Page 100 of The Version You Hide

I hear Kristen sigh. “Come on, Mackenzie. I really want to hang out with you. Besides I’m worried about how much time you’ve been spending alone.”

“I don’t know.” Mackenzie hesitates. I take the opportunity to nudge her in the ribs with my elbow, urging her to accept her sister’s invitation. “Ouch!” she cries out. “I mean, okay. Yeah. I’ll come.”

“Okay, great!” The excitement in Kristen’s tone is undeniable. “We’re leaving at nine. Liv’s driving.”

I wait until the door clicks shut to throw the covers back and spring into a sitting position. Mackenzie thumps me in the shoulder with a closed fist. “What was that?”

“You should go. It’s important for you to spend time with your sister. And Liv’s great too.”

“Yeah. I know.” She sighs, combing her hair back from her face, then she waves a frustrated hand in front of herself. “Fine. I’ll go.”

Without warning, the door swings wide open and I pull the covers up over my lap. “Oh, and good morning, Dylan!” Kristen throws her head over her shoulder, one hand still on the doorknob, a devious, smug grin spread across her face.

“Uh, hi, Kristen,” I stutter, my eyes bugging out like a deer in the headlights. “You knew I was here the whole time, didn’t you?”

“Your car is in the driveway,” she says bluntly.

I nod stupidly. “Of course it is.”

“Get dressed, Mackenzie.” With that, she closes the door and leaves us alone.

Mackenzie eyes me sceptically and then her laughter fills the room as she slaps my knee and shoves me in the shoulder. It’s the first time I’ve seen her so carefree. “Did you really forget your car was out front?”

“Yeah. I did,” I tell her. “I think I forgot the whole world for a while, honestly.”

“Me too.”

The smile falls from her face, and I can tell that like me, she’s remembering all the things that have taken up occupancy in our worlds. The issues I’m having with my father and the company. Her newfound grandmother, her mother’s death and the letter explaining it all.

“Let’s not do this,” I say, tilting her chin up.

“Do what?”

“Allow our problems to get in the way of this. Us. Here. Right now.” I pull her in close, planting a kiss on her forehead.

She responds by crushing her lips against mine, thrusting her hands into my hair. There’s no better feeling than knowing that she doesn’t feel the need to hesitate with me anymore.

A groan escapes me when I realise what I need to do today.

“What?” she says, pulling back from me, her fingertips dragging down my bare chest.

“I have to get to the boat,” I grimace. “And I should have mentioned this earlier, but I’m not going to be around for a couple of days.”

“Why?” She drops her hands back into her lap, retreating from me.

“My father agreed to hand Claire my position in the company,” I explain. “But he’s making a song and dance about having me come to the office and show her the ropes, which is ridiculous, because Claire could do that job and everyone else’s with her eyes closed.”

“You mean, your dad isn’t on your back about working for him anymore? That’s great,” she says, the glow returning to her cheeks. “That’s what you wanted, right? He’ll finally leave you alone.”

“Yeah. I just wish I didn’t have to go into the city. I want to stay here with you.”

I tug at her t-shirt, snaking my arms around her waist, then I fall back into the pillows, pulling her down with me. We share another kiss and when she pulls back there’s a silent message in her gaze.

Whatever this is between us, she feels it too.

But just as quickly, the spell is broken as Kristen’s voice echoes through the door again. “Mackenzie! Are you dressed yet?”

She sighs, but there’s a hint of a smile on her lips. “It’s like living with a military officer.”

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