Page 66 of Girl Violence

“What were you up to last night?” she can’t help but ask as he takes off down the street.

“I met with my friends from London,” he answers as he switches gears. “I would have gone with you, but they drove all the way to see me. It was kind of important.”

Josette waves it off but wishes he’d tell her more. “It’s fine.”

“Then I met up with Lewis and Carson afterwards. We went to the party.” No mention of Rosie, even though Josette had seen her with them. Fuck, she’s being such a fucking girl right now.

“Why? We almost got into trouble because of them.”

“I know… Carson apologised. After that, I went home and…slept.” The pause makes Josette turn in his direction. Did his voice crack, or had she imagined it?

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.” But he isn’t. Something’s wrong. Josette just can’t tell what.

They drive until he parks outside the library. When they get inside, Miss Finn is behind her desk.

“Josette,” she says, still wearing her signature brown clothes and pushed back knot. “This is the last week of your probational period. We will have our appraisal and see if your contract will be renewed or not.”

Judging by her tone, Miss Finn meansnotto renew her contract.

“You will miss me if you don’t, Miss Finn,” she says, folding her arms. “I grow on people.”

“Yes…like fungus,” she remarks. Josette smiles, impressed by her comeback. “Those need sorting.” Miss Finn points to a stack of new boxes that weren’t here the last time Josette was in, which means they must’ve had a huge delivery. As she groans, Miss Finn looks at Vince. “Vince, dear, are you sure—”

“Yes,” he cuts her off, and Josette wonders what Miss Finn was going to say. After taking off his hoodie and going inside the office, Miss Finn notices Josette looking, and her eyes narrow.

“Work.”

Taking off her coat and downing the rest of her coffee, Josette grabs one of the boxes and struggles to heave it down the aisle. Throwing it down, she rips the lid open. More romance books. It’s like the universe is out to taunt her.

Josette picks up a random one, and just as she’s about to locate its new home, Vince suddenly rounds the corner with a determined look on his face. She frowns. “What—”

Grabbing her face with both hands, he kisses her, leaning her back against the shelves. She gasps against his mouth, heart dropping into her stomach. Being kissed this way would’ve made her melt to mush if it wasn’t for the memory of Ian shoving his mouth on hers. Flinching, Josette pulls away, only realising what she’s done when it’s too late.

His forehead creases from her reaction. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m...” She turns around to face the shelf. “I’m working.”

“No.” He steps closer to her, shaking his head. “You’ve been acting weird all morning. You keep lying to me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, a little more adamantly this time.

“There you go again,” he accuses. “You don’t want me to kiss you?”

“I do. Of course, I do.” She swallows hard. “Oh, for God’s sake.” Josette chokes on a lump of emotion clogging her throat. She hates this. She doesn’t want to think or talk about it. “I’m not hiding anything from you. Go away.”

“Go away?” he echoes. “You wanted me around so badly, and now suddenly you don’t?”

“I want you around. But not right now.”

“Tell me what’s wrong,” he demands.

“There’s nothing wrong!” Josette’s voice rises, having lost the last shreds of her patience. “And you can’t talk when you’re keeping things from me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you joking?” She stops, too exhausted to go through this cycle again with him. “Do you know what? We’re not doing this. I’m fine.”

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