Page 37 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

JOSEFINE

“Almost done.” Vienna grunts a little, struggling to get the right leg in her turquoise and silver mermaid tail.

I marvel at the way she finally gets it in then applies conditioner to the other leg and stuffs it in the tail. “I can’t believe you have to do all of that just to get it on.”

She huffs out a fatigued breath. “The first time I put it on, it took me a good thirty…forty-five minutes-ish. The silicone makes it really hard to put on; that’s why I have to lather myself with lots of conditioner.”

Once both legs are in, she lays on her back and has me help her roll the rest of the silicone over her stomach.

“Thanks so much,” she pants, wiping the dots of sweat on her forehead away with the back of her hand. “And thanks for coming. It would’ve been so much harder to do this on my own.”

“How could I say no? You texted me over twenty times.” I hand Vi her mirror.

Vi scoffs and takes it. She inspects her face and hair again before giving it back to me. “Don’t exaggerate. It was like fifteen and how else would I have convinced you to leave your house?”

I set it back on the white table that’s supposed to be a makeshift vanity made for her. “I didn’t want to come because I don’t really care about these things.”

MCU is having their annual bonfire. It’s a tradition that’s been going on for years, to commence the start of baseball season.

The parking lot and beach get decked out with the university’s name and colors: turquoise, black, and white.

They have all sorts of games on the beach, food, and a fair in the parking lot.

Once the sun starts to set, they start a large bonfire and announce all the players and talk about the upcoming season and other things regarding baseball.

The whole town and every student at the university comes.

I came once with Bryson freshman year and regretted it.

It had nothing to do with the number of times he forgot I was there.

But when we were together, he’d make little snide comments about how I wasn’t smiling enough or doing enough to make it known that I was enjoying being there with him .

Then he’d throw little passive comments saying he’s “thankful I’m hot otherwise it would’ve been a problem. ”

If I could go back in time, I would slap the shit out of myself.

Vi scoffs dramatically. “What? That’s not very school spirit of you.”

I stare at her, unamused. “I am showing my school spirit.”

Her gaze drops to my chest and I follow, making sure I didn’t accidentally pop a tit, but everything is intact. I’m wearing an oversized, white long-sleeve linen button-down, a dark turquoise bikini set, and denim shorts.

“You look good.” She grins, eyes still on my chest before they scan down the rest of my body. “So…”

“No, don’t go there.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I just said so .”

“You’re going to ask something about Daniel.”

She smacks her lips, staring at me, taken aback. “No, I wasn’t, but since you brought him up… Are you going to go see him?”

“No.” I twirl my middle ring finger. “He’s going to be busy all day and night.”

That’s not a lie. He told me on Wednesday that all the players will be doing meet and greets, participating in games, and doing other activities.

He did ask me to come, but knowing he was going to be around Bryson put me off.

Plus, like I told Vi, I don’t care for these things because a lot of people in town and the university know Mom and might want to talk to me.

The university literally changed their aquatics building name to Claudia Resendiz Natatorium in her memory.

I also heard they’re working on a scholarship named after her, but I’ve not kept myself in the loop.

The aquarium has a plaque with her name somewhere.

One of her favorite restaurants, Agua Clara, has a drink named after her.

Her name is everywhere and even though I shouldn’t, I hate it because it’s a reminder to everyone that she was one of the best swimmers in the world. The girl who came from Mexico with nothing but a dream and made something of herself.

While it’s a reminder to me that I’ll never be like her. That I’m nothing but a failure and a disappointment. I’m sure from the grave she’s fuming that I gave up.

I hate myself.

“Someone there?” she asks, derailing my train of thought.

“I’m right here. I’m just not listening. Why don’t we talk about what’s going on with you and Kai.”

She laughs like the thought of them together is ludicrous. “He’s funny, smart, and really hot.”

“But?”

“He messed around with Mary Novak, and she’s still not over it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was with him right now.”

Mary Novak, Christian Novak’s daughter, is a bitch. We got into it a few times. She assumed I’d cower because her father was the coach, but she was mistaken. She’s also a junior so I can see why Vienna is not wanting to go there.

Fortunately, her father is gone, but unfortunately, she’s not.

“Oh…” I don’t mean to but my lips twist wryly.

“Yeah, I’m too hot to fight over a guy. If I ever do, please take me out.” She scowls. “Look at me, I’m gorgeous. I shouldn’t have to vie for any man’s attention. Fuck that.” She pretends to gag.

The severity in her voice makes me laugh and like her more. “I promise.”

“Vienna, are you ready?” a masculine voice asks from outside the tent.

Since MCU’s mascot are the sirens, they hired the aquarium to bring Vienna out since she’s their mermaid and knows how to swim in the tail. They also somehow managed to find a pool/tank thing to give her space to swim and filled it with stuff you’d find in the ocean.

“I’m ready, Carson!” she shouts. “So are you planning on being with me all day or are you going to?—”

“I will punch you if you say his name.”

She snickers. “I’m messing with you. But at any point if you want to leave, don’t feel obligated to be with me. I’ve got Carson.”

He waltzes in, bends down, and picks her up. He’s a student, swimmer, and also works at the aquarium. One of his jobs today is helping Vienna in and out of the water. He’s also helped her get undressed a few times after hours.

The next few hours I stick by Vienna. I’d hang out with Pen but because she’s a cheerleader, she’s busy. They may not cheer for the baseball team, but the school still wanted them to dress up and do what cheerleaders do.

Vi stays busy taking pictures, swimming, and blowing bubbles underwater. She also does other things I admit are insanely cool.

I definitely don’t from time to time look for Daniel and hope to see him. No, because that would be stupid. I’m definitely not semi-disappointed that the sun has set and I’ve yet to see him.

“Josefine?” The familiar voice makes my body stiff. It takes every cell in my body not to hide. It’s too late anyway because I know she saw me and is coming my way.

“Hey.” I force a smile and glance down at the two kids I’m assuming are Monica’s and the man who stands beside her who I assume is her husband.

“It’s so good to see you again. I’ve been trying to find you on campus.”

“I’m not there much unless I have class.” I do use their gym, but I don’t tell her that.

“I figured. It’s so good to see you again.” She smiles warmly at me. “This is Jack, my husband. And my kids, Iris and Avery.”

She points at the girls, but they’re not paying attention to me. Their attention is on Vienna.

“It’s so good to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot of great things about you.” Jack offers the same friendly smile as his wife. “I?—”

“Can we take pictures with the mermaid?” Iris asks but both girls are grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the pool.

“Sorry about that. My girls are impatient.” She looks around me, staring at her little family.

Something pricks at my chest, but I push the foreign feeling away.

“Well, I won’t hold you up.”

“No, that’s all right. Jack’s got them. I’m actually glad to have run into you. I wanted to ask if you’ve looked over the email?”

The dreaded email. “Not yet. I’ve been busy, and you know life is well…life,” I awkwardly supply.

“No, I get it. No rush. Either way, the season is almost over, so I don’t need your answer now. Let’s say by the end of the semester?”

I should say no, but I can’t bring myself to voice the single word. “Sure,” I find myself saying instead. “End of the semester you’ll get your answer.”

She nods and her eyes flick up to her family again before they land on me. “You know, if you ever want to talk about swimming, your mom, or anything, I’m here. I know we don’t know each other, but?—”

“I’m good.” I cut her off. “‘There’s not much I need to talk about.”

“Well, you know where my office is.”

I nod and settle on silence because I’m not sure what else to say.

“I’ll let you go now.” Her smile is still as friendly as ever.

Vienna says she’s a hard-ass during practice, but after, she’s everything but.

She said the atmosphere is better, livelier because of her.

“My daughters are going to want a thousand pictures and no doubt want me to buy them a stuffed mermaid.”

I nod again and watch her walk to them.

“Can I…please have this one?”

Mom merely glances at the stuffed animal in my hand. “What are you going to do with that, Josefine?”

My hands get clammy, nervous flutters spreading in my stomach. “Play with it.”

“You have a lot going on to be playing with toys. Put that back.”

Monica and her family walk away once they’re satisfied with pictures and buy the girls stuffed mermaids.

The memory, like bitter coffee, clings to my tongue, leaving a nasty taste. I attempt to focus on what’s going on around me but all that’s swimming in my mind is how happy they all looked.

For a while I think my night will consist of that memory, but one of the guys on the team walks past me. He’s decked out in his uniform; Daniel said they had to wear them.

“Go find him.” Vienna clings to the end of the pool, her tail flowing back and forth. God, she’s so natural at this, she almost looks like the real thing. No wonder kids eat this up. I am.

“Who?”

She gives me this I’m not stupid look. “You’ve been here for hours helping me. I promise I’ll be okay. I’ve got Carson anyway. So go.” She flicks water at me.

“I’m not going to look for him. I’m sure he’s busy, so?—”

She waves more water with the back of her hand. It almost lands on me before I move out of the way.

“Go,” she orders.

“You know I’m older than you, right?”

“I’m not sure what that has to do with anything, but don’t make me cuss you out. I’m a mermaid and we don’t do that.” She smiles primly.

I roll my eyes. “I’m just going to see what he’s doing, but I’ll be back.”

“Please don’t.” She sounds too excited as I walk away.

There’re too many people and so many things, I don’t think I’ll ever spot him. I don’t even know why I’m bothering. I should go home, and I almost turn the other way until I hear his voice.

He’s standing a little farther away from everything and when I pivot my head a little more, I see he’s not alone. He’s with two people, an older man and woman.

Whatever they’re talking about is none of my business and just as I’m about to look away, Daniel’s eyes connect with mine. I must be hallucinating because he looks relieved to see me.

You need to leave! You need to walk away! a voice screams in my head.

But my legs do the opposite.