So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2)(3)

“Shit, Tess. You really did hurt yourself,” Aiden said as he helped me to the kitchen.

“I’m sure it’s nothing.” I waved him off, although each step sent white-hot splinters of pain down my leg. Once we reached the kitchen, Aiden let me go and walked to my fridge, opening it and ducking his head in. He was so cute when he rummaged for food.

I sighed, leaning up against the cool counter as I clicked on the phone. “Hello?”

“Tessa! Thank God you’re home!” Leona said in a quick breath.

My heart sped up. “Everything okay?”

“No. Not even remotely. Kira’s on the line too.”

“Hey, Tess.” Kira spoke up, sounding awful. She was captain of the Smitten Kittens; she wasn’t allowed to sound glum.

“K,” I said, completely concerned, “did something happen?” I really hoped this wasn’t about her boyfriend. After she’d found out Darren had cheated on her last year, she’d finally rebounded this summer with a nice guy! She was overdue for some good karma. My pedicurist said so during our last session.

“I told Leona not to bother you,” Kira said apologetically. “I have it under control.”

“You so don’t,” Leona began. “Now zip it and let me bring Tessa up to speed.”

Well, I was glad to hear that it didn’t sound relationship related. Kira and Leona were probably arguing about proper skirt length again. I swear, if I didn’t know those two had been friends since kindergarten, I’d think they hated each other. But I knew better. Smitten Kittens didn’t hate. We were like sisters.

I tucked the phone into the crook of my neck and hobbled to the fridge, reaching above Aiden’s bent-over frame to grab an ice pack from the freezer.

“I would have gotten that for you,” he said, taking the pack from my hands to soften it up before handing it back. “You don’t have to do everything yourself, Tess—like leading someone else’s cheer practice.” He intentionally said that last bit a little louder.

I narrowed my eyes at him, hoping that Kira and Leona hadn’t heard. Aiden wasn’t a big hit with the squad lately. They seemed to think that he was the reason for my sudden decrease in pep. But I denied it wholeheartedly. I was plenty peppy! Especially when Aiden was around.

Before walking away, I leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the lips and then put the ice to my back. I limped to the kitchen table, and when I sat down, Aiden motioned with his finger for me to come back over, but I shook my head and refocused on my phone call.

“Sorry, girls. What were we talking about?” I tried to turn in my chair so that I couldn’t see Aiden anymore, but when I did, my muscle clenched again.

Butterscotch! I really hoped this wasn’t a true pulled muscle, one that would require physical therapy. I had always been very careful about stretching before any athletic exertion. Maybe I was just getting old. After all, I would be eighteen this year.

“Have you even been listening?” Leona asked with a heavy sigh.

“I told you not to bug her,” Kira said, as if I wasn’t on the line. “Aiden’s in town.”

“Ugh,” Leona moaned. “Doesn’t that boy have his own place to live?”

My mouth twitched. I did not want to get into this discussion again. Sure, Aiden and I still spent a lot of quality time together, and yeah, I’d been a bit distant from the squad since I’d left, but that wasn’t all because of my boyfriend…er…ex-boyfriend (sort of).

“Hurry,” Aiden whispered as he walked past me, swishing my hair with his hand. “I have to get back to school pretty soon.”

I watched Aiden stroll back into my living room, still shirtless in loose khakis, barefoot, handsome.…

“Can I call you later?” I said absently into the phone. I didn’t want Aiden to go back to college. Once he left, I knew it’d be at least a week—maybe two—before I saw him again.

I was just about to hang up when Leona’s no-nonsense voice rang through my ears with urgency.

“Tessa,” she snapped. “I’m calling you with a message. And it’s from SOS.”

SOS CHANGE ORDER

Dear Clients,

Now that SOS has resumed its investigations, we want to clear up some confusion. We have created a fee schedule in addition to donations to keep our operation afloat. SOS is in need of new equipment, especially computer discs.

The new fee breakdown is as follows:Cheater Report: $20

Potential Boyfriend Report: $15

Matchmaking Service: $15

Also, SOS will no longer be a secret organization. Details will soon follow, but rest assured, SOS will once again make this county a safer place for hearts.

Keep kicking ass.

SOS

SOS

Text: 555-1863

Exposing Cheaters for Over Three Years

CHAPTER TWO

MY. HEART. STOPPED.

“Leona, there is no SOS,” I murmured, my face tingling. “We disbanded, remember? Even packed everything away in Izzie’s grandparents’ garage.” I winced as I felt yet another twinge in my back. Just the letters SOS nearly brought on a panic attack.

I glanced into the living room, where Aiden was sitting on the couch, flipping through the television stations. He looked so peaceful. I hated thinking about SOS, especially when Aiden was here.