Page 42 of Girl Violence

“You are. Just be you.”

“Whenever I’m me, I get into trouble.”

Coming over to her, Vince rests his hand on the shelf next to Josette’s head. As his aftershave envelopes her senses, her heart picks up pace. He smells good. Almost too good.

“You always did get into trouble,” he says, a sexy smile shaping his lips. “I just took all the blame like when you got a Barbie for your birthday, and you hated everything about her. The pink dress and her long hair. So, you coloured her dress in black sharpie and chopped her hair off. You thought she looked amazing. But then your mum started yelling at you for being stupid and ruining things, so I told her I did it.”

Josette remembers. Her mum and dad had an argument that morning, and she was in a bad mood for the rest of the day. She threw Josette a birthday party, but she doesn’t remember many people being there. Just Vince. It was like the adults used it as an excuse to drink. Josette had asked for a skateboard, and she got a Barbie instead. Although she was upset, she was able to make do, changing Barbie to the way she wanted.

However, Josette doesn’t remember that Vince took the blame for it. “What did she say?”

His shoulders shrug. “Told my dad I was playing with dolls, which didn’t go well. I had to tell him I was looking at her plastic titties for him to relax.”

Josette laughs. She never did like David. He was always grouchy and pushy with Vince. As soon as Vince started high school, he pressed him to do more boyish things—like football and other sports Vince absolutely hated. She doesn’t think he liked Vince hanging out with Josette.

“Well, I can handle myself now. I don’t need you taking the blame for me,” Josette says, and he snorts.

“Getting drunk and crashing a cop car is your idea of handling it?”

“Like you can talk. Weren’t you the one getting drunk the other night and throwing yourself around like a cheap whore?”

A chuckle escapes his throat as he leans closer, causing Josette’s stomach to tighten. God, why does he have to be so...Vince? “I was wondering when you were going to mention that.”

“I’m surprised you can remember,” she says, looking him in the eye. “Was she any good? I mean, do you even remember what she looked like, Vince? Her name?”

He searches her eyes, and Josette isn’t sure if she’s imagining things, but there’s heat between them. “Oh, I remember. Her name is Rosie. She’s a cute little emo with—rumour has it—the best lips.” His eyes drop to Josette’s lips. “The best rack.” His eyes go even lower, and she quits breathing as he peers down the front of her work blouse. “And the best ass.”

Josette mutters, “And does she?”

A smile spreads across his face. “Maybe.”

While leaning against the shelf, she slips, knocking over a book. As she bends to grab it, she notices Vince staring at her ass, causing her to shake her head, having flashbacks of the time he soaked her with water and got hard. “Take a picture. It will last longer.”

She feels her heart pound as he pulls out his phone and backs up. The camera goes off, and she watches his retreating back with a smile on her face.

Friends?

Yeah, right.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

The next few days are a monotonous routine Josette is beginning to get sick of.Work. Home. Work. Home. She’s starting to feel starved of life. Even Vince, the only one who does his job around the library, has been slacking off. Josette has seen him sitting on the floor on his phone a few times instead of organizing the chaotic shelves.

When Friday comes, she almost cries with relief. The library is closed this weekend because of the bank holiday, so Josette is free to do whatever she wants. And she has a plan, which doesn’t include going to another stupid party but instead getting into her pyjamas and watching the new season ofThe Vampire Diaries.

After putting the last thriller on the new display for crime month, Josette smiles. Finally done. Turning, she’s about to grab her bag when she hits something solid. Gasping, she flies back, about to knock into the shelf she just completed. She’s caught just in time, and Vince laughs as he steadies her.

Josette glares up at him. The library is creepy enough without him sneaking up behind her all the time. “You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days.” She pushes him back. “Why are you standing so close, you creep.”

“Couldn’t help myself. You make it too easy to mess with you.” Rolling her eyes, Josette goes to grab her bag from behind the desk. Once she has it, she digs out her compact mirror and pulls a face at her reflection. God. Never mind Miss Finn resembling a moth. Josette is starting to look like one now.

That’s it—she needs a pamper session tonight. A long, hot bath with aromatherapy candles, a face mask, and...

Vince is still standing there, staring at Josette with an odd expression on his face. He’s been like this since Wednesday, and Josette can’t understand it. After jokingly taking her picture the other day, he’s been acting weird. He’s kept his distance, but at times, she catches him looking at her in a way that makes her feel warm.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she blurts, glancing back at her mirror. “Do I have something on my face?”

“What are you doing this weekend?” he suddenly asks her, and Josette’s eyebrows pinch together.

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