So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2)(37)

I smiled, meeting her gaze. “You sound like Madame Corrine.”

“The psychic?” Kira gasped. “She’s the reason I hate fortune-tellers!”

Kira’s mother turned off the sink and turned to us. “Oh, no,” she said. “No more psychic hotlines in this house!”

“Mom,” Kira interrupted. “I already said I was sorry!”

Her mother adjusted her robe and cursed under her breath as she walked across the apartment toward her room. I hated when Kira and her mother fought, which was surprisingly often. My mom never yelled at me, let alone threw things in my general direction when she was angry. Kira’s household didn’t follow the same rules.

I sighed. Kira was a great friend and a hardworking captain, but I wasn’t sure I wanted her to be my matchmaker. Not after the dating debacle she got Izzie involved in this summer. Before she’d settled down with Sam, Izzie had let Kira set her up with a guy from her church. But honestly, Izzie shared part of the blame in the mess. She should have been able to recognize her own cousin!

“I’ll go to the movie,” I said, sighing. I had to do my part to reunite the Smitten Kittens. “But please understand that it’s not a real date. I still want Aiden. This is just for the squad.”

Kira clapped. “Yay! You’re going to have a new boyfriend by the end of the night!”

My stomach turned at the thought. I just wanted my old boyfriend back, but each day that passed, I could feel it becoming more unlikely. At least my fake date could help me get something back: the Smitten Kittens.

As I sat on Kira’s bed, listening to Izzie tearfully recount her fight with Sam, I glanced around Kira’s room, at the mixture of music posters and cheer paraphernalia. The pictures of us stuck to the mirror of her vanity, a few folded so they cut Leona’s face just enough to make her look like a Cyclops. And then there were the piles of clothes flowing from the closet. Kira had never been big into organization.

“Personally,” Leona said, ignoring Izzie’s sniffling, “I think you could do better than Sam. Have you seen that kid Franco in my Spanish class? He’s muy caliente.”

“Leona.” Kira stomped her foot. “You know we don’t speak Spanish, so don’t try any secret codes.” She twitched her mouth and then readjusted her stance. “Now which guy are you talking about?”

“But I like Sam,” Izzie whined.

“I understand,” I whispered. Izzie looked up, her green eyes brimming with tears. “And I’m sorry about the team too. But we’ll get through this together,” I said. “And I know that your boyfriend is number-one priority, but we also have to crack down on this copy-Kitten.”

“Speaking of,” Leona interrupted. “I haven’t received the signed release form from you or Kira yet. Are you on board for Operation Knockoff?”

Kira and I turned to each other at the same time. It looked like we’d both been slacking. “I’ll get it to you by lunch,” I said to Leona. Kira pressed her lips in a smile and turned to Leona.

“I’ll hand in mine right now.”

I shifted a little uneasily but then tried to refocus as Kira began rummaging through the crumpled papers on her dresser.

“So,” I began, looking between Izzie and Leona. “We’ll do the movies tonight, but after the show, we’ll plan the first SOS sting for tomorrow. Sound good?”

Izzie nodded, wiping at her nose with the back of her sleeve. Leona nodded approvingly. “Finally.”

And with that, SOS was officially back and ready to investigate.

Something was off about all of us, but that would change soon. Once I was a bona fide member of the squad again, people would listen. Because overall, the skirt demanded respect. Even if I wasn’t the captain anymore.

SOS CHEATER REQUEST

CASE: 003

CLIENT: Izzie Edwards

SUBJECT: Samuel Facillo

Dear Ms. Edwards,

Thank you for your cheater request. Although we sympathize with your concerns that your college boyfriend is cheating, we regret that we cannot take on your case.

Because of your current status with the Smitten Kittens, you and your fellow cheerleaders are banned from our investigations. I’m sure you can understand the conflict.

We do hope that Mr. Facillo is in fact not cheating, but if you find out that he is, we trust you will do what’s right and carry out the relationship termination on your own.

Thank you for thinking of us. And we offer you our sincerest wishes for your future.

Keep kicking ass,

SOS ☺

SOS

Text: 555-1863

Exposing Cheaters for Over Three Years

CHAPTER TWELVE

“YOU DID WHAT?” I DEMANDED, MY MOUTH HANGing open as I stared at Izzie while she drove.

“I thought they could help,” Izzie said, her face puffy from crying. She’d just admitted that she’d solicited help from the fake SOS in order to find out if Sam had been cheating on her!

“Izzie, why would you do that? Don’t you remember what happened when I spied on Aiden?” If not, the small scar on my forehead should be a reminder.

“I know! It was stupid,” she said, tears racing down her cheeks. “But what am I supposed to do? He said he wanted to take a break. Why would he need a break if there wasn’t another girl involved?”