Page 82 of Please Don’t Go (The Midnight Strike #1)

DANIEL

Seven Years Later

“Are you going to be here tomorrow?”

“A little after noon, but we’ll be there, I promise.”

My friend looks over his shoulder. “They’ll be here. He promised.”

His daughter pops up on the screen, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s Christmas tomorrow!”

I smile at her. She’s a little version of her father—hair, face, and all. “I know. Did you send your letter to Santa?”

She enthusiastically nods. “Mm-hmm, I did.”

My friend shakes his head at me, a warning to not engage because his daughter is a talker. But I only see her so often, so I don’t mind. She spends the next ten minutes going over her list in detail until her mom tells her to get ready for bed.

“I tried to warn you.” He chuckles, taking a drink of whatever’s in his mug.

“I know but I don’t mind.” I shrug.

He stares at me for a beat. “So have you talked to Josie about your Christmas list?”

I glance at the bathroom door. I don’t know where we’re going or what we’re doing.

All she said was that we needed to come down to Carmel-by-the-Sea and that she had booked a hotel room.

She’s currently getting ready, though I’m not sure why because it’s close to midnight, but I didn’t question her.

I got ready and now I’m waiting for her.

I sit up against the bed’s headboard. “I threw hints, but I don’t want her to feel—” I glance at the door again. “Pressured. She’s got a lot going on.”

Josie and I have always been on the same wavelength regarding kids. We both want them, but we’ve been too busy with our careers to start having them.

Seven years ago, I was the first round second pick in the MLB draft to the Seattle Thunder.

My life drastically changed, but so did Josie’s.

On top of that, we had to do long distance for almost three years.

She needed to finish school, had been working for the women’s swim team at MCU, and wanted to sell her house.

She felt guilty letting go, but she knew it’s what she needed to do.

When the house sold, I saw the last bit of hold her mom had on her being released.

Everything aligned not too long after that in Seattle.

Now she’s the Assistant Coach for Seattle State University.

Though Josie might move up to Associate Head Coach, but I’m not too sure.

She doesn’t seem interested in it. Especially as of recently; she almost seems indifferent about it.

I can’t understand why and when I ask, she brushes it off.

I know she’ll do what’s best for her, and I’ll support what she decides to do, but a while ago, she seemed excited about it. I don’t know what changed, but I’m trying not to worry. We’ve been very big about communicating, so I know whatever’s going on, she’ll tell me eventually.

“You know, you can always babysit our kids whenever you want. Hell, if you want to keep them for a year or two, they’re all yours.

You won’t hear me complaining. I know their mom won’t either.

” He takes another drink. “Having them might make you not want to have them. Let me tell you, they fight, they’re messy—forget having a clean home.

That’s nonexistent. Don’t get me started on how boundaries don’t exist to them.

They follow me every-fucking-where. I can’t eat or do anything in peace.

” He rolls his eyes, groaning like it’s such an inconvenience to him, but I know he loves being a dad.

There are people who are parents and then there are people who are made to be parents. My friend is the latter.

“But they’re cute as shit.” I think of all the pictures and videos he’s sent me of his kids.

“Yeah, they really are, aren’t they?” He beams with pride.

The bathroom door swings open and Josie steps out. “Ready, Garcia?”

A burst of adrenaline rushes through my body at seeing my wife.

As soon as she moved to Seattle, I proposed and a year later, we got married.

I would’ve proposed a lot sooner, but I knew I needed to take things slow.

She was still figuring herself out, and while I was too, I knew she was it for me.

But for the sake of not rushing or overwhelming her, I took it slow, and the wait was honestly worth it.

“Ready, Jos.” I turn the screen, letting the two greet each other and then promise to call him when we’re on our way before I hang up. “So where are we going?”

“You’ll know very soon.” She flashes me a small, tentative smile and intertwines my fingers with hers. She tugs me out of the room and down to our car.

Josie doesn’t let me drive, and on the drive to wherever we’re going, she’s oddly quiet.

“Everything okay?” I play with the ring on her fingers that are slightly clammy.

“Yeah, everything’s okay.” She drums her fingers on the steering wheel, almost like she’s nervous, which is so unlike her.

Something doesn’t feel right, but I don’t prod.

I know this time of the year is as strange for her as it is for me.

Her mom passing and this being Adrian’s favorite holiday never fails to make us both feel sad.

Though over the years, it’s become easier to enjoy.

And that’s better than dreading, feeling empty, and wanting to hide in the bleak darkness.

It also helps that I’m married to my best friend; being with her has made today and every other day worth living.

Then there was the copious amount of therapy. It helped me build a relationship with my dad. The first few months were strange and at times awkward. But then we slowly figured things out. He apologized, and I forgave him.

“I’m here,” I remind her, lifting her hand and kissing every knuckle.

She smiles and those fireworks go off. “I know. I’m here too.”

I do most of the talking, and she replies with a single word or soft hums. But I stop when she parks in a familiar parking lot.

“Come on.” She climbs out, and I follow behind her.

“You’re not here to murder me, are you?” I scan the empty dark lot. “I knew those shows were going to give you ideas. Damn, I should’ve signed the prenup. This was your plan all along, huh? To take all the money?”

Lately, she’s been obsessing over true crimes. It’s all she watches or listens to.

She laces our fingers. “Our relationship has run its course. It’s time I start?—”

“No. I refuse. You can kill me, but you’re not allowed to be with anyone else or remarry. That’s my only demand,” I say as we make our way up the trail.

She laughs, squeezing my hand. “You’re okay with me killing you but not me being with someone else?”

“Baby, I gotta draw the line somewhere,” I severely state.

She laughs harder. “And that’s where you want to draw the line?”

“Yes.” I don’t miss a beat.

Josie guides us off the course. I follow her blindly, not only because I know where we’re going, but I’ll go wherever she goes.

“Lucky for you, I don’t plan to kill you, and I definitely have no desire to be with anyone that isn’t you.”

I kiss the crown of her head. “Yeah, I’m really lucky.”

She grows quiet once we’re at the cliff that led us to be where we are now.

We go nowhere near the edge, but we’re still so close, we feel the cool breeze that comes from the water crashing against the side of the cliff.

The roar of the waves is deafening, but it’s no match for the silence between us.

I revel in it because before it’d unnerve me. Now I feel nothing but happiness being with her.

“I used to tell myself that this was the only cliff I never wanted to come back to,” she begins.

“The memories still lingered here and I hated that. But after talking to Jarvis, I told myself I’d one day be back.

She said it’d be good to replace the bad memory with a good one.

I just never knew what. But I finally know what I can replace it with…

” She trails off, puffing out a jittery breath.

She reaches inside her pocket and draws out something.

I can’t make out what it is but then she hands it to me and turns on the flashlight to her phone.

She points the light to the thing wrapped in red tissue paper in my palm.

It’s not too big, but it’s not small either.

When she nods, I carefully remove the paper.

My breath gets lodged in my throat and my eyes go incredulously wide. I don’t blink, breathe, or move as I stare at the pregnancy test in my hand. “You’re pregnant?”

“I am. I found out?—”

I’m hugging her before the words are out of her mouth. Josie giggles and squeals. When I lift her up, she wraps her legs around my waist, but then I realize what I’m doing and I put her down.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” I warily say, palming her flat stomach. “I wasn’t too rough, was?—”

Her face lights up in amusement, but her eyes flood with tears as do mine. “No, it’s okay, I’m okay. I promise.” She lays her hand on top of mine.

“I’m going to be a dad,” I breathlessly say. “You’re going to be a mom. We’re going to be parents. I love you.” I cup her cheek, kissing her softly and pull back to say it again. “I love you. When did you find out? I thought you had the IUD?”

“I love you too.” A watery smile pulls on her lips. “I found out a few days ago, and I took it out a month ago.”

I gape. “A month ago?”

“Yeah, I was ready, and I knew you were too. You weren’t so subtle.”

“I didn’t pressure you, did I?”

“No, not all. I’ve been ready and have been for a while. I was just a little nervous and afraid that maybe I won’t be a good mom.”

I hug her carefully, cradling the side of her head. “You’re going to be the best mom. Our baby is so lucky. Just like I am.”

She sniffles. “You think so?”

“I know so.”

“You can squeeze me a little tighter. I’m pregnant, not paper. The baby is going to be okay.”

I chuckle but stop because hearing those words does something to me. I hold her just a little firmer, protectively, but I’m still cautious. “Is this why you don’t want to take the position?”

“Yeah, I thought about it, but I want this baby more, and remember, you promised me four.”

“I remember. I’ll give you all the babies you want. Hell, I’ll give you anything you want.”

“You already do that,” she counters happily.

I cup her neck, looking down at her. “We’re going to be parents.”

“Yeah, we are.” She breathes, her smile bigger than before, and I know mine is mirroring it. “Daniel?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m so happy we’re here.” She seals the space between our lips.

The End.