So Many Boys by Suzanne Young Read Free Book Online

convincing than I felt.
    He studied me. “You’re probably right.”
    “ Right? I definitely haven’t heard that in a while.”
    Joel gave me a strange look, as though he was about to say something. Instead, he just smiled. “I’ll see you around, Tess.” He turned to walk back the way we’d come.
    “Nice talking with you,” I called after him. Then I watched as he rounded the corner, leaving me alone in the hallway.

ASSIGNMENT 2
    1:00 A.M., SEPTEMBER 15
    The operative drove aimlessly around the city, thinking about Jenn’s case. Something wasn’t sitting right. The operative hadn’t gotten proof of either suspect actually cheating, but she was sure that whatever they were up to wasn’t so innocent. Did the original SOS have problems like this? Weren’t all cheats one-hundred percent?
    Snapping back to reality, the operative realized where she’d inadvertently taken herself. She pulled to the side of the road and shifted into park, killing the engine. Unease filled her chest, and she began to tap her dark nails on the steering wheel, constructing a plan.
    She had to give Tessa credit: organizing an entire fleet of spies took a lot of work and dedication. But she knew she could do it better, especially since Tessa was distracted with Aiden. Her relationship blunder had left open the perfect opportunity for the operative to take SOS from her—and do it right.
    The operative looked out the driver’s window to the quaint little house across the street, its bedroom light still on despite the hour. She’d slipped in there weeks ago, slowly gathering all the templates from Tessa’s computer in order to take over SOS. She’d sent out e-mails—some on a time delay—and then found her way to Izzie’s grandparents’ garage for the equipment.
    The cell phone on the passenger seat vibrated. The operative snatched it up and scrolled through the message. Her alert had gone off, retrieving all of Riley’s texts from the past two weeks. It was good, since the listening device she’d planted under his desk hadn’t worked. She wondered if her lipstick had deactivated it. Her heart pounded as she waited to see what she’d find on her phone. She needed something.
    “I love you, M.”
    The operative’s red lips parted as she hitched in a breath. She waited for a response, and when nothing registered, she felt a bit of sadness touch her. She’d known what it was like to love someone and have it not returned. In a way, she felt bad for Riley.
    The operative turned again to look at Tessa’s house, unsure why she was even here.
    She had an assignment. One she was determined to finish.
    The operative started her car, glancing once more out the window. Then she saw her. Tessa Crimson standing in front of her full-length mirror—in her cheerleading uniform. The operative’s mouth opened. Tessa wasn’t even on the squad anymore, but…she wore her cheer uniform at home? Something about this little secret both pleased and irritated the operative. It was sad—pathetic almost—and it made her feel sorry for Tessa. And that wouldn’t do. Tessa had already lost Aiden, the squad, and SOS. Now the operative just needed to make sure things stayed that way. It was the only way to achieve her goal.
    Shifting gears, she swung out into the road, illuminating her interior with the streetlights, and headed for home.
    The cheaters would be caught. She’d make sure of it.

CHAPTER FIVE
    THERE WERE WHISPERS. SINCE SCHOOL HAD started last month, there had been lots of gossip about Aiden and me—about why we broke up and why I’d left the cheerleading squad. And because the most popular rumor was that Kira had been dating Christian until I’d “stolen” him away, it had been really hard to defend myself. Not without exposing the Smitten Kittens as SOS.
    So I kept my mouth shut. I denied what I could, hoping the rest would eventually fade away. It was amazing how differently people treated me now that I wasn’t their spirit