So Many Boys (The Naughty List #2)(63)

I blinked heavily, and Joel laughed, self-consciously rubbing at his chin as he stepped closer to me. My breath quickened. He smelled good—a clean mix of soap and aftershave. His hair was brushed to the side, totally dapper.

“You look like you need a hug,” Joel whispered, holding out his hand. It was trembling slightly, and I drew in a long breath, trying to convince myself that what I was about to do was for the Smitten Kittens. For an assignment.

I reached out, sliding my palm into his, feeling his heat envelop me. Very gently, he tugged me closer until we were almost touching.

Then he exhaled and put his arms around me, resting his chin on my head. It was a sweet gesture, but intimate. I felt myself melt into him.

“Kira’s so lucky,” I murmured with my eyes closed.

Joel’s body tensed. “What do you mean?” He pulled back and looked down at me, confused.

Dang, was I blowing the mission? I shouldn’t have brought her up. “Um…”

“Tessa,” Joel said, his eyes narrowed. “You know that Kira and I broke up, right?”

I stepped away. “What? When?” My hands fell to my sides and I looked around the room, completely flabbergasted.

“Remember that day of the fair?” he asked. “That night…I told her that I didn’t think it was working out. Wait. You didn’t know? I thought that was why you were avoiding me.”

“Joel, are you serious?” I started shaking my head, trying to rethink this. Joel and Kira were still together. She said so herself.

“Yeah, Tess,” Joel murmured, moving closer to me. “I would have told you, but…I don’t know. You were having problems with Aiden, and I didn’t want to bother you with this.”

My eyes darted around the room. Kira had been so jealous tonight, so possessive of him. The last week had been absolute misery for me, and yet she hadn’t even mentioned that they’d broken up. This was a big deal. How could she not mention it? It affected the mission. It meant—

I froze. My clutch purse was lying on the floor and I picked it up, rummaging through it, looking for my phone.

“Tessa,” Joel said, sounding concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“Hold on.” I sped through the numbers in my recent calls, and when I found Mary’s, I clicked it.

“Hello?” she answered, sniffling. I cringed at the sound of her voice.

“Question,” I started. “Why did you go to the squad and tell them not to let me back on?”

“Tessa!” She sounded completely relieved to hear from me, but I had no time for her apologies.

“Just answer me.”

She paused. “I…I didn’t think I had a choice. It had nothing to do with Aiden, I promise. Oh, Tessa. I’m so sorry. You have to know—”

“Then why did you tell the girls not to let me on the squad?” My heart was racing and I closed my eyes, scared of her answer.

“Kira,” she said finally. “She told me you were out of control. Said you were running everything in the ground, but no one would listen to her. Asked me to help her. I…I believed her. Aiden said you’d changed too.”

“Don’t,” I said quickly. “Don’t you dare talk about him to me.” I exhaled and opened my eyes, seeing Joel staring at me wide-eyed. “I have to go, Mary,” I said. “We’ll discuss this another time.” Although I had no intention of following up on that offer.

I hung up the phone and slid it into my purse, then met Joel’s concerned gaze. The reality of the situation hit me. “You should go,” I said to him.

“What? But I’m here for you, Tessa. I came to see you.” His voice got quiet and I felt him reach out to touch my hand. He smiled, looking nervous.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “You’re…a good friend.” Joel seemed to wince at the word and slowly dropped my hand with a soft laugh.

“Yeah,” he said, looking down at me tenderly. “You too.”

“You should go,” I repeated, wanting to get him out of here before the copy-Kitten was exposed. He didn’t need to be involved in this. He wouldn’t understand. “Go,” I said, pushing him toward the exit.

Joel looked back at me, concerned, but then he nodded and made his way to the door. “I’ll save you a dance, tiny Crimson,” he said with a smile. And then he left.

Normally Joel’s adorable words would have sent excited tingles over my body, but instead the rage of the moment began to fill me. And the minute the door clicked, I spun around to face the empty gymnasium.

After all these years and all this time…I closed my eyes, trying to let the shaking in my fingers subside. But my adrenaline was too keyed up. I opened my eyes and clenched my fists.

“Where are you?” I screamed, looking up to the empty rafters and then toward the back door. There was a scurrying sound above me until finally Leona appeared and came jogging toward me.

“What the hell, Tessa?” she said, a thick strap over her shoulder holding her new equipment. “We haven’t caught the—”

“It’s her,” I said, my face on fire. “It’s a flipping Kitten.”

“Excuse me?” Leona said. “You mean Mary, right?”

I shook my head. “No.” Suddenly there was a bang from the supply closet and I turned to face it. My blood was boiling. I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt so angry in my whole life, not even at Chloe or Mary.