So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2)(43)

“Of course she’s not saying that,” Leona announced from the back. “We need your leadership, Tess.”

“Excuse me,” Kira said, looking at her in the mirror. “I’m the captain, and I make the decisions.”

I considered telling Kira about my conversation with Principal Pelli, but no matter how unreasonable she was being, I couldn’t hurt her like that. She wanted to be captain so badly.

“Think about it,” I said, turning to Kira. “For now, take me home. I need to devise a new plan. I have a main suspect, and I know she’s going to slip up.” (Being around Aiden sometimes caused lapses in judgment.) “And when she does, I want to be the one busting her!” Because this mission had just become very personal.

Leona laughed. “You’re going all badass on us, Tess.”

“It’s BA. And I haven’t even begun to catfight,“ I said seriously.

“Well,” Izzie began, “is it Chloe or Mary?”

I narrowed my eyes, replaying the night in the bookstore when Chloe touched Aiden and then the horrific scene of Mary kissing him. Then I closed my eyes. “I don’t know. But I’ll find out.” Then turned to Kira. “Now drive.”

Kira gritted her teeth and shook her head. “Whatever you say, Tessa.”

I watched her, unsure where the animosity was coming from, because if there was one thing I knew, it was that Smitten Kittens didn’t hold animosity toward each other.

But then again, maybe she didn’t consider me a Smitten Kitten anymore.

When I got home, my mother was in the kitchen, sitting at the table clipping coupons out of a magazine. She looked surprised to see me when I walked in. It might have been my head-to-toe black spy wear.

“Hey, honey,” she said suspiciously. “Where are you coming from?”

I sighed and dropped my keys on the granite of the kitchen counter with a clank before sitting down next to her at the table. “I’ve had a bad night,” I said.

“Oh, no. How bad?”

I looked up to see my mother’s eyes wide with concern. Her graying hair was pulled tight in a low bun at the nape of her neck.

“Mom,” I said, feeling my lower lip begin to quiver. “Aiden’s dating another girl.” And with that, I promptly fell apart.

“Shh…” my mother soothed, reaching over to brush back my hair as I laid my head on the cloth of the kitchen table. “Are you sure?”

“I saw him with her tonight,” I said, my voice choked off from the tears. “I saw them kiss.”

My mother tsked, and I felt her rest her cheek on mine. “It’ll be okay, sweetie.”

“It won’t,” I said. “He was with Mary Rudick.”

“Your ex-captain?” My mother straightened up and took me by the chin, helping me do the same. “But that’s against Smitten Kitten rules!” Her normally pale skin had grown a little pink in the cheeks.

I nodded. “I know. My own cheermate betrayed me. She’s even been telling the squad not to let me rejoin.”

“She can’t do that!”

I started tearing up again. Right then, I couldn’t even be angry; I was just so hurt by Aiden. “I love him, Mom. And he doesn’t love me anymore.”

My mother shook her head. “I’m sure that’s not true, Tessa.” She gave me a reassuring smile. “You’re a wonderful, beautiful girl. Aiden’s in college. Maybe he needs some time. Maybe he needs to figure out some things about himself right now.”

I sniffled, trying to decide if my mother was just trying to make me feel better or if she really thought Aiden still loved me. “I’m going to a party,” I said weakly. “The squad wants me to give Chris Townsend a chance.”

My mother smiled. “He’s a very nice boy. Cute, too.”

I laughed. “Yeah.”

My mother reached out, putting her hand over mine on the table. “Why don’t you give it a try? Honey, if you and Aiden are right for each other, he’ll come back. And if not…” She furrowed her brow and didn’t finish her sentence. But that was okay; I didn’t really want her to.

“I’ll try,” I said, twitching my nose. “Thanks, Mom.” I leaned over to give her a hug, holding back my tears. I was glad she was here tonight to comfort me. I knew the Smitten Kittens couldn’t do it right now, with all the mess we were in. And with Izzie’s trouble, I hardly felt right asking.

“It’s going to be okay,” my mother whispered in my ear as she held me.

I closed my eyes, leaning into her shoulder. Right now, I really needed to hear that.

ASSIGNMENT 1

7:00 A.M., SEPTEMBER 19

The operative waited patiently behind the blue Waste Management Dumpster. It smelled like rotten banana peels and sweat socks over there, but it was the best place from which to view the high school’s music room. Riley played bass in the band, and the operative had discovered that he and Megan had begun meeting there before school to talk. Or maybe more.

As a figure walked into the classroom, the operative crouched down, her black boots squishing in the sludge that was leaking from under the Dumpster. She crinkled her nose and took out her video camera to begin recording.

It was Riley. His navy blue T-shirt looked wrinkled, and she was almost positive that it didn’t match the track pants he was wearing. She wondered about the sudden change in his appearance.