. I looked down and scrolled through the SOS text message.

Blaze Harmon is hooking up @ the field house in 10 min. Might want 2 add him to yr Naughty List

The message had come from a restricted number, so I couldn’t pinpoint the source. But that wasn’t unusual. In the spying business, we couldn’t always vet all of our sources. In fact, a lot of Naughty List tips came anonymously.