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

by E. Salvador

“It’s Josie said I’m Her Boyfriend Day. This is one the biggest holidays of them all. So naturally I had to get my girlfriend these.” The backs of my eyes burn. “But you got me flowers last month—a lot of them…” Don’t cry! “That was last month, and they’re dead now. This is this month, and next month will be next month.”

“I have to tell you another secret,” he whispers. “Yeah, tell me,” I whisper back. “Sometimes…I wish I was dead.” My heart drops and I rear back, looking up at the guys because he said that loud enough, I know they heard.

I lean over and whisper against his temple, “You deserve good things, Daniel. You deserve to be happy. I’m sorry it couldn’t be with me.” Then I kiss the top of his head and walk away.

“I may have missed the signs, but he was different with you. Call it love or whatever people in relationships feel, but he just looked lighter with you.” I scoff incredulously. “Lighter?” “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.

Vienna saw me physically at my worst, and Penelope, despite what happened between her brother and me, is still here. She also knows about my crash out, and even knowing that, they’re both still here. Like it doesn’t matter how unstable my emotions are, how awkward I am, how I’m not as bubbly as they are—they’re still here. They still want me for me. I’m enough for them. They’re going to stay.

“I swear if I’m dreaming…” My voice quivers. “You’re not. I’m right here. I’m right here, Josie,” he whispers against my hair. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

“I want us, this, everything, all of it. I need you. I’m not perfect and I have issues, a lot of them—that I’m working on—but I want to be here for you, Daniel. I want you to let me in and share your pain with me. Share what you feel on the good, bad, and in-between days. I told you once and I’ll tell you again: Don’t hide from me, please. Let me in.” “Even on the dark days?” His trembling voice drops an octave. I tug back, leveling my gaze with his amber eyes that fuel my soul on fire. “I’ll love you even on the dark days.”

“Stop looking at me like that.” “Okay.” He flattens his lips, but they roll back up. “I sound like an idiot, don’t I?” “No, God, no.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. “You sound like the girl I love.”