Page 66 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

“What happened? Why are you—”

“Is that for me?” I glance at the cup in Gray’s hand.

“Yeah.” Dubiously, he hands it to me, eyeing me like he can feel the dread I’m absorbed in, see the black cloud above my head. “Why are you wet? What happened?”

Shards of glass stab every inch of me, puncturing my skin, taking hold of everything inside me and slicing right through. Everything inside me hurts, the agonizing screaming voice in my head only growing louder.

“Nothing.” My heart violently hammers and a voice screams in my head, begging me to hide, to run, but I stay put and chug the entire thing in one go.

“Damn, hold up. There’s tequila in there. A lot of it.” He gawks at me dumbfoundedly.

I shrug, indifferent, and toss the empty cup into the table and take the other from his hand, chugging that one too.

The alcohol settles hard and fast enough in my body, it somewhat ebbs the vicious need to hide. It dulls the pain and brings my heart to a steady beat.

“Thanks. You should make more.” I plaster on a smile just as I hear the back door opening and closing.

“I thought you were only drinking one tonight?” Gray asks, studying the empty cup in my hand.

“It’s a good thing we don’t have a game tomorrow,” I reply, picking up the other cup from the table and strolling out of the kitchen into the living room.

“Danny!” I hear Angel shout over the loud music, but I keep walking, taking sips of my drink as I make my way upstairs. “Hold up.”

“Hey, what’s up?” I inattentively ask, scowling at how my feet feel in my wet socks and shoes.

“What’s up?” He sounds incredulous. “What’s wrong?”

“Can I borrow some clothes?” I disregard his question, asking my own, and take another drink.

“Daniel, hey, look at me.” He grabs my arm once we’re at the top of the stairs and spins me around. He searches and studies me, worry washing over his face, making me only lift my lips higher and drink some more. “What the hell was that?”

“What? Bryson pushed me in the pool. It’s nothing. Can I borrow some clothes?”

He looks taken aback. “What about Josie? You left her outside.”

My smile almost crumbles. I never wanted anyone to see me that way, especially her of all people. I won’t let it happen again. I just need to change out of my clothes and drink. Drink until I can find some semblance of stability before I lose it.

“I told her I needed a moment.” I grind my teeth, remembering her scrutinizing gaze, hating how scared she looked for me. She shouldn’t have witnessed that.

He tips his head back, drawing in a breath. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

“Nothing. Can I get some clothes?”

“Daniel—”

“I’ll just ask Gray.”

He grumbles under his breath and opens his door, allowing me to go inside.

Angel leans against the closed door. “Talk to me and stop acting like you’re okay. I know you’re not.”

I clench my teeth, fighting against the black fog in my head and the urge to disappear. “It was the water. You know how I feel about it, but I’m fine, I promise.” I smile wider. “Can you give me the clothes now?”

“I know, but you’ve been swimming with Josie. I thought?—”

“It made her happy, so I did it. I told you and everyone else that the lessons weren’t going to help, but you guys don’t listen.

” A chill shoots down my spine and the stabbing returns.

So I drain half my cup and stop myself from finishing the rest because Angel’s looking at me weird.

“Listen, it’s not a big deal. Thanks for getting me out of there. ”

He gives me a brittle nod and grabs a change of clothes and a towel for us. “Are you leaving now?”

“No, why?” I kick off my shoes, dry off, and change into his clothes.

“You want me to kick everyone out? I don’t mind. I know Noah’s ready for everyone to leave.” He lightheartedly chuckles, but it sounds stilted as he changes.

“No, don’t do that. I’m seriously fine.” I wave it off and run a hand through my damp, disheveled hair. “My hair look okay?”

Angel goes quiet, the silence drawing out before he nods. “Yeah, it looks good. It always does.” Another pause. “Oh, let me get you some shoes.”

“Right, thanks.” I grab my cup, finish the drink, and wallow in the numbness that comes with it. “I need to hurry up. Josie’s waiting for me.”

He takes my wet clothes and hands me the shoes. “I know something is wrong. Whatever it is, you can talk to me. I’m your best friend.”

“The water freaked me out a little, but I’m good. Stop worrying. I swear, I’m great.”

I open the door before he can get another word out and find Josie standing outside. She lifts her head, and there’s a doleful look in her eyes as they sweep over me like they did outside.

“Hey, I was just going to you.” I cut the space and wrap my arms around her, inhaling her lavender vanilla scent. She smells so good, feels good too.

I’m thankful for the alcohol that courses through my system because I feel nothing but numb and painfully happy. She doesn’t need to see me in any other way but happy.

“Hey.” There’s a brokenness in her voice that stabs my heart. “Do you want to get out of here?”

“No, why?” I cup her jaw and tip her head back to look up at me.

Her brows knit, confusion and concern flickering over her face. “Daniel, don’t…” She circles her arms around my waist. “Don’t pretend to be okay. Let yourself feel,” she whispers. “It’s okay to feel whatever you’re feeling. I’m right here. I won’t go anywhere.”

I kiss her but she draws away.

“Have you been drinking?”

“Just a little.” I kiss her forehead and smile down at her. “There’s nothing to feel. I promise I’m okay, so please stop staring at me like something is wrong. I promise there’s not.”

She isn’t buying it. She stares at me long and hard. Long enough, I can feel her infiltrate my mind and read every pulsing, detrimental fear running manically in my head.

“Everything’s fine,” I evenly voice, raising a crafty smile that I’ve perfected over the years. The kind that no one ever asks questions about. “I promise. I’m sorry I left you out there. I just needed a minute, but I’m good.”

Her expression doesn’t waver; it hardens for a fraction before it slightly softens. “Do you want to go home?”

“No, I want to stay a little. Stay with me?” Sweat beads my back and heat flares inside, making me hot.

“I…” she falters, eyes bouncing over with hesitation. “Yeah, I’ll stay with you.”

Despite the wave of relief that washes over me, dark clouds loom in the distance.

It’s fine. I just need to drink a little, then I’ll sleep it off, and be as good as new tomorrow.

Josefine: March 31st

Daniel’s drunk.

“Just one more,” he slurs.

“You said that two hours ago,” I softly say, surveying his face.

His face is flushed, eyes are glazed, and he has this dopey smile pasted on.

“I know, but…” he laughs to himself and cups my face, his heavy-lidded eyes pinned on me. “You’re so beautiful. Like really, really beautiful, do you know that?”

I smile and attempt to guide him away from the kitchen table filled with all the drinks, but he doesn’t budge. He’s rotated everywhere, from the keg stand, to the beer pong table—anywhere alcohol is at.

“And I really, really, like, really like you.” He kisses my forehead and inhales. “You smell so good. I love the way you smell. I have to tell you a secret.”

“Yeah? What’s that?” I grab his hand and usher him to the corner of the kitchen, doing my best to keep him steady as he stumbles over his feet.

Once we’re in the corner, he leans down until his lips graze my ear. “I’m obsessed with you.”

My body warms. “Yeah?”

“Mm-hmm, sooo obsessed…I just want to make you happy. You deserve to be happy. I’m sorry.” There’s melancholy in his voice and when I peer up at him, sadness dims his eyes.

“You don’t need to be sorry. I am happy. I promise.” My heart lurches in my chest.

“I do. I am. I’m sorry,” he whispers the words fragilely.

“No, it’s okay. Let’s go home, okay?” I grab his hand, once again trying to get him out, but he pulls me back to the table.

“Just one more, just one more.” He spins us around and walks backwards to the table, but in the process, he crashes against someone and their drink spills all over him.

“Sorry, Danny.” Ryan, one of his teammates, winces. “I didn’t see you.”

“It’s all right,” he flippantly remarks and gives him an okay sign.

Angel’s next to him in an instant and levels me with a look of apprehension. I think I’m mirroring the same expression because he nods.

“You mind cleaning this up?” he asks Ryan.

“Yeah, I got it.” He smiles at them, unaware that Daniel isn’t acting like himself.

I get it. They’ve always seen him happy, and he looks that right now, but I know something is wrong. I wish I knew—other than being here physically for him—what to do to make him feel better.

“Come on, you need to change.” He places Daniel’s arm around his shoulder and snakes his arm around his back.

“You got him?” Noah eyes the guys, but stares at Daniel’s wobbly body the longest.

“Maybe come with, just in case,” Angel supplies and leads him through the house until all four of us are up in his bedroom.

“You guys are doing way too much. I’m fine.” He stumbles over his words and feet as he attempts to take his shirt off. “I’m fine. F. I. N. E.”

“Here let me—” Angel says, but Daniel swats his hand away. “Danny, don’t?—”

“It’s okay. I got it.” I take his place.

“There you are. I missed you.” He pouts and pulls me in for a hug.

“I’m right here.” I let him hold me and walk him backwards until he’s in front of Angel’s bed and force him to sit. “Here, let me help you take this off.”

He easily lets me, but when his shirt comes off, he looks down at his chest and he shoots up. “My chain. I need my chain.” He pats his chest repeatedly, as if that’ll make it appear.

“It’s okay. I’ll go look for it,” I quickly offer. “Let me help you put this shirt on and then I’ll go get it, okay?”