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

by E. Salvador

To anyone who’s ever felt they didn’t deserve to be seen. I see you. I’m so happy you are here!

“My name is Daniel Garcia, but my friends call me Danny.” His words are soft, but friendly, laid-back almost as if he were talking to a friend. “And now you’re my friend, so call me Danny.”

“You can’t miss someone you don’t know,” I angrily snap. “Then let me know you,” he counters determinedly. “I want to know you.”

I hold her, wishing I could take all her pain away. I hold her like my life depends on it. I’ll hold her until morning if I have to. I’ll keep holding her until I can’t any longer because how the fuck am I supposed to let go?

“I couldn’t let you go.” I attempt to swallow past the thick lump in my throat, rubbing small circles on her back.

We’re strangers who ended up stumbling upon each other by accident.

“There’s not much to know.” She shrugs. “There’s always something to know.” “We’re strangers.” “Friends.” “We can’t be friends. We don’t know anything about each other.” “At some point, you’re going to have to stop using that as an excuse.” She scoffs. “It’s not an excuse. And who said I wanted to be your friend?” “Everyone wants to be my friend,” I retort with a grin. When her eyes cast to it, she glowers, but then her face becomes blank. “They must feel bad for you.” “So, feel bad for me and be my friend.” “You’re annoying.” “You mean good looking?” She softly groans. “We’re getting off track.”

“I’ll welcome your humor over hugs any day. So please don’t hug me.”

Even though I can’t contribute much because I haven’t worn makeup since Mom passed, they still include me. It’s weird but kind of nice.

And for a moment, his back to the world, his figure shielding me from it all, his smile that does weird things to my stomach, I feel a bit…fine.

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

“I’m here because despite what you believe, you’re not a problem and you’re not broken. I’m not trying to fix you. I just want you to know that I’m here for you. As a friend, as a person, as whatever you want me to be. I’m here for you, Josefine. Whoever or whatever made you believe that is wrong.”

I’m so happy you’re here, Jos!

“I’m not going to force you to do something you’re not ready to do. But I want you to know that if you want this, I will help you.”

“I got you,” she softly and earnestly says, but more than anything, it sounds like a promise and I believe her.

“Did you just call me Danny?” “Yes, but I think I like Garcia better.” A smile grows on his face.

I can’t help but smile a little at that and I don’t miss the way his eyes drop to my lips. “Cute.” “You called me cute; you can’t take it back.”

“I know exactly what you meant. 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. So, you think I’m hot?”

“Are you sure I won’t be bothering you?” “I have no life, so I promise you’re not.” “You understand I’m going to consume your life? It’s going to get so bad, you’re going to get sick of me.”

“Which dog did you get?” “Don’t laugh.” “Tell me.” “Chihuahua.” He sulks, and it’s adorable. “But I think it’s bullshit and they stereotyped me because I’m Mexican. I should definitely sue for emotional distress.”

“You don’t have to stay, but if you ever feel like you need to um…get some rest, you can. Don’t feel obligated to spend the night or come over. But if you ever need space from your roommates, you’re more than welcome to stay.”

“I don’t want you to feel like you need to make yourself cheerful or useful in order to be around me. I just want you to be you. And if you need someone to talk to, vent to, someone who will just listen, I’m here.” Her brown eyes level with mine as she says that. “But if you don’t, that’s okay, too.”

“You got a praise kink I don’t know about?” “I don’t know, but I’m willing to find out.” He smirks.

The wick in my heart lights back up, easily and instantaneously, almost as if it had never been out. I hate that I let it happen and most of all hate how the single flame warms my entire body. It sends ripples of heat throughout, slowly spreading like a wildfire but not hot enough to incinerate me, just warm enough I feel a little…alive.

“Don’t hide,” I softly say, letting those two words seep in our bubble and hoping he’s absorbing them, hearing them, feeling them. “I’m right here.”

I feel grounded. That’s what seeing her makes me feel.

“My heart begs for you.” “Maybe it’s heartburn?” she mumbles into my shoulder.

“This freaks me out a little. I’ve been thinking a lot about my feelings and you recently. I want you. I like you.”

Her lips stretch into a small smile. “Strictly mine. Strictly yours.”

“I don’t like cuddling with anyone, but I really like it with you. I like doing things with you. So, uh, if you want to, you know, hold my hand, or hug me or even kiss me, you can. Whenever you want. If you want.”

“I’ll do whatever you want. Anything you want. Whatever you say, I’ll do it.”

“Hey.” I’m standing in front of her and embracing her in a hug. “Talk to me. I’m your person, remember?”

INSERT SOBBING EMOJI

“I’ll give you a moment. Take your time. I have forever.” I kiss her forehead and let her go, but I don’t make it far before she’s clutching onto my hand. “Please don’t go,” she quietly pleads, clutching onto my hand hard. I wrap her up in a tight embrace, and she does the same. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Let yourself feel. Making yourself numb will only make you want to stop breathing. So, talk to me. Let yourself feel. It hurts and that’ll probably never go away, but you can share your pain with me. I can’t promise I’ll make it go away, but I’ll do my best to lessen it.”

“You deserve good things, Daniel. All and every good thing, you deserve.”

“Thanks for not giving up on him.” “You don’t need to thank me. I’m just⁠—” “I do. He trusts you and has made more progress with you than he ever has with anyone.”

I guess it’s time to call it what it is. “Yeah, we’re dating. Daniel’s my boyfriend.”

When I finally look at what he wrote on the ball, I laugh, garnering looks from Pen and her parents, but I don’t look at them. I look up at my boyfriend, who’s already looking at me. Eyes on me

“Hi, pretty girl.” There’s a rough edge to his voice, and his smile looks strained, like he’s forcing it to stay up.

I don’t want to push, but I want to be a good girlfriend. I want him to know that I’m here for him, that I’m not emotionally stunted. That I can be someone he can feel comfortable sharing things with.

“No matter what happens, it’ll be okay. I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay, okay?” He hauls me in for a hug, kissing the crown of my head. “Okay.”

“I’m not okay, and I’m tired of pretending like I am. I don’t want to feel like this anymore, but I don’t know how to not feel…empty.”

“If you’re here to call me a bitch or whatever, go ahead. Get it out and leave.” He smiles, amused. “Why would I clean your living room and then call you names?”

“Danny’s not like that. He’s too kind for his own good. I don’t think he could hate somebody even if he tried, especially you of all people. He cares about you a lot, more than he’s probably ever cared about anyone. Which is really fucking rude because I’m his best friend.”

“Yeah, you had him giggling in the locker room. You don’t strike me as a funny person.” “Hey.” I’m taken aback. “Did I lie?” “Well, no, but I could be funny.” “Right,” he sardonically muses.

They still want me for me. I’m enough for them. They’re going to stay.

“Unless you can predict the future, there is no reason why you can’t talk to her and communicate what you feel. You aren’t the same person you were a month ago.”

“We’re not…together.” “Yet Daniel, yet. I didn’t raise you to be so negative.”

“She’s at the aquarium with Pen.” “How do you know that?” “Stop asking questions and go see her.”

“Don’t be nervous. The worst that’ll happen is that she’ll tell you she doesn’t like you.” “Jesus Christ, Pen, you’re not helping.” I glare at her.