CHAPTER ELEVEN
LOW-KEY? AIDEN HAD TOLD ME HE’D KEEP THE party low-key. Hm. Was that why half of the graduating class was having a bonfire in his backyard barbecue pit? There had to be close to a hundred and fifty people here! And even though Aiden’s grassy yard was great for playing volleyball in the summer, right now it was scattered with red plastic cups and cigarette butts. His mother would flip if she saw that.
Inside, Aiden’s professionally decorated house had become a mass of jocks, cheerleaders, and upperclassmen. In fact, most of his furniture was pushed to the wall to make a dance floor. I kept my eye on the entrance waiting to see who else would show.
Just then another group came in the door, and my heart skipped a beat. Christian and Chloe. Chloe saw me immediately and smiled. I was ashamed to admit that I was a little jealous. Her long blond hair was pretty, blown out pin straight and smooth. Her frayed denim miniskirt and braless tank top were way more revealing than anything non-uniformed I’d wear. But she wore it well. She looked very desirable.
I glanced around for Aiden. He was in the corner by the pool table, watching Darren tell an animated basketball story. At least it looked like a basketball story. Not sure what else those hip-thrusting movements could stand for.
“Ew,” Leona said, coming to stand next to me. “She showed up.” I grinned before looking sideways at her. Leona’s hair was in a high ponytail, and she had extra-big hoops in her ears. She was super-stylish. Just then Kira came bouncing over, nodding emphatically as she snapped her gum.
“Well, well,” she said, blowing a bubble and then sucking it in with a loud pop.
“Chloe’s outfit is totally tawdry. She reminds me of that Yvonne lady that Rueben Monroe’s been doing.”
“She does!” Leona said, turning to her and laughing.
Even though I was happy to see Leona and Kira getting along for once, talking so carelessly about a scandal was hardly becoming of a Smitten Kitten.
“We don’t discuss assignments outside of practice,” I said quietly, leaning back on my heels as I spoke.
“Sorry,” they both mumbled.
“Besides,” I said, looking worriedly at Chloe. “We really should be more polite.” I folded my hands behind my back, wishing Christian’s sister would change her mind and leave.
Kira stepped forward, fluffing her curls, and then turned back to me, grinning. “For sure, Tessa. It is the Smitten Kitten way.” She winked and walked through the crowded room, looking perkier than usual, her pink skirt fluttering up with her movements.
“Uh-oh,” Leona said. “Seems she’s found her next victim.” Guess their truce hadn’t lasted long.
I was about to scold Leona for picking on Kira again, but she turned to leave before I could. Then Kira’s high-pitched voice carried over the crowd.
“Hi, Christian,” she said with exaggerated enthusiasm, putting her arms around his waist and hugging him. Chloe shot her a dirty look.
“Oh,” Christian said, looking surprised by her attention. “What’s up, Kira?” He shot a quick look around, found me, and then went back to staring at her.
“Chloe,” Kira said, turning to her, just as loudly. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Christian’s sister seemed thrown off. “Me … too?”
Kira giggled, releasing her grip on Christian to embrace his sister. I snickered. Chloe looked freaked out by Kira’s hospitality. My counselor had once told me that children of divorce sometimes lack self-esteem. Hm. I might have believed that about Chloe if she weren’t scouting the room, totally looking for my boyfriend.
“Let me show you around,” Kira said, taking her by the elbow. “Aiden’s pretty busy.”
Nice. Kira was a clever Kitten sometimes. The last thing I wanted was for my boyfriend to give Chloe a personal tour. Not when she was dressed like that. I looked back for Aiden, but he was gone. My stomach turned.
“Hi, Tessa.”
I jumped. Christian. “Hi.” Dang. He always snuck up on me.
“You look beautiful,” he said. “That dress is really pretty.” I smiled. It was nice of him to notice my outfit. I thought a sundress was perfectly suited. For a low-key party!
“Thanks,” I responded. “You look peachy too.” And he did. Nice button-down, loafers, hair pulled back in a ponytail. Very preppy cute.
We stood for a minute, awkwardly, as someone got ahold of the stereo and began blasting it with full bass. Christian stepped over to me and leaned his head next to mine to talk. “Tessa, do you know where the beer is?”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“Will you show me? I’m feeling a little nervous.” He paused, and his dark eyes looked different. Anxious.
Balderdash! If he was feeling so uneasy, I must not be acting as a very gracious hostess. Just then someone turned down the music, and I took a deep breath. I didn’t like having to shout when I wasn’t in the gymnasium.
I shook my long waves to clear my head, about to cross the room. “I’m so sorry,” I said to Christian. “I’ll get you one—”
“I’ll come with you,” he interrupted, stepping up and looping his arm in mine.
My smile faded. “I—”
“I’m back,” Kira announced as she bounded next to me. She was grinning from ear to ear, mostly at Christian. I exhaled. Thank heavens she’d come. Things had been getting very uncomfortable around here. I unwound his arm from mine.
“I’ve got to find Aiden,” I said quickly, turning before I could see either of their expressions. Maybe leaving them alone together could spark something. I didn’t need to tell Kira how Christian had been so forward with me; it might hurt her ego. And I didn’t want to do that—not when Christian was clearly misguided in his feelings for me.
I was standing next to Darren, but my boyfriend was no longer here. Darren turned to me, a pool stick in his hand. “Hey there, Sex Kitten,” he said in his smooth, deep voice. “You hunting for your boy?”
“It’s Smitten. And yes, have you seen him?” I put my fists on my hips, feeling a bit lost.
“Yeah.” He pointed toward the back door. “He went out to the bonfire to get more beers. Tell him to hurry up, will ya, Tess?”
“Sure.”
I chewed on my lip as I made my way through the kitchen to the yard. The music was louder out here with the bass pumping through the speakers set up on the patio. Luckily Aiden’s nearest neighbor was half an acre away. Besides, there was no need to worry about getting in trouble. No one would call the police on the Wildcats’ point guard—we had a chance to make the playoffs this year!
I paused as I stepped onto his wooden deck. Aiden was in the grass at the keg, laughing, smiling, and looking very happy … talking with Chloe. My face stung. She tossed her blond hair over her shoulder, and as she bent down in front of Aiden to get a plastic cup out of its sleeve, her cleavage was on full display. I think I even saw a nipple. Aiden looked away quickly. He must have too.
I put my palm over my forehead, feeling sick. Backing up, I turned around and walked into the house. It was loud. People were talking, saying hi to me as I moved past them. I found a quiet spot against the wall in the hallway near the stairs. My heart was racing.
Nothing was going on with Aiden and Chloe. I was being irrational. He was just talking to her—probably being polite, like I’d always told him to be. I needed to get a grip. I closed my eyes.
A few minutes passed, but I didn’t move. I didn’t want to go back out there. I didn’t want to see if it had gotten any worse.
“You okay?” Christian was next to me, talking in a soft voice. I couldn’t look at him. But I felt him lean next to me against the wall.
“Fine.”
“You don’t look like you’re having very much fun.”
I opened my eyes and turned to him. He smiled and took a sip from the cup of beer he was holding. That was an understatement.
I nodded. “Yeah, it’s been a weird night.”
“I know. Me too.”
I tilted my head. “Why is it weird for you?”
“Kira. You trying to leave us alone together.” He chuckled. “Very slick,” he added sarcastically.
That was funny. I’d actually thought it was sort of slick. I glanced down the hall, back to where the party was in full force, wondering what Aiden was doing.
“Your boyfriend is ignoring you,” Christian said, staring into his beer.
My stomach dropped. “Excuse me?”
Christian’s eyes met mine, looking at me in the aggressive way they had that night at miniature golf.
“He is ignoring you, isn’t he?”
“No.”
“In fact, I think he’s talked to Chloe more than he’s talked to you tonight.”
“Well, then maybe you should grab your sister and go,” I snapped. My breath caught. I couldn’t believe I was being so rude! What was happening to me?
“Naw.” Christian shook his head. “I don’t tell my sister what to do. She can handle herself. She always has.” Christian looked me up and down. “And right about now, I think she wants to handle your boyfriend.”
I was about to raise my voice or push him violently. Do something. But I just stared at him, my chest heaving under my sundress. Did he think Aiden liked her?
Christian looked away, almost like he was sorry he’d brought it up, but I doubted he was. He probably saw it as an opening to get to me. It wasn’t.
“Can I grab you a beer?” he asked.
I shook my head, still trying to understand the jealousy raging through me. “No, thank you.”
Christian chuckled. “Let me guess—you don’t drink either?”
“Nope.” It wasn’t like I’d never had alcohol before; I just preferred not to drink it on a regular basis. But honestly, a beer didn’t sound like a bad idea right now.
Christian took a long sip from his cup, smiling to himself. “You are definitely nothing like the other cheerleaders I’ve met.”
I was about to be offended on behalf of all spirit saviors everywhere when Christian reached out, touching one of the thick waves of hair that hung over my shoulder. I gasped. He wasn’t allowed to touch me. Even my hair. And he shouldn’t be caressing my strands like that!
“Hey there, Chris,” Aiden called out as he appeared behind him. He stepped forward, dropping his heavy arm over Christian’s shoulders.
Christian’s face fell, and he immediately unhanded my hair. He nodded at Aiden, looking uncomfortable, and then took a nervous sip from his drink.
My face tingled as my eyes met Aiden’s slightly glassy gaze. I had nothing to be ashamed of—it wasn’t like I’d forced my hair in between Christian’s fingers—but I felt a little guilty. SOS tendency. Non-boyfriend physical contact was a definite no-no.
Aiden beamed at me, taking a drink from his own beer. He looked sideways at Christian. “Is Tessa being a good hostess?” he asked, pulling him into one of those almost headlock hugs and releasing him with a laugh.
I blinked rapidly, trying to read Aiden’s mood. He looked fine. A little drunk, but otherwise stellar.
“Yeah,” Christian said, straightening his shirt before looking back at my boyfriend. “Tessa’s being very polite.”
Normally I’d have thought it was sweet of him to notice, but right now, I wasn’t in the mood. I wanted to talk to Aiden.
My boyfriend looked proud. “Tessa is always nice, aren’t you, baby? Especially to strangers.” He set his beer on the hallway table and stepped forward, putting his hand in my hair and holding a few strands there, palm up, like he was checking to see if Christian had damaged it.
“A little ray of sunshine,” he continued, separating the strands with his fingers. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Did you miss me?” he asked, meeting my eyes and then narrowing his seductively.
I nodded, suddenly and completely hot for him, hotter than usual. Was it the way he was touching me? Was it Christian or his sister? I wasn’t sure. But I licked my lips, daring Aiden to be naughty. He noticed.
He slid his hand over my shoulder and behind my neck to draw me against him. But instead of ravaging me, he leaned over to kiss my cheek lightly, pausing there to whisper, “You’re my little angel, Tessa Crimson.” When he pulled away, we stood there watching each other, both of us breathing a little heavy.
Christian coughed.
My boyfriend exhaled and straightened up, taking a second to look down at me adoringly. “I love you,” he mouthed silently before bending back down to peck my lips.
“I love you too.” I didn’t bother whispering it. I wanted the world to know.
“You continue being cute,” he said to me, raising his eyebrow. “But not too cute.” He smiled, and I felt decidedly better.
“I’ll try,” I said.
“Now I’m going downstairs to the basement to watch the game on the big screen with the team. Unless, of course, you needed to talk to me alone, Tessa.” His eyes flashed wickedly.
He made my insides turn to oatmeal when he talked sexy like that. “I think we can chat later.” We’d have to. Hooking up at a party full of people would be a terrible example to set.
“Oh, we can,” Aiden agreed, nodding, slowly backing up. “And I have a lot to say, too. It’s going to be a very long conversation.”
“Good.”
“Good.”
I smiled as I watched Aiden walk toward the stairs. Then, as if in afterthought, he turned around. “Don’t keep her too long, Chris. Tessa has other guests to be polite to.”
“It’s Christian,” Christian said, mostly under his breath.
Aiden winked at me and then disappeared down the steps. Feeling much better, I watched as the rest of the team filed down after him. I was Aiden’s angel! Everything was going to be fine.
“Tessa?”
I looked at Christian dreamily and wondered why he was still standing there. “What?”
“I know about you and SOS.”
My. Heart. Stopped.
A breath escaped between my lips, but I couldn’t speak. It was like my air was gone. Christian and I stared at each other, and he looked almost apologetic. But he knew. Leaping lizards! He knew.
“Let’s go,” a low voice hissed. I looked to my left to see Chloe approaching, a scowl firmly planted on her overly painted mouth.
I was shaking so badly, I was afraid I might pass out. I steadied myself against the wall. Christian reached out and put his hand on my waist.
“Hey,” he whispered. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I promise I’m not going to tell anybody, but I think we should talk about it.”
Keep breathing, Tessa.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” And he did look sorry. That meant that he was either actually sorry or I was incredibly pale and he thought I might faint. Maybe both.
I glanced at Chloe. Her eyebrows were pulled together, but she didn’t look too concerned with me. She was ticked about something else entirely. I wondered if it had to do with Aiden.
Christian was still touching me, and there was a sick turn in my belly. What now? Was he going to expose us? Try and blackmail me? I backed away from him, letting his hand fall.
He nodded, almost like he understood my dread. Then he turned around, took his sister by the elbow, and walked through the party and out the front door.
When he was gone, I ran to the bathroom and threw up.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Aiden said, kissing my neck as we lay together on the leather sofa in his basement. Normally I’d have made a squeak or two by now (he found that adorable), but my body was too numb. I was still in shock.
“Tessa,” he mumbled, running his hand down to the bottom of my dress, tugging at my hem like he was dying to pull it off. “You’re a bit … unresponsive, baby.” He nibbled at my ear.
This could have been a good night. It felt like Aiden and I were getting back on track; and now, suddenly, the whole flipping train had derailed. And I didn’t know where I was stranded.
“Sorry,” I said, shifting my position under him, trying to refocus on the task at hand.
Aiden pulled my knee over his hip as he brought his mouth to mine again, kissing me deeply. But all I could think about were the Smitten Kittens. We’d lose everything. If everyone found out that we were SOS, we’d be shunned from high school society. Oh, my word. We’d be dead meat.
My boyfriend pulled away, breathing heavily, staring down into my face. I realized I wasn’t panting at all. That might have hurt his ego.
“Tessa? What’s up?”
He was still on top of me, but there was nothing frisky going on anymore. Aiden looked pretty annoyed as he tried to catch his breath.
I wanted to trust him with our secret. I wanted so much to be free of it, but what if he couldn’t forgive me for lying to him? What would I do then?
“Nothing’s wrong,” I said quickly. Lincoln Memorial! All I did was lie.
Aiden stared at me before clenching his jaw and climbing off. He leaned over the edge of the sofa, putting his elbows on his knees and resting his head in his palms. He looked dejected.
“Aiden?”
He turned to me, his green eyes glassy but not from alcohol.
“I don’t understand you anymore, Tess,” he said seriously.
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true.” He rubbed roughly at his face. “You’re so distant. Distracted. Half the time, I don’t even know if you’re listening to me.”
“Sweetie, I always listen …”
Aiden raked his fingers through his hair, staring across the room, pressing his lips together like he was trying to stop them from trembling. “Tessa,” he said, sounding miserable. “Maybe my mother’s right. Maybe we should—”
I jumped forward and grabbed his face, kissing him hard. I didn’t want to know what he was about to say. There was nothing to talk about. There was nothing I could talk about. He just had to understand how much I needed him. Wanted him.
“Baby,” he breathed, tangling his hand in my hair. “We don’t have to …”
But I pushed him back on his couch, and we hooked up right here, in his basement. Without talking.
Aiden exhaled, snuggling closer to me, his face resting against the back of my neck. “I love you,” he said.
I smiled. “I love you too.” We were quiet for a minute, our heartbeats mixing together. I bit the inside of my cheek. Right now, I felt safe being here with him, so warm. At times like this, I felt like I could talk to him about anything—even SOS.
“Why did you invite Christian and Chloe to your party?” I asked. My boyfriend was the biggest sweetheart in the world, but he wasn’t dense. If I knew about Christian’s interest in me, Aiden had probably read it even sooner. So why would he invite him here?
Aiden sighed. “I’m not telling you. You’ll be mad at me.”
I rubbed my back into him, letting him wrap me up tighter. “I won,” I whispered. “I promise.”
“I … thought he should know.”
I scrunched my nose. “What did you need him to know?”
“That you’re with me.”
Talking about Christian was making me tremble. Did Aiden feel it? “He knows I’m with you,” I said, but my voice cracked.
“Does he?”
I didn’t like Aiden’s tone. My paws had no intention of wandering anywhere else. “Yeah.”
“Because by the way he was playing with your hair, Tess, he didn’t seem to get the picture at all.”
My face stung. Was he accusing me of something? I sat up, letting Aiden’s arm fall off of me. “What are you saying?” I asked, glaring at him.
He scoffed. “I’m not a chump. The kid watches your ass every time you walk by. You telling me you haven’t noticed?” Aiden pulled himself up, and I wished he’d put his shirt back on. It was very distracting when I was trying to be royally PO’d at him.
“I’m aware that Christian has a crush on me,” I said. “But I’m trying to fix him up with Kira.” Though now I had to rethink that. We’d all been compromised.
Aiden grabbed his T-shirt off the back of the couch and slid it over his head, pushing his arms roughly through the sleeves. “And how long have you been aware of it, Tessa?”
I tilted my head. It was nice to see Aiden get jealous, but I didn’t need him to be unreasonable either. I’d still have to handle Christian somehow without exposing the Smitten Kittens. I straightened my posture. “At lunch detention he made it clear. And at miniature golf—”
“Wait. What?”
Gingersnaps! I’d let that one slip out.
“It was nothing.” I waved my hand. “Leona and I—”
“Did you go on a f*cking date with him?” Aiden’s voice boomed through the room, bouncing off the cement walls of the basement. My face burned with shame.
“Absolutely not! How could you ask that?”
“I don’t know, Tess. I never know where you are anymore. You’re quiet all the time. You’re like a different f*cking person lately… .”
My mouth fell open. He was being crude.
“And don’t tell me not to swear,” he said, holding up a finger. “I’m really angry, and I have every right to swear.”
“Aiden.” I reached out to touch his hair, but he moved his head away.
“Would you rather I didn’t give a shit? Would that be better?”
“No!” Hadn’t I wanted Aiden to get a little jealous? He should be. Christian was after me. But I had to diffuse this situation because now, Christian had the power to ruin my life. To ruin Aiden and me.
I twitched my nose, trying to channel the sweet, peppy cheerleader everyone loved so much. I met Aiden’s eyes.
“Forget Christian,” I said in the cutest voice possible. “You’re more than I can handle, Wildcat. And you’re the only one I purr for.” I leaned toward him and kissed his cheek, believing my words.
“Tessa,” he whispered, but I could tell he liked it. He liked me like this.
“Come on, point guard,” I said, standing up, taking his hand. “It’s late. And I think my feet are still a little sore from practice. You…” I licked my lips. “You want to rub them for me?”
It was true. My toes did feel a little cramped, and Aiden liked to make them feel better. I’d deal with Christian later. Right now, I had someone else to cheer up. I could be like this. Energetic. Positive. Even if I was so very tired.
Aiden got up, looking at me doubtfully. Then, “Did you bring any polish?” he asked off-handedly, like he didn’t care either way.
“Passion pink.”
He growled. “Baby, that’s my favorite.”
“I know.”
We stood together, smiling at each other, and it felt right. The way it’d been before SOS started getting so many cases. The times before new students came to Washington High to mess with my life.
Aiden and I were the real deal. We could get past this. If we loved each other, we could get past anything.
SOS BACKGROUND CHECK RESULTS FORM
RESULT: 004
CLIENT: Madeline Haskel
SUBJECT: Roger Stanvick
Dear Ms. Haskel,
We are sorry to inform you that Mr. Stanvick’s background report has not ended positively. SOS does not endorse him as your next boyfriend.
It was determined that Mr. Stanvick spent his 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift in Mini-Golf Mania’s back room with an unidentified accomplice. We believe his name was Mark.
We are terribly sorry that it’s not better news. SOS would like to offer you an extension on your certificate. Please let us know if you find another potential boyfriend. But we do advise that for your next subject, try to avoid the drama club.
Thank you for your continued support, and SOS truly hopes that your dating needs are eventually met. Have a great day.