Page 32 of Girl Violence

“Here’s your hot chocolate.” Josette jumps in her seat as the waitress places a large mug in front of her.

“T-Thanks.” She pushes her hair away from her forehead as the waitress tries to hide her smile.

Shoving her phone back into her pocket, Josette grits her teeth. She hates Vince. Hates him. She wants to stab him in the eyeball repeatedly for being such a—

“Jo?” Josette looks up, seeing Austin, of all people, in front of her. She honestly doesn’t think this day can get any worse, and judging by the smugness tilting his lips upwards, he knows he’s the last person she wants to see.

“What doyouwant?” She folds her arms as he sits opposite her. “I didn’t say you could sit down.”

“Really?” That smile annoys her as he sits anyway, eyes searching her face. “You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” she says dryly. “Really. Just what a girl wants to hear.”

He shrugs. “What’s up?”

“Vince,” she blurts and immediately regrets it. She should learn to shut her big mouth.

“Thought it might be.” He smiles again. “I saw the picture of the two of you from the other night. Thought something might’ve happened.”

“Nothing happened,” she says crossly, and his expression goes flat, seeing through her lie. Is she really so bad at lying?

“Right.” He grabs a spoon, and Josette watches with horror as he dips it into her hot chocolate cream. She takes her drink and moves it away as the bastard licks it off the metal. “I’m guessing it didn’t go so well, huh?”

Oh, it went well.Reallywell. Despite Vince being a dick about it now, Josette can’t help but sigh at the memory. “You never come in here. Why are you now?”

“I saw you sitting here on your own and thought it was about time we had a chat.”

“I’ll pass.” She goes to stand.

“Sit down,” he tells her. “You know I didn’t start shit the other night with you. I have actual real-life things going on other than that petty bullshit.” Josette sits back down and narrows her eyes at him. He clears his throat. “And I can’t get hold of Jenna.”

She scoffs. It’s because of him her best friend has gone off the radar, and she doesn’t even blame her.

“Not a chance in hell.” He just wants to use her to get to Jenna. Of course—Josette should have already worked that out. “I can’t help you with Jenna. That’s just so wrong considering what you did.”

“Keep your voice down.” Austin glances around at the few people looking over. They hastily turn away in fear, not that Josette blames them either. The man has chains on his jeans, for crying out loud. Probably to choke someone with. “I’ve been trying to call her fucking cousin’s phone, but since your big mouth told her I was seeing other girls—”

“Which isn’t a lie,” Josette interrupts. “I saw you.”

“What did you see exactly?” he challenges. “You saw a girl come onto me, just like they always do when they want to do business. She was a fucking crack whore—she wanted cocaine.”

“You didn’t push her away when she went to kiss you,” she states, lowering her voice. “Why do you even sell that crap anyway? You don’t use it, so why sell it?”

“It’s good money, and I’m nice to anyone who gives me money.”

“You should get a real job.”

“Oh, like in the library?” He smirks, and Josette grinds her teeth. “Look, I don’t fuck my customers. The thing with Jenna...” He sighs. “It’s complicated. But I can’t get the girl out of my head.”

He turns and looks out of the window. Josette goes to open her mouth to say something, likescrew you,but closes it. There’s genuine worry in his expression, something she’s never seen come from him before. “Vince said you took girls to your car. That you kissed them.”

He chuckles. “Yeah, he’d say that to you because he doesn’t like that you’re around my friends or me. Besides, I just told you, girls always come around my car. So do guys. Fuck—so does someone’s grandma!” Josette frowns, having a hard time imagining a little old lady asking Austin for drugs. “You know, I love how you defend him just like old times while he’s strutting around town with a blonde chick as we speak.”

Josette goes still. What?

“Like I care?” she says quickly, but deep down, she really does care. Vince is with someone? “Why don’t you just be honest about your feelings for Jenna? She wanted to be official so many times, and you refused.”

“Life is a fucked up thing. How about you stop butting your nose into other people’s business and take a good look at your own instead?”