Page 60 of Girl Violence

“I’ll be right back,” she says to Jenna, making her way to the car he’s just got into. When she gets there, she knocks on the window lightly, nervous as he drops the window and bends his head to check her out.

“New car?” she asks, not hiding the confusion.

“Something like that,” he says with a smirk, eyeing her up in a way that makes her body tingle and remember all the dirty things he did to her in his bedroom. “Want to come for a ride, Josie?”

“In the car?” She tilts her head flirtatiously, and he chuckles. Her cheeks tingle with heat from his laugh. God, she would love to go with him. He looks so good right now, the smell of his cologne making her dizzy in the best way.

“Where you off to looking like that?”

“Out,” she says, and he raises his eyebrow questioningly. “My friend Jenna is back from Germany. We’re going to a party. Want to come with?”

“Ah.” His smile fades a little. “I can’t. I’ve something going on. A few of the guys are coming down from London. Maybe later?”

“Oh.” She tries to hide her disappointment. “That’s okay—”

His phone on the passenger seat starts ringing, and Josette’s eyes drop, seeing Rosie’s name flash over the screen. She swallows hard.

Promise not to get jealous.

Josette looks away as he hits ignore. “I’ll see you later, yeah?”

She nods. “Sure.”

“Josette,” he says as she goes to turn around. She bends her head to look at him again, trying hard not to feel the pang in her chest. “Iwillsee you later.”

She smiles a little as he starts up the car, revving it before taking off. As she heads back to Jenna, doubt clouds her thoughts. While she knows it’s the agreement they came to, Josette was hoping for a little more after last night. Now she can’t get out of her head that he drove away when she looks this good, and Rosie is blowing up his phone. Josette takes a deep breath, knowing she needs to stop. He can do what he wants. Just like she can.

Heat rises to her face when she sees worry spread over Jenna’s face. “Are you okay?”

She forces a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. He’s meeting up with friends.”

“You’re not okay,” she says as they start walking. “Fine is just another word for being pissed off.”

“I’m not pissed off. I just...” Josette trails off, not knowing the right words to say. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t know who he is.”

“You probably never will.” She takes hold of Josette’s hand and squeezes her fingers as if to soften the blow of her words. “Guys like Vince and Austin give enough to get you addicted but don’t give you enough to satisfy. If they ever do, there’s a price to pay for it.” She pauses. “Which is usually us getting hurt.”

Silence falls between them. Josette doesn’t know what to say to that, knowing deep down that Jenna is probably right. “Is everything okay with you and Austin?”

“No,” she says, and Josette is surprised by her sudden honesty, especially when she’s been evasive about it since she arrived. “But I’m here with you, and we’ll have fun tonight.”

“If something is bothering you, you can tell me—”

“I’m fine.”

“Apparently, fine means you’re pissed off.”

“Touché.” Laughing, Jenna playfully pushes her and then throws her arm around Josette. “Okay, I’m pissed. Seeing how Vince treated you just then reminded me of Austin, and I’m not drunk enough for that. But enough about boys. I don’t want to ruin our night.”

“Where are we even going?”

She winces, looking suddenly guilty. “You’re not going to like it. The party’s at Ian’s.”

Josette frowns. “Oh…”

“You’re okay with that, right?” she asks.

“Yeah,” she lies, suddenly wishing she had jumped into Vince’s car when she had the chance. Being with him would be better than going to Ian’s even if he’s being confusing.

---