Page 36 of Girl Violence

“Because he did kiss me.” Vince has the gall to look disgusted, which just pisses her off further. “You have no right to look at me like you’re jealous. Not when you’re here with your girlfriend after what you did with me.”

He steps closer, but she doesn’t move. In fact, Josette juts out her chin defiantly. “You think I’m jealous of him slobbering over you?”

His eyes drop to her lips. Something that makes her feel slightly triumphant. “You should—he wants me,” she lies, sure that Jason wanted the blue iced drink more than her.

His eyes throw more darkness at her. “He can have you.”

Anger washes over her like a fierce tidal wave. Slamming her hands into his chest to push him back, he grabs her wrists and knocks her back against the cool, ceramic-tiled wall. Josette starts to struggle still glaring at him. But he keeps her pinned. Despite the anger, her heart hammers in her chest as he stares down at her, and she hates that she wants to kiss him. Why? Why is she so stupid? “Why didn’t you tell me about you and Elizabeth?”

“Because there’s no me and anyone. I broke up with her before I moved back here. We’re friends—she’s visiting.”

“Visiting?” Josette scoffs. “Who visits their exes? She just said she was your girlfriend, and I don’t think I heard you correct her.”

“It’s complicated.” He sighs. “She won’t accept it. I only hung out with her today, so she didn’t feel like a dick driving all the way here to see me when I couldn’t care less.”

“Wow,” Josette whispers. “You really are an asshole, aren’t you?”

“And you really are a bitch.” Josette bites down on her bottom lip, and a muscle works in his jaw. He squeezes her wrists a little tighter, and she breathes out shakily, knowing she should push him away and not let him do this. Knowing she shouldn’t be letting him take control even if her body is trembling with desire. “Do you remember the last time we were here? And I got into a fight because one of the guys from school messed with you?”

Funny how she was just thinking about that. “What about it?”

“That guy is yourdate.” Josette’s eyes widen. “Jason was about to lift your skirt to show everyone your underwear. He’s a psycho, and by the looks of it, still is.” That was Jason? She can’t remember the boy from all those years ago— “Don’t play dumb. You remember, or you wouldn’t have brought him around to try and rile me. I said to him if he ever came near you again, I’d snap him in half. Do you really want to push me to keep that promise?”

“Why do you care who I date?” she questions. It wasn’t a date, but she doesn’t feel like Vince deserves the correction. Since coming back, all he’s done is be pissed at who she acquaints herself with for no reason. “You’re the one who walked away when I would have let you have me in any way you wanted that night.”

His grip tightens, and he looks like he’s in actual pain. “Fucking you doesn’t change that we’re not good for each other.” Josette nods, like his words aren’t a sucker punch to her gut. “As soon as college finishes, I’m going back to London. I fucked up that night with you.” He finally lets go of her wrists and backs away, leaving her breathing heavily against the bathroom wall. “We just keep bringing out the worst parts in each other.”

He might as well have stabbed her. The pain is sharp, and it goes straight through her core. Turning, he heads for the door, but he isn’t having the last word. Josette refuses to give him that. “I hate you.”

He pauses brief enough for her to know her words sealed the damage. He pushes the door open and leaves. Josette’s bottom lip shakes, and a tear falls down her face, but she wipes it away furiously.

After picking up her phone, thankful that it’s not damaged, she returns to see Jason still waiting for her. She heads over to him, exhausted and drained from her argument with Vince.

“I’m heading home,” she says. She sees Jason now has a number written on the length of his inner arm in sharpie.

Taking in her appearance, he surprises Josette by frowning, obviously seeing the redness in her eyes. “What happened? I saw Vince storm out of here...”

Josette tries to think back to that boy who Vince fought with all those years ago. His face is blurry in her thoughts, her brain refusing to remember. It was so long ago. Was that really Jason who did that?

“Nothing.” She swallows hard. “Just leave it. I’ll call you sometime.”

He nods, but the crease between his eyebrows remains like he knows something went down. “Sure, yeah. Thanks...I weirdly had fun.”

“Yeah, me too,” Josette admits because she did.

Awkwardness hangs over them, and Jason rubs the back of his neck. “Should we hug or something?”

Josette backs away. “Bye, Jason.”

He waves and they part ways. Josette gets on the bus and goes home. As she’s walking down the street to get to her house, Vince’s front door opens, and Elizabeth runs out with tears streaming down her cheeks, heading toward a blue car parked on the curb.

The moment Josette sees Vince leaning against the doorframe, watching her leave, Josette stops a few feet away. When he glances her way, and their eyes meet, his expression is grim enough that he probably asked Elizabeth not to return.

That doesn’t mean he wants you.

Glaring at him, Josette lifts her hand and gives him her middle finger. He shakes his head as she walks past him and goes to her house. Opening the door, she slams it closed, greeted by harsh, lonely silence.

Letting out a deep breath, she falls back against the door. She puts her fingers against her lips and closes her eyes, his kiss haunting her thoughts, remembering when he said she was beautiful.