Page 59 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

DANIEL

Josefine looks furious.

I’ve seen her mad but never like this, and it pains me to think she’s angry because I hurt him.

“What were you thinking?” she asks once we’re outside and away from the bar.

I lift my hat, dragging my fingers through my hair before I place it back but backwards. Her eyes flick to it for a moment before darting back to me.

“He was talking shit.”

“He’s always talking shit. That doesn’t mean you should punch him.” Her face scrunches with displeasure. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

I exhale harshly through my nose. “Because I didn’t want you to know what he said because it’s shit. I don’t want you to think you are those things, and I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I don’t need you to protect me.” She repeatedly points at her chest with her index finger. She does it so hard, I hear each thump.

I grab her hand, making her stop. “Not too hard.” Her stiff hand softens in mine, and she looks at me like she hadn’t realized she was doing that.

“I still think about that night on the cliff. I sometimes dream about it. Sometimes I think of the what-ifs, Josefine, and when I do, I get really fucking sad. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.

I don’t want anyone to hurt you. So yeah, I punched Bryson and I don’t regret it. I’d do it again and again.”

“I’m sorry you had to witness that.” She scowls, yanking her hand back. “I’m sorry I’ve put you through that, but I’m not going to kill myself. Take your pity and obligation elsewhere because I don’t need it. And next time, let him run his mouth but don’t punch him.”

She turns but I stand in front of her, not letting her walk away. “Are you upset I hurt him?”

The question both hurts and pisses me off. She’s made it abundantly clear she doesn’t like him, but what if I misread the signs.

She incredulously stares up at me but then brings her palms to her face. She drops them and a devastated expression mars her face. “No! I’m not upset you hurt him. I’m upset, I’m annoyed, I’m frustrated that you could’ve gotten hurt. That you could’ve gotten in trouble.”

Oh. “You’re worried about me?”

“Yes! I worry about you because I care about you! You could’ve broken your hand or gotten suspended, or hell if I know but don’t do something stupid like that for me ever again.”

My lips uncontrollably rise.

“Stop smiling.” She frowns. “I’m not worth it and I wish you’d understand that.

I’m sorry you had to witness that. I’m sorry you dream and think about it, but I haven’t thought about ending my life since that night.

You don’t have to worry about me. Bryson’s words aren’t going to set me off.

It’s not the first time he’s talked shit about me, and I know it won’t be the last. So whatever he says, just ignore him. ”

“Josie.” I take a step forward, and she takes three back.

“No, I’m mad at you right now.”

“Josie.” Another step forward, but this time she only takes two back.

“I can’t believe you did that and lied to me,” she huffs out.

Grabbing her hips, I tug her, closing the space between us.

“You’re worth it. I need you to understand that I don’t like the thought of anyone fucking with you.

I’m not doing this out of pity or because I feel obligated, but I do think about that night because…

” I swallow. “Because I just do. I can’t help it, and I can stand here and lie but there’s no point.

” Raising my hands, I cup the side of her neck.

“I care so deeply for you and it’s not because of how we met.

I care for you more than I care about anything or anyone.

I need you to understand that I’d do anything for you.

I need you to understand that I don’t regret what I did and wouldn’t change anything about it. ”

She’s not frowning but she has a cute little pout. “You say I’m stubborn, but you should look in the mirror. You’re worse.”

I’m smiling again. “For you, I’ll be whatever.”

“I thought you had punched him because of Amanda,” she says in a quiet voice like she’s embarrassed to have admitted that.

My brows furrow, dropping my hands to her waist. “Why?”

“Because I saw him the first time you punched him. He lied about it at first but then said it was because of her. I figured you snapped because you got jealous.”

I peer over my shoulder at the bar, contemplating going back to punch him again.

“Daniel.” She cups my jaw, urging me to look at her. “Don’t think about it.”

“I’m not going to, I promise.” I let the thought go. “I don’t care about her. I stopped a long time ago. I neither like nor love her.”

“Why are you telling me that?” She drops her hand, letting it hang limply at her side.

“Because I want you to know you’re all I care about. All I think about. All I want.”

My ongoing issues with my asphyxiating thoughts stopped me from saying it out loud. I don’t want to be her problem, something she needs to worry about. But I want to be selfish, just this once. I want to make her mine, and I want her to want me just as much.

I’m not going to push because I don’t know where she truly stands with me. She doesn’t believe in love, I know that much, but I’d love to be the difference. I’d love to win her over, but I don’t want to rush it either.

Her eyes narrow and search mine. They don’t soften or look happy; she looks at me with an unreadable expression that both unnerves and flusters me.

“You’ve developed Stockholm syndrome. I’m sorry,” she says seriously, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Jos—”

“No, you’re not saying what I think you’re saying.” She shakes her head in disbelief.

“I am. I like you, Josie, and I really want to stop pretending like I don’t.”

She pulls away and paces, bringing her hands behind her head. Is she…freaking out? Fuck, what did I do?

“Josie, stop. Look at me.” I grab her by the shoulders, steadying her gaze with mine. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m severely and mentally fucked up. You don’t need that. I’m giving you an out now. Run, seriously, while you can because I am not someone you should like.”

I wrap my arms around her shoulders, holding her firmly against me. If only she saw how dark it can get in my head, she’d be the one running.

“My heart begs for you.”

“Maybe it’s heartburn?” she mumbles into my shoulder.

I smile. “It’s not. I promise. Lately and for a while my heart and mind have been in a complicated relationship. They can’t agree so things don’t make sense or align, but you have somehow made them work together.”

Her breath catches and body goes taut, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Josie.” I hook my finger under her chin, making her look up at me. God, she’s so beautiful. I swallow hard, knowing I’m about to ask something that might ruin our relationship. That’s if my confession didn’t already. “Do you like me?”

I hold my breath and feel my heart plummet because she doesn’t answer and looks away.

Oh.

Oh.

“That’s okay. I didn’t expect you to feel the same way. I just thought you should know.” A rock roots deep in my throat, making it hard to get any other words.

“No, uh,” she mumbles and looks up at me. “I,” she sighs and her lips twitch into a small, awkward smile. “I do like you.”

The rock instantly disappears. “You’re not messing with me, are you?”

“No, I’m serious. I’m sorry it took me a second to admit that. It’s just that I…I don’t know.” She shrugs. “This freaks me out a little. I’ve been thinking a lot about my feelings and you recently. I want you. I like you.”

“But?” I know there’s one. I can feel the discomfort radiating off her body.

“If I tell you something, you won’t laugh at me, will you?” Josie tears her gaze away from mine and pulls away from my hold. She twirls her ring around her finger and puffs out a quivering breath.

“No, I promise I won’t.” I give her space, tucking my hands in my pockets to stop from reaching out to her.

She closes her eyes before lowering her head. “I don’t want to lose you as a friend. I don’t know if I want to take a chance on my feelings, knowing there’s a possibility of losing you if things don’t work out.”

I know it took her a lot to gather those words and say them out loud. I’m so proud of her.

Screw the space, I take her into my arms. “That’s not going to happen. We’ll take things slow, we don’t have to label this, share beds, or change anything. We’ll take it day by day.”

She wraps tentative arms around me. “Okay but…sharing beds wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”

I draw back, looking down at her. “I want that as long as you want it.”

“I do,” she abashedly admits.

I smile at her. “I’m strictly yours like I hope you’re strictly mine.” My heart thrashes, liking the sound of that.

Her lips stretch into a small smile. “Strictly mine. Strictly yours.”

“We might have traumatized your sister.” Josie pants against my lips as we stumble into the house.

I slam the door shut behind me, she drops her purse on the floor, and the keys follow suit, jangling loud on the hardwood floor.

“How so?” I lift her and she wraps her legs around my waist, causing her skirt to roll up her thighs. I pin her against the wall as she weaves her fingers through my hair at the nape.

I slip my hand down and under her skirt, cupping her ass hard. She moans, angling her head to the side to give me access to her neck.

“She said she saw your tongue shoved down my—” She gasps when I bite hard on the erratic pulse beneath her jaw, then I lick it to soothe the sting. She moans, knocking my hat off as she rakes her fingers up my hair. “Throat.”

“She’ll be all right.” I grunt, gently sucking, careful not to leave a mark even though it’s all I want to do. “I have something for you,” I whisper against her neck.

She shudders and stops pulling my hair, but still keeps her fingers knotted between the locks. “What is it?”

“It’s upstairs.” I peck her lips, feeling a little nervous about giving it to her.