Page 65 of Girl Violence

After rolling out of bed and getting dressed in her white work blouse and black pants, she heads downstairs. Her dad’s in the kitchen making coffee and smiles a little when she enters. “Morning.”

“Yeah…” Josette replies, cringing from her awkward word choice. “I mean, morning.”

She grabs her travel mug and pours coffee into it. “You were home early last night?”

Josette nods absently before glancing in his direction. “…Jenna had to go somewhere.”

Which isn’t a complete lie. Josette hasn’t thought about Jenna yet. She doesn’t know if she even wants to, unsure if she’s mad at her or not. She’s never been angry with her, that was never their thing, so it’s weird. “Are you home after your shift?”

She twists the cap on the cup, desperate for the small talk to end. He’s trying, and she feels terrible, but she can’t stand the chit-chat right now. “Yeah, I’ll be home.”

“Okay.” It looks like he wants to say something else, but he doesn’t. Instead, he walks out of the room, stopping momentarily to say, “I’ll see you later.”

Josette doesn’t reply this time, only nods. The award for the most awkward conversation goes to them. Emitting a deep sigh, Josette walks out of the kitchen and grabs her jacket, half contemplating going back to bed. Today already feels like it’s going to be a bad day.

After shrugging it on and grabbing her coffee, she opens the door and jumps out of her skin when she sees Vince standing right there. Josette remembers that he’s working today also.

“Hey,” she says, and he smiles, though it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Hey.” Josette’s heart beats hard. Oh God. Does he know? Did Jason tell him? “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he replies carefully, eyes searching her face. “Are you?”

“Yeah,” she lies. Shit, he’s going to know. Josette diverts her gaze and steps around him, pulling the door closed. “Just on my way to work. What’s up?”

He stares at her, and Josette can’t make out the expression on his face. “What’s up?”

“Uh...yeah? You’re here, at my house?”

“Yeah, because I called you last night, but you didn’t answer. Or text.”

“Oh. My phone was stolen.”

He frowns. “By who?”

“God knows, that party was wild.” She looks at him, feeling bad. “I’m sorry, Vince.”

His face softens when she says his name, and he eventually sighs, stepping closer and putting his hand on her hip. Her stomach knots. She wants to throw herself at him and sob into his chest. Tell him how horrible she feels. She doesn’t deserve it. Not when she’s lying to him like this.

“It’s fine. I was just worried. The party was crazy. I went there to pick you up but didn’t see you.” He came to pick her up? Her heart warms at the thought.

“Jenna and Austin got into an argument, and he dragged her out of the party. I just went home.” He nods. “You were going to pick me up?”

“Of course,” he says, and she relaxes. He doesn’t know anything. “I didn’t want you to walk home on your own.” His eyes drop to her lips, and her body stiffens. “I’m annoyed that you did.”

Josette ducks her head, breaking their contact.

“We’re going to be late.” If avoiding the kiss upsets him, Vince doesn’t say anything. Instead, he takes her hand and pulls her toward his house. “Vince, no, I can’t—”

“Can’t what?”

“Go to your house right now,” she says, but then blushes when he takes out his car keys and unlocks his car. He opens the passenger seat for her.

“In you get.”

Feeling foolish, Josette walks over to the car and climbs in. Even though she would rather avoid him right now, it beats getting the bus.

The inside of the car is nice—black leather seats and trimmed with red chrome. She’s still confused about Vince having a car and its sudden appearance. When he gets in, he starts the engine as Josette puts on her belt.

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