Please Don't Go (The Midnight Strike, #1)

by E. Salvador

But I don’t think you’re a slut, Danny boy. A whore maybe, but not a slut.” A real laugh, the first one in days, rumbles out of my chest.

LMAO

It’s crazy how something cataclysmic can make you physically feel like the world has stopped moving, but the reality is that it’s only you who stopped.

“Why are you staring at Wednesday?” Gray questions, green eyes shining with mischief. I stare at him quizzically. “Wednesday?” “Josefine. That’s what everyone calls her,” Gray explains. “You know, because look at her. Sure, she’s hot as fuck, but she’s always looking serious and her personality is nonex⁠—” “Shut the fuck up,” I snap. They stare at me, taken aback. Even Noah looks a little stunned when he finally shifts his eyes back to me.

LMAO

I find it hard to believe until I go back to my inbox and see an email from Daniel Garcia, but it’s the subject line that severely throws me off. Swimming Lessons

LMAO he caved

Not sure when it happens, but I zone out staring at Bryson. When his eyes meet mine, his brows furrow but then they soften and he smirks. I know the intention behind it. It’s the I fucked your girlfriend and she loved it smirk.

WOOOOW

It’s been a few months since I last hooked up with someone. It was mediocre at best or maybe it’s my fault because everything in me has died. After that night, I swore I was done. It was pointless when I couldn’t feel anything.

“For fuck’s sake, I fucked up and I was drunk when I said and did that. Why do you always have to bring that up? I made a mistake. I told you I was sorry. She didn’t mean anything. I swear I was thinking of you the entire time. What more do you want me to do for you to believe I’m really sorry?” Right, because that’s every girl’s dream, to hear their boyfriend’s thinking of them while their dick is in someone else.

He cannot be serious

I can’t point out one singular thing that stands out because there isn’t just one—it’s her whole. She is light, a blinding color that’s hard to ignore. Like a lighthouse guiding you home.

I don’t know who gave up on her, but I know I won’t.

“Voy a ir contigo, aunque quieras o no. Y no discutas conmigo porque está conversión ya ha terminado. Sí me entendiste esta vez?” Wow. “¿Estás seguro?” “Contigo, siempre.”

Ok so I'm swooning

I nod. “And his dick isn’t as big as she shouted in the video. She really put on a show for him because I promise he’s not that great. I bet you’re better—” I clamp my mouth shut, wincing. “Forget I said that. Let’s go.”

IM SURE YOURE BETTER???? girl id DIE from the embarassment

Because the reality is that some days I feel so overwhelmed with the emptiness I feel inside, I don’t have it in me to do anything.

Dios, no tengo suficientes palabras para explicar qué tan hermosa es.

KISS ALREADYYYY

I’ll get lost in my head, and that’s currently a dangerous place to be. There’s hardly any light filtering through, and I know the moment it gets pitch black, I won’t be able to shut down the ugly thoughts still lurking in the back of my head.

Even if Daniel is potentially using me to get back at Bryson, I can’t say it necessarily bothers me. I’m fucked up, I know, but I sort of relish the idea of it bothering Bryson.

Real

I wish I had the ability to make that happen. To ease someone’s pain or discomfort instead of adding more to it. I wonder if my mom would have loved me if I had been different.

Damn

“Come on, Adrian. Wake up. Please don’t go. Please don’t go,” I chant under my breath as I watch the lifeguard do CPR on him. “Come on, Adrian. Wake up. Please. Please. Please don’t go. Wake up.”

oh shit :(

“We’re friends.” “I’ve fucked many of my friends. Just saying.” Angel noncommittally shrugs. I narrow my eyes at him, letting him know he’s not helping, to which he shrugs again. “The real question is who haven’t you fucked?” Kai snorts.

LMAO

I don’t miss the faint jerk of her lips. Fireworks. Every single time she does that.

I spent hours trying to find the best way to help him. I might not be able to help him get over his fear, but it doesn’t hurt to try. And as shitty as this might sound considering the circumstances, I’ve found a little purpose in my life. He was and has been there for me. The least I can do is return the favor.

Don’t deny it, Jos, you think I’m cute.” His eyes twinkle with mischief. “No, I think you’re hot, but if you prefer cute then…” A splash of pink colors his cheeks and his smile drops before he picks it back up. “No, no. I like hot.

CUTE

“You’re just…” He waves a hand down my chest. “God, I swear I’m never this awkward. Matter of fact, I’m⁠—” “Spit it out, Garcia.” I tap my foot impatiently. “Hot.” He clenches his jaw again. “You’re hot and you’re wearing that, Jos. I just needed to get that off my chest. I’m not trying to make it weird, but you’ve got nice⁠—”

WHY WOULD HE SAY THAT LMAO

Guys don’t like messy girls or girls who…are like me. All to show, nothing to give. Bryson said that a few times while drunk and sober.

See he deserved getting his tires slashed

“What’s that?” “What’s what?” I quickly shut it and tuck it in my pocket. Her eyes narrow in suspicion. “What are you hiding?” “What are you talking about?” I take a step back when she takes a step forward.

IS IT THE RHINESTONE

“Thanks, Josie.” I take it off the card and immediately attach it to my key ring. “Yeah.” And then she goes quiet again for the rest of the trail. And so am I because I’m struggling to accept that she trusts me so much, she gave me a key to her house.

AWWW

I hope you enjoy, and I’m so happy you’re here! With love, Garcia

WITH LOVEEEE

“So, you want to get married and have kids?” “With you, yeah. Just tell me when and where and I’m yours forever.” Something sounds different now, but I’m sure I’m reading into it.

SFOPPPP theyre so cute

“We can compromise. I’ll start buying groceries and cooking.” Her lips part, and I don’t doubt she’ll argue against me doing that. “Take it or take it. I’m not going to argue with you, Josefine.” “You mean take it or leave it?”

LMAOK no he doesnt

She clicks on it, sending her the picture and a message. Me: He’s busy.

OH. MY. GOD.

Amanda steps closer, but this time, I don’t move. She approaches me and snakes her arms around my torso. She peers up at me, those blue eyes glistening red and a trail of tears staining her cheeks. “I love you,” she feebly implores. “I…” I hesitate but she weakly smiles nonetheless, standing straighter against me. “I don’t love you.”

LMAO OUCH BJT SHE DESERVES THAT

“You fucked my teammate on my birthday!” She flinches but I can’t bring myself to care anymore.

IT WAS ON HIS BIRTHDAY???

“What’s wrong? You said thirty minutes! You said…” She stalks towards me and jabs her finger at my chest. “Thirty minutes, Daniel! You said you would be…” Her voice goes hoarse and then it cracks. “Here in thirty minutes. You promised!”

She probably thought he was dead

Mother: Be there in thirty minutes. I hope everything is as I left it.

OHHH

“Friends,” she flippantly remarks and uses air quotes around it. “Yeah, sure whatever but ‘just friends’ don’t keep a single rhinestone in their wallet. Just saying.”

I KNEW ITTTTT

The void in my chest is nowhere near or even halfway full, but I feel something enough that I don’t dread waking up in the mornings. I don’t know what to call that, but I feel…okay. And okay is the most I’ve ever felt.

I should tell him that he can’t boss me around because I hate nothing more than a man telling me what to do but…this is Daniel, and I find it hot.

Real

“Stop looking at me.” “I made it with lots of love, so I need to see you fall in love with it,” Kai explains. “He’s weird like that,” Angel says through a mouthful. “What’s your excuse?” I question Daniel. “Seeing you try something new.” He grabs his phone and holds it up.

LMAO not him pulling the phone out

“I talk a lot about myself,” he weakly defends. “Calling yourself hot doesn’t count.” “But you can agree I am, right?” He bats his eyelashes with hopefulness. I almost laugh, but I swallow it down. “I’m not going to stroke your ego, Garcia.” “But I want you to stroke it,” he utters throatily then tenses like he’s realized what he said but doesn’t correct himself.

IM SCREAMING

Everything comes to an abrupt halt. My thoughts, my legs, the ugly whirl of emotions just stops. An explosion of yellow. A variety of yellow flowers with the exception of a few whites scattered here and there litter my kitchen and living room. The last time I saw this many flowers was when Mom passed, but these aren’t those kinds of flowers.

HE BOUGHT HER YELLOW FLOWERS

“Daniel! Did you see the…” My voice dwindles as I finally spot the envelope. The front says, Happy Valentine’s Day. Carefully I take out the card, and my breath catches in my throat.

STOP IMMA CRY

“I gave a little about me; now you take something off. You give me a little something, I’ll take something off. I don’t interrupt or ask questions and neither will you. Deal?” My heart careens and my palms sweat. Scary alarms blare in my head, warning me to not share any more, but I want to help him open up. Hesitantly, he strips off his hoodie and drops it on the grass. “Okay, deal.”

Damn not strip therapy

“So what are you doing here?” I ask. “Celebrating with you, of course.” “You realize we’re standing on the staircase. Pretty positive this doesn’t count as celebrating.” “It is as long as you’re spending it with the person you want to be with.” He stares at me so endearingly, it makes my skin itch again. “How we celebrate doesn’t matter, as long as I get to be with you.”

STOPPPP MY HEART CANNOT TAKE THIS <3

I guess it’s time to call it what it is. “Yeah, we’re dating. Daniel’s my boyfriend.” That sounds crazy to say but so nice. I really like the sound of that. “I knew it!” an eager voice says behind me. My body goes rigid, my neck too stiff to turn, but I don’t have to because I recognize that voice.

HIS MOM LMAO

Daniel states. “It was March 17th,” he proudly and happily announces. I thought he was going to say the 28th, but the moment I took a chance on us, it was official for him. Even though we weren’t labeling our relationship yet.

Amanada

Amanada

Bryson pushes him again and Daniel loses his balance and falls into the deep end of the pool.

OH SHIT

“You stupid—” I lose it, and knee him in the balls hard.

HELL YEAH

“I’m sorry. She…she broke up with you.”

Ummm technically HE broke up with HER but ok

Closing my eyes, I rub my temples and breathe in and out. “I bet you’re happy, huh?” I hear Bryson’s condescending voice behind me.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME BRYSON

I’m crying again. I didn’t want to, but the tears just keep coming down, and Angel is looking at me. “I’m here too,” he says but then he walks out.

LMAO