Page 62 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

JOSEFINE

I feel happy.

It’s hard to believe that I’m actually thinking that, but I am. Granted, there’s this gnawing feeling. I’m not trying to be pessimistic, but I can’t help but feel like I’m overlooking something. I just don’t know what it is.

“It’s about time you came,” Pen says as we make our way down the steps to take our seats in the stadium.

“I kind of gave Daniel an ultimatum. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.” That’s a lie. I would have definitely been here. Before, I didn’t have a reason, but now I do. He’s mine.

“What was that?” she asks, elated.

“That if I didn’t see any improvements during our lessons, I wouldn’t come.” I follow behind her as she steers us into the row we’ll be sitting in. The row right next to the home dugout.

We take our seats and then she turns to look at me. Her eyes soften in admiration and her smile equally matches it. “Thanks for not giving up on him.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m just?—”

“I do. He trusts you and has made more progress with you than he ever has with anyone.”

“Did he tell you about it?”

“Not willingly. I had to pry it out of him. He doesn’t sound anxious talking about it like he used to. And he raves about you, so you must be doing something right.” She grins.

“He does?” I twist my ring, hating how easily my cheeks warm. I’ve no doubt she’s clocked it because she’s giddy now.

“Yeah, it’s ‘Josie said I’m doing a good job’ or ‘Josie said she believes in me’ and ‘Josie this, Josie that.’” She leans in like she’s going to tell me a secret.

“I know this is going to sound biased because he’s my brother, but please give him a chance.

He’s—and don’t tell him I said this—a pretty great guy.

He cooks, he’s sweet, his love language is acts of service, he’s loyal.

That’s not even one fourth of all his great qualities.

Put him out of his misery and give him a chance. I promise he’ll be good to you.”

My face is on fire and my lips are stretched so wide, my cheeks are starting to ache. I’m telling myself to cool it, but I can’t. Daniel told me he wouldn’t say anything about us until I gave him the green light.

I’ve been holding off because I’m afraid to make it real and then for everything to fall apart. I don’t want to be scared, but Daniel isn’t someone I’m messing around with for the hell of it. This is real and he’s special to me. I don’t want to mess things up.

“I can’t…” I nervously tinker with the button on my jersey.

“Oh wait. You don’t like him?” She backs away, face full of regret.

“Don’t listen to me, and don’t feel bad about it.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be pushy, but Danny likes you and I thought maybe you liked him because of the kiss at the bar.

I completely misread the signs.” She gives me a tight-lipped smile.

“So…are you guys in a…friends-with-benefits kind of situation?” She scowls at her question, like she’s disgusted to know that about her brother.

I can’t relate but I guess I get it. If I had a sibling, I wouldn’t want to know either.

“No, in a relationship type of situation.”

She stares at me, perplexed. “Wait, what?”

I shouldn’t say anything. This is something I should probably talk to Daniel about, but this is his sister. Maybe he won’t mind.

“We’re together. We’re just taking it slow.”

Her jaw falls slack, but slowly her lips curl into a radiant smile. She sits up, crossing a leg over the other, hand gripping the armrest. “So technically you guys are dating?”

I guess it’s time to call it what it is. “Yeah, we’re dating. Daniel’s my boyfriend.”

That sounds crazy to say but so nice. I really like the sound of that.

“I knew it!” an eager voice says behind me.

My body goes rigid, my neck too stiff to turn, but I don’t have to because I recognize that voice.

“ Hola .” Pen stands and greets her parents. When she sits, they stay standing, staring down at me. His mom, Esmeralda, is wearing the same smile Pen is, but her dad, Julio, he’s just staring at me.

This isn’t how I wanted to introduce myself to them again. I’ve spoken to his mom before but never his dad, except that one time we said hello at the bonfire.

When I don’t stand, Esmeralda bends down to hug me, catching me by surprise. I know I should probably return it, but I don’t. She doesn’t look offended when she draws back.

“I’m so happy you came. I brought you the bread you told me you like so much. Conchas , mantecadas , and orejas but we left it in the hotel room. I would’ve brought it if I knew you’d be here. I’m sorry.”

She thought of me. She remembered.

“Thank you, but it’s okay. This was kind of last minute.” I twist my ring again and tell them about the ultimatum.

They don’t say anything at first, their gaze faraway. I side-eye Pen, wondering what I could’ve said wrong.

“Danny didn’t tell them about the lessons,” she answers my unspoken question.

My brows arc high, shocked that he didn’t tell them and worried he probably didn’t want them to know that.

“He’s really letting you?” Julio asks me as something flashes across his eyes.

“He didn’t want to at first, but we talked.” I fiddle with the other rings. “And now we do this once a week. It’s been a little hard with his schedule, but we’re making it work.”

“And he’s making progress?” he questions with a strain in his voice.

“Yeah, slowly but surely, he’s learning. He’s a lot more confident than he was two months ago.”

They both look shocked.

“Two months?” Esmeralda’s voice is thick with emotion.

I nod, offering a small smile. “And I’ll take as long as he needs. This isn’t something that should be rushed.”

“No, no, it’s not.” She places her palm on my shoulder. “Thank you for helping him.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m just doing my job.”

Julio shakes his head. “We do. Danny would’ve never told us. He doesn’t like?—”

“ Papa ,” Pen warns, sighing wearily. “Wonder why he doesn’t?”

He rubs the nape of his neck. “Can you…keep us updated?”

“If Daniel wants that, I will,” I answer.

His forehead wrinkles, eyes narrowing like he didn’t like the answer, but he chuckles. “Thank you for being patient with him.”

I sheepishly shrug.

He smiles like he understands how I feel. He’s nice but stoic, it’s weird and I kind of don’t mind it. “You should come to the bakery sometime.”

“Uh, yeah, one day.”

“Anytime you want.” Esmeralda grins, and they both take a seat next to Pen.

“Sorry about that,” she whispers and digs in her clear vinyl bag, pulling out a baseball.

“That’s okay. What’d you bring that for?”

“For you.” She places it on my palm, and looks to the kids by the railing, getting their baseballs and jerseys signed by the players.

Daniel’s taking pictures with a few kids and when they’re done, his eyes instantly find mine. Sparks, flutters, butterflies—I’m not sure if those are the words or if there’s one to describe the rush that spreads through my body at seeing him.

Whatever that word may be, I’m so happy, I can’t remember ever genuinely feeling this. I place my palm to my chest, rubbing it because my heart is going crazy.

“Go.” She gently shoves my shoulder, snapping me out of it. “The game will start soon.”

I’m up and heading toward him. He tracks my movements, eyes set ablaze as they coast down my body then linger on the jersey with his number.

Mine do the same, trailing over every inch of him and the turquoise uniform with the white pinstripes he’s wearing. He’s so tall, broad, and muscular, I can’t believe he’s mine.

Which reminds me.

I stand in front of him and because of where I’m standing, he has to look up at me. This isn’t the time or place for unholy thoughts, but he looks devastatingly handsome staring up at me from this angle.

I brace my hands on the thick railing, and he rests his on either side of me.

“I messed up.”

He cocks his head, brows cinched with worry. “Why do you say that?”

“I know we said we’d take it slow, but I slipped up and told your sister we’re dating. I also said you were my boyfriend and had no idea your parents were behind me, so now they know about us.”

“Jos…” His brown eyes sparkle, and a megawatt smile splits across his face. His arms now dangle on either side of me. “I’m really trying to play it cool right now and not look like a dork, but you’re standing here wearing my jersey and then you tell me that.”

“You’re not annoyed? I’m the one who said slow and now I’m telling the world you’re my boyfriend.” It was just his sister and parents, but I’m sure they’re his world.

“Annoyed? Baby, I want the whole universe to know you’re mine.”

Now I’m cheesing. “Oh, so you and me, we’re official now?”

“This has always been official to me,” he gravely says but still smiles. “A label isn’t going to determine what we are. I’m yours, strictly.”

My heart is going crazy again and I’m feeling weirdly shy now. “Okay.”

“You’re so cute.” His gaze sweeps over my face. I’m sure he’s noticed how red I am and he knows it has nothing to do with how bright the sun is.

“Can you sign this?” I ask to take the attention away from my face because it’s hot and I’m smiling more than I ever have in my life.

Daniel chuckles huskily, grabs the Sharpie from his pocket, and takes the ball. As he’s writing, he says, “You look beautiful.”

“Is that what you’re really thinking?”

He briefly closes his eyes and smirks when they open. “Keeping it G, Jos. Don’t do this to me now.”

“I’m wearing green,” I tease him.

His brows furrow before they set in a straight line with realization. He clicks his tongue and laughs under his breath. “The jersey and the green when we get home.”

I roll my lips together and shrug. “Win first.”

His dark eyes lock with mine, and challenge and heat swirls in them. “Here. I’ll see you later, baby.”

I’m grinning all the way back to my seat. I don’t want to, but I can’t help it; I feel so damn giddy. Pen looks the way I feel when I take my seat next to her, but she doesn’t make a comment. Nor do her parents, but I feel them every so often look my way with smiles on their faces.

When I finally look at what he wrote on the ball, I laugh, garnering looks from Pen and her parents, but I don’t look at them. I look up at my boyfriend, who’s already looking at me.

Eyes on me

We’re at the bottom of the sixth inning and Daniel’s walkup song, “Pursuit of Happiness” blasts through the speaker as he walks up to bat.

“I don’t know if Danny told you, but this was Adrian’s favorite song and the last song he listened to before he passed,” Pen solemnly says.

I glance at her, but she stares straight ahead. “He actually didn’t, but he’s shared things with me about Adrian.”

“Yeah?” She stares at me, surprised.

“It’s not a lot but he has. I know it’s hard and I’m sure it must be hard for you too.”

Her lips twist to the side. “It is but it’s harder for him. Especially around this time of the year. The anniversary of Adrian’s…death is coming up. So just a heads-up, if Danny looks off or acts a little different, that’s why.”

“No, he didn’t tell me, but I’ll keep that in mind.”

Now that I think about it, I’ve noticed a shift in him. Sometimes I catch him zoning out or forcing his smiles. He thinks I don’t notice, but I do. I’ve asked what’s wrong, but he says he’s tired or thinking about the draft or homework.

I know it’s not personal, but I wish he’d let me in. Maybe it’s my fault, and I shouldn’t have let it go. I should’ve kept asking. Maybe I don’t look approachable enough? Or maybe it’s me and my constant whining about my dead mother who I hardly had a relationship with.

Florida’s pitcher throws the ball, a fastball Pen says it’s called. I still don’t know the names of all the pitches—I’m not sure I’ll ever know them—but I can kind of tell the difference between them.

He gets a strike on Daniel, but at the second pitch, Daniel makes contact with the ball.

It’s a fly ball, landing center field, but it bounces off the center fielder’s glove and onto the grass.

He quickly scoops it up, throws it to their shortstop, but Daniel makes it to second base and Noah has already come home.

Pen stands and smiles down at me, but it’s off. The same way Daniel’s has been. “I’ll be back. I’m going to the restroom and then heading to the concession stand. Do you want anything?”

“I’ll go with you.” Esmeralda stands.

I’d offer to go but something tells me they need a moment alone. “I’m okay.”

My eyes stay on Daniel, but my mind drifts to everything we’ve talked about. I want to be enough to be able to help him, but what if I’m not? Maybe that’s why he didn’t tell me; I’m so emotionally fucked, and he knows that.

I squeeze my eyes shut, hating how my thoughts start to spiral out of control.

“You know…” Julio takes the seat next to me. “I’ve seen Danny smile but never like that. Well, I have, but it’s been a while.”

“Really?” I find myself saying.

“Yeah…” He trails off. “I also never thought I’d see the day he’d willingly want to learn how to swim.”

“I kind of coerced him.”

He huffs a chuckle. “No, I can guarantee you didn’t. He willingly allowed that because he trusts you. So thank you for taking the time and being patient.”

I twist my ring. “You shouldn’t thank me. I’m just doing my job.”

“It’s more than that for Esme and me. You have no idea how much this means to me. I know Danny might not think that; I’ve made mistakes I can’t take back, but I mean what I said. I’ll forever be grateful to you.”

My throat constricts at his despondent, grief-stricken words. I stop twisting my ring and look at him. “It’s not my place to tell you this, but maybe you should talk to him.”

I don’t know what that’ll do between Daniel and his dad. It’s not like I really know what happened. Daniel’s been reluctant to share with me, but I understand complicated relationships.

Despite my strange relationship with my mother, I regret not talking to her when I had the chance. I don’t want the same to happen between Daniel and Julio.