Page 67 of Girl Violence

“You’re not fine.” He takes the book out of her hand and slams it on the shelf. “What aren’t I telling you?”

“Rosie. She was with you, Lewis and Carson last night.”

“Are you fucking serious?” He glares at her. “You’re jealous over a girl I kissed once trying to getyouout of my head?” Josette says nothing, and he scoffs. “She was already with Lewis and Carson before I even arrived because she’s fucking them both.”

Josette blinks. “I’m—”

“What’s really wrong here, Josette?”

Her bottom lip trembles. “There’s nothing wrong. I promise.”

“Yeah?” He looks angry now. “You and I both know your promises are lies.”

“So are yours.”

Shaking his head, he walks away. Josette hears Miss Finn call out his name, but it’s too late. Vince slams the door on his way out and a tear falls down Josette’s face, wondering why she’s always ruining everything.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

“You’re doing that wrong,” Miss Finn says, coming out of nowhere. Josette wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings. To anything and as she glances at the cover, she exhales tiredly when she sees the silhouette of a man holding a knife with a woman silently screaming in the background—a slasher thriller to the romance section.

“Did you hear me? I said you’re doing that wrong.”

“I heard you.”

The book is snatched off the shelf and Miss Finn stabs Josette with a dirty look. “This is not something a romance reader wants to read.”

“Why not?” Josette crosses her arms. “I personally think real life is more thriller than romance. I have a better chance of my throat being slit by a psycho than finding a happy ever after with some mega-rich billionaire with a condo and his own helicopter. We really should stop lying to people, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I’m going to have to redo this entire section,” she grumbles under her breath, ignoring Josette as she scans the other books for errors. There probably is—she’s not been concentrating since Vince walked out.

Miss Finn’s hard exterior crumbles, and seeing her worry makes Josette feel like crap. She scratches her head. “Look, I’ll fix it.”

Miss Finn scoffs, and the look is gone; her expression is back to stone. “I’ll finish it myself. You can leave for the day.”

“You take this place way too seriously,” Josette mumbles under her breath, but Miss Finn hears and glares at her.

“This isn’t a joke, Josette. But then again, I’m not surprised you don’t understand the meaning of owning a business that pays my mortgage and bills. Something you wouldn’t understand because you still live with your father.”

“Wow.” She nods at Miss Finn’s sudden outburst. “Okay.”

“Do you know what—” She slams the book down like Vince did. “Here’s some advice for you.”

Josette takes a step back. “I’m good—”

“No, I’m going to give you some advice. Wake the hell up!” Josette’s eyes widen. “Life is hard, and you have to do a lot of shit you don’t want to do. This place isn’t an inconvenience to me. It’s not just a job. This is my life. How about you let me know what it feels like the moment you pour your entire self into something, and someone comes along and spits on it? Tell me how that makes you feel then. You need to grow up, girl, because one day, you will blink and realise all you have achieved is a very lonely life because no one will want to be around you.”

Josette winces with shock. Has she just been slaughtered by Miss Finn?

“I—” For once, Josette doesn’t know what to say. She’s speechless.

“I haven’t got time for this.” Miss Finn picks up the book again. “Also, whatever is going on between you and Vince, stop. He’s going through enough.”

Josette’s eyebrows draw together. “What do you mean?”

“Did you not know? His dad is dead. Had a heart attack while driving, and then a head-on collision with a delivery truck.”

“What?” Josette’s heart stops. “W-When?”

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