So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2)(47)

“Pretty cute, tiny Crimson.”

I laughed. “Thanks.” I was about to ask him to leave but then decided that it wouldn’t be awful to let him stay a few more minutes. It might be selfish, but I really wanted the company. “Would you like a glass of lemonade?” I asked.

“Please.” Joel put his hands in his pockets and made his way over to my couch.

I poured us each a glass of lemonade and carried them over to him, taking the seat across the room from him in the lounger. “So,” I said. “Are you going to Chris’s party next weekend?”

Joel lifted an eyebrow. “I might. You?”

I sipped at my drink and then set it on the coaster on the side table. “Yeah, I guess. Part of my deal with the squad is that I need to date someone…more appropriate. They think Chris is the one.”

Joel’s mouth opened, and he set his glass down and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees to stare at me. “Are you serious? They’re forcing you to go out with him…what? Because he’s a jock?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Nobody’s forcing me. They just think it’d be a good idea. I don’t know.”

“Do you like him?”

“I…I don’t really know him.”

“You don’t like him.”

My heart began to beat a little faster, and I sat up straighter. “Chris Townsend is a perfectly nice guy. He plays football, gets good grades. What’s not to like?”

Joel smiled. “Um…everything you just mentioned.”

I shook my head. “Don’t be judgmental. Chris is great.”

Joel pursed his lips and then leaned forward to pick up his glass and slowly sipped from it. “Not saying he’s not. Just wondering if he’s great for you.”

I watched as Joel drank from his glass until it was gone, then he stood up and glanced around the room one more time. “I should probably take off,” he said. “I’m supposed to go meet up with Kira.”

Despite the small twinge in my back, I stood up to walk him to the door. “Thanks for the ride,” I said, taking his glass as we got to the kitchen.

Joel paused, standing directly in front of me and looking down. “Anytime.” He smiled, his signature crooked grin, then moved to the door to let himself out.

“I’ll see you around, tiny Crimson.”

I watched as he walked out, but the minute he was gone, I turned the dead bolt and went straight to my room. As I lay there on my bed, I reminded myself of all the reasons I should focus on Chris. And how he was…perfect.

SOS CHEATER REQUEST

CASE: 004

CLIENT: Nancy Dwire

SUBJECT: Michael Machovelli

We have received your cheater request and are delighted to inform you that your assignment has been scheduled. This notice is to let you know that the process will begin shortly.

Mr. Machovelli is accused of having a sexual relationship with an unnamed accomplice, dating all the way back to June.

SOS will inform you of our findings as soon as possible.

Keep kicking ass,

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

NOT A WORD FROM AIDEN. I HADN’T TRIED TO CALL him, and even though it crushed me not to hear from him, I didn’t know what I’d do if he called anyway. Instead I tried to focus on the squad—getting the cheers together in my head (although I wasn’t technically a Smitten Kitten yet) and keeping my eyes out for signs of the copy-Kitten.

But at home, it felt like the old days, the days when I was lost and confused. Lonely.

My cell vibrated in the pocket of my jeans, and I wiggled it out as I made my way to the couch in the living room. I glanced at the caller ID and my heart skipped a beat. Huckleberry Finn! It was Aiden’s dorm room number.

My fingers trembled as they held the phone. “Hello?” I asked quietly.

“Tess, I have to talk to you. I’m so sorry—”

I held the phone away from my ear as I took a moment to breathe. I wouldn’t be able to handle what came next. Not able to hear that he’d moved on—to Mary!

I gripped the pink connection to Aiden, at the call I’d been hoping would come for two days. And then I hung up. I closed my eyes. Someone at school must have told Aiden that there were rumors about him and Mary. And since I hadn’t called him (which I had been prone to do), he would have figured out that I knew.

Feeling shaky, I lay across the couch, staring at the blank TV. If only I could just start over, start fresh somewhere else. But I knew that wouldn’t really solve my issues. I needed to stop dwelling and get my ribbon on straight.

After a minute of dwelling, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my speed dial. When I found Leona’s number, I exhaled.

“Hey, Tessa,” Leona said when she answered. Her voice sounded choked off, sad. Hearing that made my fur stand on end.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, sitting up on the couch. It wasn’t like Leona to sound so vulnerable. Heck, I was calling her for strength.

“There’s been an incident,” she said with a sniffle.

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. “Is everyone okay?”

“Everyone but me.”

“Oh, no.” Grief flooded me. “Is this about Marco?” Leona had been accessorizing again. I thought it’d meant that Marco had decided to accept her as she was, but apparently things hadn’t gone according to her plan.