Page 18 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

DANIEL

La Patrona : Hola mijo como estás? Sé que estás bien ocupado, pero nomás quería saber cómo estás? Te extrano mucho y espero que estés bien

The knot in my throat grows as I reread the message from Mom a few times as I contemplate what I want to say.

I haven’t seen or spoken to her or Dad since Christmas.

Ignoring them is a shit thing to do, but I can’t bear to think of what’s going through their minds when they speak or see me.

Not that I have to worry much about Dad because he hardly speaks to me, but when he does, we always end up butting heads and our small conversation blows up.

The reminder makes the knot feel like it somehow slipped out of my throat and is now snaking around it like a noose.

A slap on my shoulder startles me. Huffing out a quiet breath, I type out a brief message and set my phone inside my locker.

Angel stands next to me, already dressed for lift this morning. “Don’t think you’re going to get away with not talking about Friday.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” I change into my workout clothes, ignoring his probing stare.

He scoffs with disbelief, crossing his arms against his chest, and leans the side of his body against the locker next to mine. “Nothing to talk about? Does Josie ring a bell?”

“We’re just friends.”

A friend who happens to make me feel a little like my old self anytime I’m around her.

He laughs patronizingly. “You guys were dancing for almost an hour, and don’t act like you didn’t run to her house because she forgot something. What was it that she forgot again?”

In my defense, I thought it was really important to her. I’ve seen Pen freak about little things like that, but now I know Josie didn’t care for it. At least now I know for next time.

My lips lift into a small smile. “Were you keeping track of how long we were dancing?”

“I wasn’t keeping track, but you were both super close.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. “Hey, I’m not judging; you do you and all of that, but didn’t she try to…you know…”

My smile slips, and my molars grind against each other. “Don’t bring that up here, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“Sorry.” He raises his hands in surrender. “I’m not trying to sound like a dick?—”

“You’re tipping close to being one.”

He sharply exhales. “I’m not trying to upset or offend you, but I don’t want you to get hurt. Sometimes you have this savior complex thing and?—”

“Angel,” I clip. “This isn’t that. I’m just trying to be a friend.”

“I know and you’re a good one. No, the best one, and as my best friend, I’m looking out for you. Being with Amanda fucked you up, and I don’t want that to happen to you again.”

I shouldn’t be annoyed. I know his intentions are good, but I feel this surge of protectiveness over Josie. I don’t like the assumptions or what he’s insinuating about her.

“This isn’t an Amanda situation because I’m not dating Josie, nor do I like her like that.” Frustrated, I drag my fingers through my hair before I put my hat on. “Can’t two people just be friends?”

“They can but you guys only became friends because of that situation. You don’t want things to get messy.” His face softens. “And look, I get it, Josie’s hot. Her tits are distracting, but?—”

A pinch of annoyance grabs ahold of me, but soon it’s not just that but something else. They collide, becoming green and ugly.

“Don’t say that again. This has nothing to do with her chest. I’m?—”

The door to the locker room slams open, and loud footsteps and a harsh voice take over the already loud room. “Where the fuck is Daniel?”

“What?” I snap, pivot, and look down at Bryson.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” he seethes, pointing his fingers at my chest.

Right, I forgot about that. Josie didn’t hold back and I sure as fuck wasn’t going to stop her. He deserves that and more.

“What are you talking about?” I innocently ask.

“Don’t fucking act like you don’t know. You fucking slashed my tires, didn’t you?” His jaw tics, his eyes are dark, and his body vibrates with rage.

I fight back not to smile or laugh. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I have better things to do than to?—”

“Don’t fucking play stupid with me.” He jabs his finger at my chest. “You’re still pissed because Amanda cheated on you with me, but it’s not my fault you couldn’t keep her happy.

Couldn’t fuck her right. Get over it. I get you’re upset because she texted me and sent me nudes but…

” He smirks, spewing the words with so much venom.

I’m sure he expects me to go off. Probably thought that was going to set me off, but unfortunately for him, it does nothing.

I’m so unaffected, I half zone out, wondering if Josie knows just how pissed off he is.

I wish she could see this. I wonder if she’d laugh because I know I sure as hell want to.

“Bry, chill out .” Angel speaks over him, smiling and talking to him the same way he did to me when I found out he slept with Amanda. He used those two exact words in that same nonchalant tone. “Danny was drunk as shit Friday night. Puked his brains out all over his room.”

“Yeah and I had to clean that shit up,” Gray says from the other side of the locker room, scowling and shuddering as if he were remembering it.

Kai rolls his eyes. “You had to clean it up? You mean I had to after you gagged and complained you had a weak stomach.”

“And because of that, I couldn’t sleep because you were all being loud as shit,” Noah grumbles.

I almost lose it at Noah jumping in, but I shouldn’t be surprised. He may be quiet, but he’s the kind of guy you know will always have your back. Though I’m kind of shocked at how quick and easy my roommates came up with that lie.

I’m going to owe them big time, but seeing Bryson all riled up is worth it.

Bryson’s nostrils flare and he grunts, but then realization flashes across his face. “Of course it wasn’t you, fucking Josefine. That bitch,” he mutters under his breath.

“Don’t call her that.” All my humor disappears in an instant.

He stifles a pathetic laugh and cocks his head to the side, studying me. “I saw you dancing with her. I know what you’re trying to do so don’t act like you care about her. You’re trying to get back at me, but I don’t care about that bitch. Fuck her for all I care.”

I clench my jaw, fury twisting around my insides until all I see is red. “I’m not playing, Bryson. Don’t talk about her like?—”

“She’s. A. Fucking. Bitch.” With his eyes locked on mine, he slowly punctuates each word, taunting me. “A. Fucking?—”

I’ve never blacked out before because I was so consumed with anger I couldn’t think.

Black takes over every inch of my vision, which is why I don’t think when I fist my hand, pull it back, and collide it with the side of his face.

His head jerks and he stumbles back. He tries to gain control of his balance, but he loses it and falls on his ass.

His eyes go round with shock, his hand cradling the side of his face. Then his gaze jumps to my hand, still fisted to my side with a smidge of blood on my knuckle. Seeing that, I stare at the large gash on his lip and the blood that seeps from it onto his white shirt.

I’m tempted to hit him again at the reminder of Josie standing on the cliff, but whoever is standing next to me must’ve heard my thoughts because they bring me back.

Their hands on my shoulders pull, fanning the black fog away, and that’s when I realize how silent the entire locker room is and how all of their eyes are on me.

Loosening my fist, I stare down at Bryson who stills on the ground, staring with caution like I’m going to punch him again. I want to but I don’t.

“I don’t care what you say or what you do but don’t talk about Josie like that again. I’m not fucking around.” I forcefully slip my shoes back on, slam my locker door shut, and stalk out of the room straight to the weight room.

Grayson: So…

Noah: Shut up

Grayson: I didn’t say anything

Kainoa: So we’re going to ignore the elephant in the room?

Angel: Leave him alone. I got you papi

I grin at Angel’s message in the group chat. No one bothered me in the weight room, during study hall, or when we were in the film room. I’m pretty sure everyone knew and could feel how angry I still was or maybe they were shocked they’d never seen that side of me.

I don’t regret punching Bryson, but I do regret doing that in front of everyone. I’m the captain; I’m supposed to set the example, be the leader, but instead I lost my shit.

Thankfully, Bryson didn’t snitch on me because if Coach would have found out, he would’ve punished everyone. He did that when I sort of got into it with Bryson.

But I’m not letting my guard down because Bryson is petty and knowing him, he’ll find a way to get back at me.

Me: Sorry you all had to witness that. That won’t happen again

Grayson: Now why the fuck are you apologizing??? That motherfucker not only deserved it, but that had been a long time coming! If I was you, I would have punched him again

Grayson: Also did you slash his tires?

Kainoa: Did you see the look on his face? He looked so scared. It took everything in me not to laugh. And I promise we won’t judge if you did

Me: No that wasn’t me

Angel: Do you know who did it?

Me: No comment

Grayson: It was Josie? Wasn’t it?

Me: No comment

Grayson: Hot and savage? I think I’m in love with her. Please don’t punch me

Grayson: Also, it took everything in me not to take a picture

Angel: Same because the look on his face was priceless

Noah: It was

Grayson: So I’m curious…does this mean that you and Josie are F.U.C.K.I.N.G?????

Kainoa: Jealous, Gray??

Grayson: If I say yes, will you punch me too?

Angel: You’ve just signed your death sentence

Me: Stop being stupid. We’re just friends

Grayson: You were dating Amanda and you didn’t once lay a hand on Bryson. If that was my girlfriend, you better believe I would have thrown hands. All you did was have a little spat with him and called it a day

Kainoa: He’s not wrong

Angel: Are you all forgetting what he called Josie?