Page 36 of The Version You Hide

“Can I have a word, son?” My father ushers me to the side as Mackenzie stands awkwardly next to my mother. “I don’t think I need to warn you about gold diggers, Dylan. Be careful.”

“Sure, Dad,” I say, stifling another groan.

It’s not until the tavern’s doors have closed behind them that I finally let my shoulders slump. This encounter has completely drained me of energy.

“Well, they seem nice.” Mackenzie folds her arms over her chest, a smirk once again playing on her mouth.

“What the hell was that?” I laugh, splaying my hands out in front of me.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she says. “What the hell was that whole thing about some party?”

“Oh, that?” I say, spinning around to face her, a conspiratorial grin spreading across my face. “That was you volunteering yourself to be my date at my parent’s anniversary party on the weekend.”

“Ha!” she laughs. “As if! You do realise I’m not actually going. I was just trying to get payback for what you did yesterday.”

“Mission accomplished,” I say. “But you are coming with me. I can hardly show up without my best girl now, can I?”

Her smile falls, her eyes squinting at me warily. “You’re the worst.” She pauses, seemingly contemplating her options. “I suppose it would give me more opportunities to embarrass you further.”

“Don’t even think about it,” I warn.

“I’m not going anyway,” she says defiantly.

“Oh, yes you are.”

“Where even is your parent’s place?”

“You’ll see.” I tell her. “I’ll pick you up at five.”

“Fine.” She uncrosses her arms, allowing them to fall to her sides. “But I have another question.”

“What is it?”

“Does your father accuse all of your fake girlfriends of being gold diggers? Or does this outfit I’m wearing scream ‘I’m here panning for riches’?”

“I’m sorry you had to hear that.” I sigh. “And yes, he does.”

She quirks an eyebrow in curiosity, clearly having no idea why my father would assume something like this about her. Her stare has me in a chokehold, until something captures my attention behind her.

“Hey, don’t look now. But there’s a woman outside watching us through the window. I think she’s staring at you.”

Ignoring my instruction not to look, Mackenzie swings around. The woman startles, caught off guard, the sad smile falling from her face before she rushes off down the street.

“That’s weird. Do you know her?” I ask.

Mackenzie shakes her head, a troubled expression on her face. “No,” she replies.

But there’s something in her voice that suggests otherwise.

Chapter 12

MACKENZIE

The pier is packed on Friday afternoon. People come and go from the local businesses and cafes. Surfers flock to the waves despite the dark clouds that linger in the distance, but I am in the zone.

A quick glance at my watch lets me know I’ve been sitting here on this park bench for close to two hours now, completely lost in my art. I’ve only found the crowds of people distracting when the odd surfer or dogwalker gets in the way of my view of the horizon.

I’ve decided to try my hand at colour drawings. Up until now I’ve only ever worked in black and white, and while I’m excited to try a new skillset, I’m having a difficult time trying to work out the right hues to capture the sunset as it hits the ocean. A task made more challenging by the fact that the sun keeps moving lower with every passing minute.

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