Page 33 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

She dramatically gasps, but I think it’s genuine because she looks completely devastated by my admission. “What? You don’t believe in love? But you and Bryson dated for like a year or something. Did you not love him?”

“No.” I convinced myself enough that I liked him because I was so lonely, but in the end, I still felt so lonely while I was with him. “I didn’t.”

“That’s valid. He was and is a piece of shit.” She muses for a moment. “So you don’t believe that someone out there is made for you?”

There’s a pang in my chest at the question.

“No and I’m okay with it. I’ve seen what love does and it’s definitely not something I think I’m cut out for.

I mean look at Daniel and Amanda: she hurt him, but he still wants her or at least still has feelings for her.

Bryson did what he did, and I can’t help but feel repulsed by him. ”

“I don’t know. Pen made it sound like he was definitely over her.”

“Maybe he wasn’t honest with her. Who knows? All I know is he doesn’t see me that way and that’s okay with me.” Is it really? “We’re going to live together now and I don’t want things to be weird anyway.” And why would he want someone fucked up like me?

“Okay, so here’s another hypothetical.”

“Vienna, I swear.” I groan, chugging the rest of my wine, but she doesn’t waste a second to grab the bottle and pour more into my glass.

“He doesn’t have to love you and you don’t have to love him but that doesn’t mean you guys can’t fuck. Hypothetically speaking, what if you guys?—”

“I’m so done with you.” I go to stand but she throws her long leg over my legs.

“Okay, I’m kidding. Don’t leave.” She chuckles. “I do have one more question and then I’ll shut up.”

“What?”

“All jokes aside, would you sleep with him?”

“Vi, why are you?—”

“Yes or no?”

“Vi, stop ask?—”

“It’s just a yes or no question.”

“Why does it matter?”

“It just does. Yes or no?”

“Are you always this pushy?”

“I can be. Yes or no?”

“I don’t think I want to be your friend anymore.”

“Babe, that ship sailed a long time ago. You’re stuck with me for life. Remember we’re in the dead mom’s club. I don’t make the rules, so get used to me.”

I can’t help but smile this time.

“Wow, look at that. So she does smile.”

My smile fades but that doesn’t stop her from smiling at me.

“Yes or no?”

“You’re so weird with your fixation on me and Daniel fucking.” I clench my thighs.

“It’s just a question. Yes or no, Josie?”

Yes.

“No.”

DANIEL

When I return to my almost empty room, the guys and my sister are still standing there, all staring at me expectantly. They keep throwing out questions that I refuse to answer.

So what if Amanda asked me to move in and I said no? I don’t see how that’s something to focus on. She had other girl roommates who she knew had attempted to flirt with me before. That didn’t stop her from begging, and I’d always say no.

Josie, on the other hand, is alone and I hate that. I’ll miss living with the guys and how much closer the house is to campus, but the drive from Josie’s house isn’t too bad.

“Okay, I have another question for you.” Pen’s eyes drift around the room. “Who’s going to stay here now?”

The guys and I shrug. It was all last minute, but I don’t think they’ll offer it to anyone.

I’m pretty certain I heard Gray say he’s going to convert it into an extra closet or something.

Since he so graciously decided to pick up my part of the bills.

I told him he didn’t need to since Josie won’t let me pay, but he said not to worry about it.

“How do you guys feel about having a girl roommate?”

“No,” Angel and I say simultaneously.

“Why not?” She frowns.

“Because you’d be living with a bunch of guys,” I reply, though I shouldn’t because it’s obvious.

I trust them, but I also know Pen wouldn’t last living here.

The guys love to bring girls over, and Kai and Angel are a little too comfortable.

They’ve walked around naked a time or two.

Then there’s Noah, who can be an asshole, and while he’s never been mean to Pen, I could see her doing something that would annoy him.

And I’ve seen Gray check her out so many times.

Pen is a relationship kind of girl and he’s not.

He’d only break her heart, and that’s the last thing I want or need.

“Wow. I hadn’t realized that. You’re telling me…” She sardonically muses and points at her chest. “That you all have penises?” Then waves that finger around the room, gawking at us in disbelief.

I stare at her, unamused, but Kai and Gray snort.

“I’m more than welcome to show?—”

“Don’t you dare finish that, Grayson,” I threaten, scowling at him.

He raises his hands in surrender. This is why I can’t let that happen.

“What’s wrong with your place?” Angel questions, feeling as unamused as I feel.

“You guys are closer to campus and this space is bigger.” She shrugs, not meeting our stare. “I’ll pay the bills.”

“Is this because of your ex, because if it is?—”

“No.” Pen cuts Angel off with a glare. “This has nothing to do with him. I just need more space, and you guys have a lot of it.” She looks at the guys for support, but at my stare, they shake their heads.

She scoffs. “You guys are dicks.”

“Sorry, sweetheart. Maybe next time.” Gray winks at her.

She flips him off.

“Anyway, you and Josie…” Kai starts again.

“Drop it. We’re friends.” I shut him down, but Gray only encourages it.

“Should we remind you how you punched Bryson because he called Josie a bitch.”

Pen looks just as angry as I felt that day. “He did what?”

I thought my sister loved drama, but the guys seem to love it just as much because they share all the details about how Amanda, Bryson, Josie, and I are connected.

Then tell her about the punch in the locker room and Josie slashing his tires and everything else.

They’re all so engrossed in it, even Noah looks entertained. Fucking hell.

“You never punched Bryson when you found out about Amanda, but Josie?—”

“Don’t,” I grumble. “Just?—”

“ 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.”

“Penelope, shut the fuck up.” I sigh as all their eyes dart to me.

“What do you mean?” Gray sounds a little too eager when he asks.

“I’m over all of you. I’m leaving.” I grab the last two boxes, but I stop at Kai’s question.

“What if Josie wanted you? What then?”

“What do you mean, what then?” I ask, a little more annoyed than I mean to be.

“What if…Josie wanted you and let’s say you wanted her too…what then?”

“Kai, just say it how it is. Would you fuck Josie if she asked you to?” Gray cocks a brow.

Yes.

“No. Good night.”