So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2)(39)

“Half!”

“And a Frappuccino.”

Ooh…he had me there. I glanced at the group, glad Kira hadn’t heard. Suddenly I felt like everyone was sizing me up. Literally.

“Tessa needs to get in shape before she comes back to the squad,” Kira said, fluffing her curls and smoothing her lips together.

Joel scoffed as he pointed to me. “You’re joking, right?” He glanced toward my…er…date. “Chris, do you believe that shit?”

“I think she looks great,” Chris said, his hand grazing mine as he stood next to me. I gulped.

“Thanks.” I tried to sound upbeat, but the idea of sitting in a darkened theater with Chris was making my stomach butterflies go from anxious to nauseous.

“Now get this girl some butter.” Joel smiled at me. “And see if they have any gummy bears. I bet she likes gummy bears.”

Hm. It just so happened that he was right.

“What about me?” Kira asked, her arms sliding around Joel’s waist from behind. “Anything you want,” he murmured over his shoulder to her, his voice low, sexy.

I felt queasy. I remembered when Aiden and I were like that. Oblivious to the people around us—just in love. I sniffled.

“Tessa.” Leona called from across the lobby. She was standing with Izzie, who even from here looked like a complete wreck. “Let’s go get seats. Now.”

I glanced at Chris, who nodded.

“See you in there,” Joel said with a smile before taking Kira’s hand and walking toward the concessions.

We parked ourselves in the back row of the near-empty theater and tried to answer the movie trivia. After a few minutes, I took out my phone and called Aiden’s dorm room, but all I got was his voice mail. I hung up.

“Stop calling him,” Leona murmured from the seat next to me. “You’re trying to look like you’re on a date.” She wasn’t even looking in my direction, but I nodded anyway.

I heard loud giggling as the theater doors opened. I turned in my seat to see Kira being followed in by both Joel and Chris. She looked completely confident. The opposite of how I felt.

“She looks so pretty,” I said.

“She always looks nice for Joel,” Izzie replied.

As Kira made her way down the aisle, Leona got up and moved to the far corner by the wall (at least four seats away from Kira) and Izzie slid over next to her. Chris carefully balanced a tub of popcorn—with butter running down its side—as he sat next to me, and Kira dropped down on my other side. Joel paused before sinking down next to Kira.

“I’ve had the worst day,” Kira said, turning to me as she fanned herself with her hand. “Mary has been calling me nonstop.”

“Really?” My back flinched. “What about now?”

“You.”

I widened my eyes. “I told her to back off,” I said. “Remember, Kira, she isn’t part of the squad anymore. You don’t have to listen to her.” Just thinking about Mary’s betrayal was making my blood boil.

Kira reached over for a handful of popcorn. “I know,” she said. “First she was rambling on about college, and honestly, Tess, you know how much I hate talking about the academic system. Mostly she wanted to hear your cheer status.”

Seemed like I was the talk of the squad lately, only no one was talking to me. “And what about…other things?” I asked, not sure what Kira had updated her on regarding SOS. Just then I noticed how Joel was leaning forward, listening to our conversation. He was being a bit of a snoop. “We’ll discuss this after the movie,” I whispered to Kira, leaning back in my chair.

The lights dimmed as the movie started, and there was rustling as everyone got situated in their seats. I wasn’t particularly excited to see this flick. I mean, I was always happy to watch attractive movie stars display their muscles in the name of action, but now it only made me think of Aiden. And that time when I stabbed him.

“I was wondering,” Chris whispered, his breath reeking of Junior Mints. “Are you still coming to my party next weekend after this? I want you to.”

There was a fluttering in my stomach. Sure, this movie could possibly already be considered a date, but now Chris was asking me on a second date. And although I was flattered, I was also scared senseless! I wasn’t even sure that I liked Chris.

“Um…”

“We’ll all be there, Chris,” Leona said for me, leaning over in her seat to look down the aisle at us. “Thanks for asking.”

“I have the perfect costume,” Izzie cooed, clapping.

“Great,” Chris said, glancing between us. Then he leaned back in his seat and placed his arm around me, kneading my shoulder with his fingers. I thought about moving, but I didn’t want to be rude. Instead I picked up a handful of over-buttered popcorn and shoved it into my mouth.

“Oh.” Kira jumped from next to me, startling me.

I looked over as she fished her cell phone out of her purse and glanced at the number. She bit her lip, bending forward in her seat. “It’s Mary,” she whispered.

“Do you want me to talk to her?” I asked. Because I had a few choice words for her.

Kira looked over her shoulder at me, as if surprised that I’d ask. “No. I’ll handle it.” She clicked the phone on and said, “Hold on,” into the phone as she got up. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered to Joel, patting his leg as she stood up.