“I’ll go to the movie,” I said, sighing. I had to do my part to reunite the Smitten Kittens. “But please understand that it’s not a real date. I still want Aiden. This is just for the squad.”
Kira clapped. “Yay! You’re going to have a new boyfriend by the end of the night!”
My stomach turned at the thought. I just wanted my old boyfriend back, but each day that passed, I could feel it becoming more unlikely. At least my fake date could help me get something back: the Smitten Kittens.
As I sat on Kira’s bed, listening to Izzie tearfully recount her fight with Sam, I glanced around Kira’s room, at the mixture of music posters and cheer paraphernalia. The pictures of us stuck to the mirror of her vanity, a few folded so they cut Leona’s face just enough to make her look like a Cyclops. And then there were the piles of clothes flowing from the closet. Kira had never been big into organization.
“Personally,” Leona said, ignoring Izzie’s sniffling, “I think you could do better than Sam. Have you seen that kid Franco in my Spanish class? He’s muy caliente.”
“Leona.” Kira stomped her foot. “You know we don’t speak Spanish, so don’t try any secret codes.” She twitched her mouth and then readjusted her stance. “Now which guy are you talking about?”
“But I like Sam,” Izzie whined.
“I understand,” I whispered. Izzie looked up, her green eyes brimming with tears. “And I’m sorry about the team too. But we’ll get through this together,” I said. “And I know that your boyfriend is number-one priority, but we also have to crack down on this copy-Kitten.”
“Speaking of,” Leona interrupted. “I haven’t received the signed release form from you or Kira yet. Are you on board for Operation Knockoff?”
Kira and I turned to each other at the same time. It looked like we’d both been slacking. “I’ll get it to you by lunch,” I said to Leona. Kira pressed her lips in a smile and turned to Leona.
“I’ll hand in mine right now.”
I shifted a little uneasily but then tried to refocus as Kira began rummaging through the crumpled papers on her dresser.
“So,” I began, looking between Izzie and Leona. “We’ll do the movies tonight, but after the show, we’ll plan the first SOS sting for tomorrow. Sound good?”
Izzie nodded, wiping at her nose with the back of her sleeve. Leona nodded approvingly. “Finally.”
And with that, SOS was officially back and ready to investigate.
Something was off about all of us, but that would change soon. Once I was a bona fide member of the squad again, people would listen. Because overall, the skirt demanded respect. Even if I wasn’t the captain anymore.
SOS CHEATER REQUEST
CASE: 003
CLIENT: Izzie Edwards
SUBJECT: Samuel Facillo
Dear Ms. Edwards,
Thank you for your cheater request. Although we sympathize with your concerns that your college boyfriend is cheating, we regret that we cannot take on your case.
Because of your current status with the Smitten Kittens, you and your fellow cheerleaders are banned from our investigations. I’m sure you can understand the conflict.
We do hope that Mr. Facillo is in fact not cheating, but if you find out that he is, we trust you will do what’s right and carry out the relationship termination on your own.
Thank you for thinking of us. And we offer you our sincerest wishes for your future.
Keep kicking ass,
SOS ☺
SOS
Text: 555-1863
Exposing Cheaters for Over Three Years
CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOU DID WHAT?” I DEMANDED, MY MOUTH HANGing open as I stared at Izzie while she drove.
“I thought they could help,” Izzie said, her face puffy from crying. She’d just admitted that she’d solicited help from the fake SOS in order to find out if Sam had been cheating on her!
“Izzie, why would you do that? Don’t you remember what happened when I spied on Aiden?” If not, the small scar on my forehead should be a reminder.
“I know! It was stupid,” she said, tears racing down her cheeks. “But what am I supposed to do? He said he wanted to take a break. Why would he need a break if there wasn’t another girl involved?”
I shook my head. Okay, I knew the stats. And I knew it was not only possible, but probable that Sam had met someone else, but that didn’t mean Izzie had the right to spy on him. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” I said softly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. “But Sam broke up with you. So technically, if he’s seeing someone else, it’s not cheating.”
Izzie whipped her head toward me so fast, the car swerved. “You think he’s seeing someone else?”
“Hey,” I said, pointing at the windshield. “Watch the road.” I was thankful to see the multiplex just ahead. “I’m not saying he is, but I just don’t want you doing something crazy out of anger.”
Izzie sniffled, resuming her gaze on the road as she turned into the movie-theater parking lot.
“That copy-Kitten can’t be trusted, Izzie. You should know that. I promise we’ll work through this. You just need to be patient.”
Izzie nodded and parked her car before turning off the engine. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “Just because I’m desperate, it doesn’t mean I can get in bed with the enemy. You know, like you did with Christian.”
My face stung and I turned quickly to look out the passenger window. Even if Izzie didn’t mean it as an insult, her words crushed me.
Izzie looked at me, her green eyes tired and sad. “I’m sorry that I didn’t come to you first, Tess,” she murmured. “But I needed a captain. I needed a leader.”
I nodded in agreement. But after the obvious disarray of the squad, I wasn’t sure if she was following the right captain anymore.
When we got inside, Kira hadn’t arrived yet, but Leona was waiting in front of the concession stand, tapping one size-nine sneaker in annoyance. The bright neon lights across the ceiling flashed blue, green, and red across her glasses. Chris Townsend emerged from the line behind her with two Cokes. He smiled widely at me, and I swallowed hard. I was so not ready for this.
“Chris is so cute,” Izzie whispered, her minty breath washing over the side of my face. “And you guys will look totally dreamy together.”
I twitched my nose as I waved halfheartedly to Chris, watching as he and Leona made their way over to us. Chris’s blond hair was perfectly messy, and his button-down shirt made his blue eyes stand out fantastically. And sure, he was cute enough—but he wasn’t Aiden.