Page 37 of Girl Violence

Kissing him hadn’t felt wrong. Nothing about him feels wrong when he touches and kisses her. But in his mind, it is.

We bring out the worst parts in each other.

He’s right because even now, Josette wants him badly. Even when he doesn’t want her.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

“I’m going to kill you.”

“Jenna?” Josette groans sleepily, disorientated as she glances around her dark bedroom with bleary eyes.

“No, it’s your fairy godmother. Of course, it’s me! Wake up.”

Josette sighs. “Hold on a sec.”

Pulling herself upright, she rubs her face with her hands. She’s tired. Today has drained her of life. She remembers collapsing into bed after dinner, and it’s nearing eleven at night. If Jenna hadn’t phoned, she probably would have slept through the night. Sighing, Josette puts the phone back against her ear. “Okay, I’m awake.”

“Welcome back,” Jenna says dryly. “Can I kill you now?”

“What have I done?”

“Oh, you know. You just gave Austin my new number.”

Shit—she’d forgotten about that.

“I’m sorry,” Josette says again. “I can explain—”

“You better.”

“He was being mopey, and it was giving me hives.”

“Josette!” she whines. “My inbox is full, and I meanfull, of messages from him. He won’t stop, so I gave in, and now…now I want him like crazy again. And it’s your fault. I was doing so good, finally weaning off him, andbam!I’m back to being a tit.”

“You’re not a tit, and let’s stop pretending you’re not secretly happy he contacted you. Why don’t you just hear him out? Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick about him.”

“What? Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?”

“I’m still me. But I’m not really in the mood to chat.”

“Why? Are you okay?” she asks with concern, and like Josette suspected, Jenna hadn’t been truly mad at her.

“Not really, but I’m fine. I’m just exhausted.” It’s kind of the truth, anyway. Josette’s stomach hasn’t felt right since leaving the bowling alley.

“Are you sure?”

Josette wants to tell Jenna no. She’s not sure. She wants to tell her all about Vince and ask her why she’s not good enough for anyone. That she feels weird and insecure. A mess, unable to know how to fix it. But she won’t. She can’t. Jenna has enough of her own issues going on.

“Josette?” Jenna says. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”

Josette nods, even though she can’t see her.

“Yeah, I know. But I’m fine. Seriously. I watched a sad movie. You know how I get. I’m in one of those moods.”

Josette can tell by her tone that Jenna doesn’t believe her. “Well, I’m here if you need me. And if this is about who I think it is, it’s his loss.”

* * *

For the restof the week, Josette is sick with the stomach flu. She spends it in bed, taking the week off work. Her dad blamed the takeaway, and she blamed the aftermath of Vince. Funny how neither will change. Her dad won’t stop ordering in to avoid cooking in her mother’s kitchen, and Josette won’t stop thinking of her ex-best friend, wishing he were more.

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