A Good Boy Is Hard to Find (The Naughty List #3)(30)
Author: Suzanne Young

Joel exhaled. “It’s just …” He stopped and I looked up at him, alarmed by his change in tone. “I don’t like to talk about it, but my parent’s divorce was really messy. My mom caught my dad cheating, and she went nuts. And I mean completely nuts.”

I nodded, not sure what this had to do with me. But I was glad he was sharing. It showed he trusted me. “What happened?”

He rolled his eyes. “My dad was having an affair with the girl at the front desk of the auto body shop. She was into cars; my mom wasn’t. My dad’s not a bad guy, not really. But he definitely screwed up. He’s still seeing that girl. Judith.” He laughed, shaking his head. I got the feeling that he didn’t care much for Judith.

“And your mom?”

“See, that’s the funny part. She caught him. Told everyone. And caused enough drama to get him fired from his job and kicked out of his poker group. She was relentless. And the day the divorce papers were signed, she told me she was getting engaged.”

“What?”

“Some guy she’d met on match.com. She left my father with nothing, and it made her happy enough to move on. But I hated it. And they hate each other.”

“Wow, Joel. I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“How could you? I’ve only told one other person. And I wouldn’t bring it up now, but I guess after I heard what happened in the field house—what you were doing—I wanted to believe it wasn’t that unethical. But it sort of is, Tess. Even if you didn’t mean to, you’ve ruined people’s lives.”

Whoa. Hold the phone. “That is completely untrue.”

“Is it?” He cocked his head to the side, not looking mad, just curious. But I was offended. Yes, our investigations ended up breaking apart couples, but how healthy were they to begin with? His judgment was unfair. I was suddenly not all that thrilled to be sitting here with him in Sid’s Pizza. Even Aiden had been more understanding than this. And he made me walk!

Joel pushed his back against the booth and shook his head apologetically. “You know what? I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m a complete ass**le, so please ignore me.” He reached out to take my hand again. “Seriously, Tess. I didn’t mean to be so rude. I don’t know why I said that—maybe because of your ex-boyfriend. I’m an idiot.”

He looked so apologetic, and I felt awful for putting him in such a sour mood. He was always totally sweet to me, and I was making him crazy. I squeezed his hand.

But before I could respond, the front door of Sid’s Pizza jingled as it opened. Joel looked over his shoulder and Kira walked in, oblivious to us just a few feet away. My stomach backflipped to my spine, and I wished I didn’t have crutches because I might run for it.

She turned to us, and her ruby lips parted in surprise as she saw our hands clasped together in the middle of the table. I quickly yanked mine away. I was pretty sure the Earth stopped rotating and the planets aligned. This was the Apocalypse.

It seemed like an eternity, but luckily, Sid came in from the back and walked to the counter. He was a large man, always dressed in a white apron, usually covered in sauce. “Can I help you?”

Kira looked away from us quickly, her uncomfortable posture obvious to me. Then she approached the counter, saying that she’d called in for pickup. Joel turned back around and bit again from his slice as if nothing were wrong. Even though Kira wasn’t looking our way, I could tell by her stance that she was using her peripheral vision.

“You okay?” Joel asked.

I met his eyes. “Kira,” I whispered.

He shrugged. “It’s cool. I told her we were going out tonight.”

I sunk down in the booth even though Kira had already seen us. “Why would you tell her that?”

“Because I’m friends with her.”

This revelation sent a mixture of feelings through me that I didn’t expect. I was a little jealous, but also a little relieved. It was considerate of Joel to still be friends with his ex-girlfriend. But at the same time, I knew how Kira felt about him. And me. This would never work out. Eventually, he’d have to choose.

I glanced up at Kira just as Sid handed her a pizza and a Styrofoam wing box. She turned and faced me, swallowing hard.

“Hi, Tessa,” she said. Her face was unreadable. Without emotion. I wondered if she wanted to high kick me. I knew I’d want to kick a girl if I saw her with Aiden.

“Hi,” I replied quietly.

“Hey,” Joel said, nodding his chin to her. She smiled.

“Hey, yourself. I just saw your dad at the gas station. Judith was giving me those devil eyes again from the passenger seat. Thought her head was going to spin around this time.” They both laughed; I felt like the third wheel. Kira knew his family better than I did.

Good gravy! It occurred to me—she was probably the “one other person” he’d told about his family. I was getting slightly dizzy.

“Definitely glad I’m at my mom’s tonight,” Joel said. “You wanna sit down for a sec?” He slid over in his seat, motioning to it. I felt my chest seize up. I didn’t think I could survive anything that awkward!

“That’s sweet, but I can’t. I’m picking up a pizza for my mother. The Bachelor is on tonight.” She held up the boxes.

“Woo hoo. Party at the Reynold’s house.”

She giggled, and I knew what was happening. Joel was being cute. Charming. I suddenly felt like I was intruding on their date.

I went to take a nervous sip from my soda, but instead, I knocked into my cup and had to move swiftly to catch it. I saved it, but some splashed out anyway. Quickly, I started to grab napkins to soak it up, but the movement drew attention from both of them. And probably made me look jealous. Kira sucked at her teeth and then returned a look to Joel.

“I gotta run. I’ll see you around?” she asked.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He waved, and just as she opened the door, she looked over her shoulder at me.

“Night, Tessa.” But she left before I could even form a response. I was completely shaken.

“I’m sorry.”

I glanced up to see Joel watching me. I tried to smooth down my hair as if I weren’t a frazzled mess. “For what?”

“That was uncomfortable. For all of us.”

“You seemed fine.”

“Why, Tessa Crimson?” He mock gasped. “Are you jealous? Should I go ask her for a ride home?” He grinned.