Page 26 of Girl Violence

Okay,nowJosette is grossed out. Especially when Ian goes over and kisses Alyssa and then Tyler fully on the mouth. The video ends, and Josette looks up from the screen in bewilderment.

That’s it? This is what she kissed Jason for?

Alyssa sleeps with everyone, and so does Tyler. The threesome thing with Ian was weird to watch but means nothing to her. It just seems like a revenge video Jason took.

“Why the fuck do you have a video of that?” Vince asks disgustingly, and she suddenly remembers he’s sitting next to her.

“I, uh, got it off a friend. He said there was something good on it for me to get them back with.”

“You’re still going on about that?” Vince frowns at her. “And this is what you wanted? A porno?”

“Of course not.” She ejects the USB and stuffs it back into her pocket, her cheeks heated. Oh God, she watched porn with Vince. She’s going to kill Jason for playing her. Did he think she would put it online? Do the same thing they did to her? “Today has been the worst day of my life.”

“Why don’t you just relax? Slay your demons tomorrow.” Vince takes his laptop off her and shuts it down. Flopping back onto his bed with a sigh, Josette stares up at the ceiling while he looks down at her, eyes flickering to her bare legs.

“You still have skinny legs,” he comments, and Josette stills when he touches her knee, the heat of his hand radiating through her skin. “And bony knees.”

“Shut up.” She tries to smack him away but misses. He removes his hand and gets up from the bed, running a hand through his hair.

“Who did you get that video from anyway?” Josette sits up slowly, wondering if she should tell him. But he will know if she lies, so what’s the point?

“Jason Meade,” she finally tells him. “He’s Alyssa’s ex.”

He shakes his head, obviously knowing who she’s talking about. They do know each other then. “You know...when I thought of you over the years, I didn’t imagine you’d be like this. I didn’t think I’d find you hanging out with guys like Austin or Jason and being messed up in all this bullshit.”

Josette’s stomach flips. He thought of her?

No—don’t go there.

“I told you I don’t hang with them.” He gives her a pointed look. “I don’t. I just...I don’t know. I guess—”I felt something was missing after you left.“—they’re not so bad...until recently, anyway.”

“Until you slept with one of them?” he says, his tone hard, and she nods.

“I’m sure you made plenty of mistakes in London.” He goes silent, and she sighs. “I feel like today has been too serious, don’t you? We should go out.”

“Where? It’s late.” It’s not that late. It’s nearing eight.

“Let’s go to the pub.”

“The pub?” He laughs. “I don’t drink, remember?”

“Oh, come on. I know when you lie, too, you know? I don’t believe you when you say you don’t drink. I didn’t from the moment you first told me.”

He rubs his hand over his face. “I don’t anymore.”

“One won’t hurt, Vincent.” She prompts again, leaning in closer until she’s right by his ear. “Remember when you stole your dad’s beer at a barbecue when you were fourteen? You were going to get another when I stopped you, which was a good thing because you were pretty wasted after one. I’ll stop you again.”

He looks torn. “…I can’t.”

“You can.” She smiles. “Come on. Be the guy I used to know. I kind of miss him.”

“I haven’t changed,” he snaps at her, and she looks at him dubiously. “Well, fine, I have. But being back here...after everything that’s gone on…”

“You’re not happy anymore.” She leans her chin on his shoulder. Since the hug, Josette feels like it’s broken some invisible barrier between them that makes her comfortable touching him again. Well, maybe notentirely. Even the feel of him—the smell of him—is sending her head dizzy, and she’s much too anxious to go further. “Come on. Just give me one night, and I’ll leave you alone after that. I promise.”

He breathes a laugh. “We break our promises all the time, remember?”

“I won’t break this one. We do need to relax.”

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