Page 14 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

JOSEFINE

“I really don’t want to hear that.” Pen scrunches her nose, lips curling in disgust.

“I’m sorry but I’m just stating facts. Your brother is fine.” Vi looks at me from the mirror as she washes her hands as if she were asking me to back her up.

Pen also looks at me from the toilet, where she’s currently sitting. I had no idea we were at that level of comfort, but they’re also very tipsy, borderline drunk, so I don’t think they really care.

I’m leaned against the wall, attempting to maintain my balance.

When I was with Daniel, I lost track of time and forgot the girls were still inside.

They found me and dragged me back inside.

They grilled me with questions on why I left, how I ended up with Daniel, and gave me a new cup that they kept refilling.

I didn’t really tell them anything because the last thing I want is for them to pity me. I’m the idiot who decided to give Bryson a shot despite the million warnings in my head and gut not to do so.

I just told them I got hot and bumped into Daniel as I was going outside.

Shrugging, I glance down and blink a few times as my vision doubles. “I mean…Vi isn’t wrong.”

I leave it at that because I don’t want to tell Pen what I really think about her brother.

And I’m certain I’m bordering on drunk. If I open my mouth, I’m afraid I’ll say something like it took everything in me not to glance at his abs when I was with him, or that he has a nice smile, or that he has hair I’d like to run my hands through.

As quick as the thoughts come, I squash them down. My inhibitions are limited and I really don’t want to do something stupid like admit out loud that Daniel is hot.

The flush of the toilet and Pen’s loud groan has me lifting my head, and I notice that they’re both looking at me. Did I say that out loud?

Vienna lazily smirks, her glazed eyes idly shifting from Pen back to me. “You think Daniel’s hot? Do you like him?” she drunkenly singsongs as she stands next to me.

I shake my head, but regret it as everything spins.

“No, he’s just…ugh, it doesn’t matter. Stop looking at me like that.

I promise I’m not into your brother,” I say to Pen.

“He’s nice and overly insistent but we’re…

I don’t know…getting along. We have a class together and we’re paired together because of that class and?—”

Pen giggles as she washes her hands. “You don’t need to explain yourself to me.

I really don’t care if you like him or if you…

” She shudders dramatically. “Mess around with him. I just don’t want to know the details.

So please, please, please, spare me from them because the girls on the cheer team have no filter and I constantly hear their feral thoughts about him. ”

“I have no intention of sleeping with him.” But why am I thinking about it now?

She stifles a laugh, the expression on her face saying, I’ve heard that before . “Whatever happens between you and my brother, stays between?—”

“Please don’t spare me any of the details. I’m here for it. So don’t be afraid to share anything with me,” Vi interjects, her dopey smile stretching from ear to ear.

“As long as I’m not there,” Pen quickly adds. The terrorized look on her face almost makes me laugh, but I don’t. Though Vi doesn’t hold back, she tosses her head back and laughs. “I’m serious. That includes your filthy dreams and fantasies about him.”

“Nothing is going to happen. I promise, I’m not into and never will be into Daniel.” I twist the knob and pull the door open. The last words get lost by the intensity of the volume of those who are singing “Knife Talk” by Drake as it plays downstairs.

I amble toward the stairs but stop when I don’t feel the girls behind me. When I peer over my shoulder, they’re looking at each other like they’re sharing a secret. Knowing smiles then are directed at me, and something mischievous shines in their eyes.

I want to ask them what that’s about but when the song switches to “Mo Bamba” by Sheck Wes, the girls are rushing down the stairs and hauling me with them.

“No more Danny talk! We need shots!” Pen announces.

“Don’t worry, you can talk about Danny all you want to me.” Vi winks, laughing as Pen shoots her a glare. “Details included.”

It takes us longer to get past the crowd in the living room as there’s more people. I can’t even hear the girls as everyone sings—well, more like screams—the song at the top of their lungs.

Once we make it to the kitchen, Vi grabs three mini Solo cups and manages to find a bottle of tequila on the counter.

She fills each cup to the brim and before I can question her about how we’ll be feeling the next day, she shoots me this don’t think about it, just drink look. And then she pours another and another.

As the third shot hits the bottom of my stomach, the entire house becomes louder than before, singing the four words that gets everyone going. More alcohol is brought up from another room and keg stands are placed in the middle of the kitchen.

The fourth shot has my vision tripling. I have to set my cup on the counter, shaking my head that I’ll be black-out drunk in the next few seconds if I drink any more.

The girls giggle uncontrollably and drag me back to the living room as the next song comes on.

Everything’s happening too fast and before I can tell them that I really don’t want to dance and pull back, someone bumps into me and almost knocks me down.

A hand grabs my wrist, stabilizing me, before my face meets the ground.

“Shit, I’m sor—” Daniel looks apologetic at first, but when he realizes it’s me, his face lights up. “Sorry, it’s tight in here.”

“That’s what he said,” I snort but cover my mouth a few seconds later. Not sure if he heard what I said, but at the knowing grin, I know he did.

Daniel’s eyebrows hike up, his lips shifting into a cunning smirk.

There was hardly any space between us, but when he tugs my wrist, pulling me forward, I can’t help but let myself close the remaining distance.

His bare chest is almost pressed to mine, and if I wasn’t already intoxicated, the scent of his cologne finishes the job because I feel extremely delirious right now.

He leans down, until I feel his warm breath at the shell of my ear, his thumb gently grazing the curve from my wrist down to my thumb. “I wouldn’t know anything about that but…”

He might be just as drunk as I am because I don’t think sober Daniel would say that, at least to me. The hint of beer on his breath tells me just as much.

If it was someone else, I’d feel repulsed, but I oddly find myself standing straighter until my chest is pressed against him.

“But what? Do you want to find out?” The words spill out slow and slurred.

My head becomes a jumbled, fuzzy mess, my face numbs, and my entire body tingles with anticipation.

My eyes widen as a pulse settles between my legs and my heart stutters out of control.

“You’re drunk,” he points out and thank God because it sobers me momentarily. Like a bucket of water, the heat is doused. “But I want you to dance with me.”

“As long as you behave.” I wince internally, feeling embarrassed. What the hell was that? That didn’t sound flirty, but why am I trying to flirt with him?

“That won’t be a problem, Josefine.” His voice deepens, sending a shiver to scatter down my spine. “Unless…”

“Unless?” I say, almost breathless.

“Can I touch you?”

My breath hitches and my nipples harden. “Where?”

“I want to put my arm around your back. Can I?”

“Yeah.”

I feel a zap shoot throughout my body as his finger brushes over the skin above the waistband of my skirt.

I swallow hard as he in the most torturous way, drags his fingers across the small of my back until his palm finds the other side of my waist. He holds a firm grip on it, fingers gently but securely holding me.

Our bodies are pressed against each other, and there’s no space left between us.

Breathe . “Are you not going to tell me?”

“Tell you what?” I hear the smug smile in his voice.

I roll my eyes. “Unless what?”

“Desperate?” His fingers dig into my skin, searing me.

“Insufferable and cocky,” I grunt, doing my best not to let the shudder that’s built up expel from my body. “You’re really starting to get on my nerves.”

“Was I not already?” He lets go of my wrist and snakes the other behind my back.

I clamp my mouth shut. This should be the moment I bolt, but I don’t. And it has nothing to do with the physical hold he has on me, but the weird mental hold my brain has on him. I feel linked to him and it’s fucking with my mind.

“I say stupid shit when I’m drunk. You’re not missing out,” he says after a beat.

“Just when you’re drunk? Tell me something I don’t know,” I quip.

Daniel looks down at me, a self-assured look on his face. “Dance with me, Josie,” he demands before he’s spinning me around, my back flushed against his chest, his large hands splayed in front of my stomach.

My heart slams against my rib cage at the sudden movement, but my body burns when I meet the girls’ stares. Pen smiles at me but grimaces at her brother. Vi is giving me a thumbs-up and this fuck him look.

That’s not going to happen, but I swear whoever’s in charge of the music must be really horny because they’re all the kind of songs you grind and shake your ass to.

I’m going along to the beat of music, relishing the feel of Daniel’s calloused hand grazing my stomach, his hot breath next to my ear, and occasional stupid words that leave his mouth.

Though they’re far from that, and now I’m burning up and it has nothing to do with the way we’re dancing or how crowded it is.

“I need a drink,” I announce, separating myself from him, and the moment I do, something feels off, but I try not to dwell on it. I don’t wait or watch to see if he follows me. I’m off before I can put thought into the weird feeling.

I search for a clean cup in the kitchen, but I can’t find any, but then Daniel hands me a cold-water bottle.

“Thanks.” I take it and uncap it, chugging almost half of it. A stray drop glides down my chin and clings to my jaw, almost falling, but he catches it with his thumb.

“Sorry.” He rubs his thumb and pointer finger together, smearing the liquid between his fingers. “I should’ve asked.”

“It’s okay.” I tuck my hair behind my ear and hate that I’ve picked up on that nervous habit again. “I think I’m going to go home now.”

“Let me take you home.”

“I came with Pen and Vi.”

“They get nicknames, but I don’t?” he asks jokingly.

“They kind of insisted.” I nonchalantly shrug.

“So did I,” he counters. “Do I need to beg on my knees to make it happen?”

The corners of my lips uncontrollably twitch and his eyes track the flicker before it’s gone. That makes his smile widen and my heart flutter.

I take another sip, not sure how to respond to that.

“I can make it happen. Just say the word or snap your finger. That works too.”

Breathe . “I?—”

“Danny, hey. I’ve been looking for you.” A girl stands next to him, a girl I remember all too well. The very same one who appeared in the video with Bryson.

She wraps her arms around his waist and stares up at him, smiling sweetly at him.

Wow, she was pretty in the video, but it didn’t do her any justice because she’s even prettier in person.

The flutters freeze and disintegrate. My chest expands until it aches and when it deflates, the cycle repeats.

He removes his hand and takes a few steps back, but the hurt look on her face tells me everything I need to know. She likes him, that much is clear.

She smothers the look and offers me a friendly smile, but something about it feels fake. “Sorry, I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all. I’m actually leaving.”

“I’m going to take her home,” Daniel rapidly says, standing by my side, looking irritated.

“No need. I’m leaving with the girls. Thanks for the water.” I quickly exit the kitchen and in no time, I find the girls. Thankfully, we’re all on the same page about leaving and all head out together until we’re stopped by Angel.

“I’m taking you all home and I don’t want to hear it, Penelope.”

She folds her arms against her chest. “I’m going to get a Lyft. You don’t need to?—”

“I’m taking you all home. Don’t argue with me,” he sternly says.

“I’m not arguing.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

“Whatever. You’re going to get us something to eat.”

“The fuck I look like?”

“Like a dumbass,” she snarkily tosses over her shoulder at him as she grabs my hand and Vi’s and drags us out the door. “Hurry up, we’re hungry.”

There’s a small part of me that wants to look back, but there’s a voice in my head telling me he’s not back there. And because the voice has never been wrong, I don’t look back.

Looking back would’ve only instigated the disappointment that resides in the corner of my head.