The Naughty List (The Naughty List #1)(22)

“Two years,” Aiden said, leaning over to kiss my arm and look up at me devilishly. I could see his hands slowly inching down his thighs toward me. He was so naughty.

“Stop,” I mouthed to him.

He made a face, scrunching his nose. Then he pulled up, kissed my cheek, and went back to his veggie burger.

“That’s a long time to date,” Chloe said, looking down and picking through her lunch tray. “You must be so sick of each other.” She glanced up at my boyfriend. And smiled.

I gasped. Kira dropped her spork. “Chloe?” she asked. “That is not a nice thing to say. Are you effing with Tessa?” Finally. The voice of reason. And it belonged to Kira. Go figure.

Chloe looked around innocently, touching dramatically at her throat. “God, no. I’d never f**k with a Sex Kitten. You guys are obviously badass.”

Okay. My heart was racing. I didn’t fight and I didn’t swear, but I would raise my voice if I had to.

“Goodbye, Chloe,” Christian said forcefully.

I didn’t look at him; I had his sister’s brown-eyed glare locked in my own. She was right about one thing. Nobody effed with a Smitten Kitten.

“Whatever,” she said, standing up and pushing her tray to the center of the table.

Her attitude needed to be seriously adjusted. In fact, her overall personality needed a makeover.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “See you around, prez.”

My lip curled for a split second, but I caught it. I wouldn’t have wanted anyone to know she’d gotten to me. I batted my eyelashes at her and smiled. “Have a nice day.”

Chloe flinched like she’d been slapped. Take that. She thought she’d break me. Fat chance. I was a tougher cookie than I appeared. It would take a lot more than a crude word to get me to stoop to her level.

“Goodbye, Aiden,” she said sweetly to him, reaching out to touch his arm when she walked by him.

My. Blood. Boiled.

I dropped my head, taking a deep breath before looking back up at the table. No one saw my temporary loss of perkiness. But when I shot a sideways glance at my boyfriend, he was rubbing his arm. The spot where he’d been touched. There was a dull ache I couldn’t identify. Cap’n Crunch! Was it doubt?

I felt a hand on my back. I swung around.

“I’m really sorry,” Christian said quietly, squatting down behind me. “My sister can be a real bitch—”

I rolled my eyes. Come on with these cussers!

“Brat,” he said quickly. “She’s a real brat sometimes. I’ll talk to her. Make her apologize.”

“Thank you, Christian,” I said cordially, not unaware that his fingers were massaging my vertebrae. I looked nervously at Aiden, but he was staring down at the table, still rubbing his bicep. I swallowed hard and stiffened my back, waiting for Christian to unhand me. He didn’t move.

“Let’s go,” Aiden said to the entire table just as the bell rang. He was up and staring down at Christian and me before the ringing had even stopped. He didn’t look jealous. He looked fine. I blinked quickly. Maybe he should be a little jealous.

“Nice seeing you again, Chris,” Aiden said, grabbing my backpack off the cafeteria floor. I stood, letting Christian’s hand fall from my body. My fingers were trembling from the altercation with Chloe. Coupled with Christian’s need to touch me, this had been a very odd lunch.

“Yeah, you too,” Christian said, eyeing my boyfriend.

I slid my hand into Aiden’s as we began to weave through the tables on our way to the hall.

“By the way, it’s Christian,” Christian called from behind us.

“Right. Sorry,” Aiden replied, but didn’t turn around.

I smiled. Maybe he was jealous. I held his hand a little tighter.

SOS INTENT TO INVESTIGATE

CASE: 045

CLIENT: Mandy Morgan

SUBJECT: Travis Murray

This is the SOS official notice of intent to investigate Travis Murray. The client has accused Mr. Murray of “stepping out with his ex.” It is unclear whether the subject had terminated his previous relationship or “gone back for seconds.” The investigation will begin in 48 hours.

If you wish to cancel this investigation, please text a stop work order to 555-0101. Stop orders must be placed within 24 hours of this written notification.

We trust that this notice will remain confidential as some of the information contained within could compromise our top-secret status.

Thank you for thinking of SOS, and we truly hope that our investigation ends with positive results. Have a great day.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I SHOULD HAVE ENJOYED GOING TO AIDEN’S HOUSE. It was really nice. An old Craftsman with intricate woodwork and oriental rugs, filled to the beams with beautiful furniture from around the world. It was also, however, filled with his mother’s scorn for me.

“How’s cheerleading going?” she asked. Her green eyes, creased at the corners, were boring into my face.

“Very well. Thank you for asking.” I smiled at her and then looked across the table at Aiden. He was avoiding her, rolling pasta onto his fork. I wished I could avoid the conversation too.

“That’s nice,” she said. It sounded forced. She hated me. “And your grades?” she asked.

“Tessa’s on the honor roll again,” Aiden said. Aw. I loved it when he was proud of me. I gazed lovingly at him.