Page 16 of The Version You Hide

“This isn’t a project. This is my life.” His condescending tone is exhausting. I lean my weight into the tavern’s external brick wall behind me and slide down till I’m sitting on the ground with my knees bent upward. “You make it sound like I’m a child. I told you a long time ago that this is what I want, Dad. I have a plan.”

“Oh, I see. A plan, huh?” he retaliates arrogantly. “You mean the plan that entails you slogging it out in a bar and squatting in some poorly maintained beach shack?”

Despite his words, a laugh burst from me. “You just don’t get it.”

“No, son. I don’t think you get it. I’ve worked hard to give you a good life and now you’re squandering any chance you have at being successful, all because you’re too damn proud to admit that you’ve screwed up. If you’d just come home, we can move past all of this. We can support you if you make the right decision.”

My jaw clenches as the weight of his words sink in. “So, what you’re saying is you’ll support me on your own terms, but you won’t support me following my dreams?”

I’m about done with this discussion. I knew he would refuse to see things my way. The same way he always has.

Another audible sigh fills my ears. “Don’t be stubborn, son. It’s okay to admit when you’re in over your head.”

“Over my head? It’s like you’re not even hearing me,” I mutter as disappointment floods through me. I’ve had enough. “This conversation is over, Dad.”

With that, I hang up on the call, tossing my phone across the courtyard in frustration. I shake my head, raking a hand through my hair, pulling my knees in closer to my chest. I’m sick to death of having this same damn fight with my parents. I realise to them that it does look like I gave up everything to work in a bar. That I’m unthankful for the life they provided me.

That isn’t the case though. My parents have given me everything and I’m more than grateful. I’ve been given opportunities that most people can only dream of. I’m guaranteed success in life because of them, but it comes with one condition.

That I follow in their footsteps.

I try to believe that my parent’s defiance comes from a place of love. That maybe they’re afraid to see me fail because it will break their hearts to watch their only son struggle. But more than likely, they’re worried I’ll embarrass them.

To be honest, I think I probably already have.

I’ve tried to keep my activities here on the downlow but it’s important to me that I forge my own path. And yeah, there’s a chance I’m going to fall on my ass doing it, but failure is a risk I’m willing to take.

I want a life of adventure.

Of passion.

And I know I won’t have that back home. They see me working at the tavern as the biggest mistake of my life. I see it as my ticket to bigger, better things.

They’re incapable of envisioning the bigger picture.

Or they don’t want to see it.

“Geez. Looks like your day just turned to shit.” A voice echoes off the tavern’s brickwork, startling me out of my pity party for one.

“Jesus!” I grasp at my chest in shock, pivoting to my left in time to see Mackenzie creeping out from the corner of the building. “Where did you come from? Have you been standing there this whole time?”

“Guilty,” she says, placing her hands up in the air as though in surrender. “Came out for my break and then I heard you talking. It sounded serious so I didn’t want to spring out from nowhere. You know, until after it was over.”

I snort out a laugh. “Your honesty is refreshing.”

“Sorry,” she offers, suddenly having the sense to look a little sheepish.

“It’s okay.”

“What’s with the temper tantrum?” She nods her head at the ground where my phone lies, probably with a cracked screen.

“Parental problems,” I admit. “My father is really overbearing.”

“Oh.” I’m a little surprised when she wanders over to where I’m sitting and slides down onto the ground next to me. “Can’t say I know what that’s like.”

“Shit,” I murmur. “I’m sorry.”

I’m always putting my foot in my mouth around this girl.

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