Page 27 of Girl Violence

“And you think alcohol is the answer to that?”

“Of course not—but it helps.” He shakes his head and steps away from her. She watches him gaze around his room, eyes clouded in thought. She wonders what he’s thinking, as always, but can’t tell anymore.

“Fine,” he gives in reluctantly. “Just one drink, but that’s it.”

Josette makes an X over her chest. “Cross my heart.”

* * *

“Two beers, please,”Vince says to the barman, taking a seat on the barstool. They’re in a pub in town. It’s busy because of a football game, so they’re staying at the bar to avoid the yelling around the flat-screen TV.

Vince is in a mood and has been since they left his house. Josette can only guess he doesn’t take kindly to giving in so easily to persuasion. But then, he never has. He changed before they left and looks good in a black T-shirt, jeans, and converse. They look good together; he just doesn’t see it anymore.

Finally, the barman returns with their beers and places them on the table. Vince pays and slides her the pint over to her. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

Vince’s jaw clenches, a battle playing out in his eyes that almost makes her feel guilty. But eventually, he sighs and grabs his. Once the glass touches his lips, he doesn’t stop drinking until he drains the whole lot in one go. Josette stares at him until it’s all gone, and he slams the glass down, wiping the froth from his upper lip. She hasn’t even touched hers. “Thirsty?”

Vince glances at her, giving her a look that makes her tingle. “You have no idea.”

Josette takes a sip of beer and swallows, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease for the first time all day. “How long has it been?”

“Six months,” he replies, and the barman suddenly puts another pint in front of him, giving him a smile and saying it’s on the house. He must have overheard them. Thanking him, Vince picks it up, glancing at her untouched drink. “Come on. Keep up.”

Josette can’t help but smile, already liking this Vince, and drinks her beer. The night escalates and she doesn’t stop him from having more like she promised. Because he’s right, they do break their promises.

Soon, they’re on their fourth beer each and occupying a small table and chairs in the corner, laughing just like old times. “I remember when you cockblocked me once. I wanted to strangle you,” he says, a smile on his lips as they reminisce.

“When have I ever done that?”

“Remember Lily?”

Josette gasps. “Thebabysitter?”

Vince laughs loudly, and she slaps his arm. Whenever their parents went out in the past, they always got Lily to mind her and Vince, even though Vince argued that he was old enough to look after the both of them. No wonder he stopped complaining when Lily came around. “But...she was older.”

“Not really. I was fourteen, and she was sixteen. We tried to send you to bed early so we could make out, but you had none of it.” He shakes his head at her. “I was so mad at you.”

Jealousy prickles at the thought of it. Josette must have been such an annoying kid to him then. She always had her ideas about Vince and other girls, but he did a lot without her knowing. “So, you never got to make out with her?”

“Oh no, we did. Later on. She was actually my first.”

Josette pulls a face. “Oh my god. And I was under the same roof?”

“Yeah. Tucked up in my bed fast asleep.” She was clueless. “Come on, I need a smoke.”

“Okay,” Josette says, feeling tipsy as she stands. “I’d love one.”

“You’re not smoking.” He shakes his head and grabs her hand, taking her toward the door. Once outside, he leans against the wall and pulls out the packet, taking just one out. He watches her closely as he lights it up.

“Ah, come on,” Josette whines. “Give me one.”

“No,” he says, and she rolls her eyes but goes completely still when he steps forward and takes her hips in his hands. Josette’s breath catches in her throat as he takes a pull, the amber glow lighting up his eyes, and leans in closer to her face. Her heart jolts, and she parts her lips just before he blows smoke into her mouth.

Nicotine bursts along her tongue as she breathes him in, lips almost touching. Her head feels woozy when he pulls away, but it’s not from the alcohol or smoke. It’s from him. It’s from his hands on her. It’s the way his eyes are watching her, hooded and sexy.

He leans back against the wall, a small smile on his lips. “That’s all your getting.”

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