Page 41 of The Version You Hide

I scoff. “And I wish I had your brain. Look, I’m really not the best person to be asking about wedding stuff. Liv’s married. She’ll be way more helpful than me.”

As if on cue, the doorbell chimes. “Oh, that must be her now,” Kristen says as she rises from the couch, her coffee cup in hand. “Would you mind getting the door while I toss this in the sink.”

“Sure,” I say, placing the sketch book aside.

I wander over to the door, rubbing the kink in my neck that’s most likely been caused from staring into my lap for too long. When I pull it open it isn’t Liv standing there to greet me.

Instead, I’m met with eyes the colour of freshly melted chocolate and flawless, bronze skin, and what looks like an expensive dress shirt stretching over toned biceps. “Uh, what are you doing here?”

“Picking you up,” Dylan answers with a megawatt smile that could power Luna Park. His grin fades when he sees my genuine confusion. “For the party, remember?”

“The party? I didn’t think you were serious about that.” I fold my arms across my chest, falling back against the door frame.

It’s become a habit for Dylan and I to rib each other every now and then, but for me to go to his parent’s party with him? That’s taking things too far. It serves no purpose having me along for the ride.

Still, he persists, like having me there is something that he actually wants. “What do you mean? You have to come.”

“I’m sure you’ll have a whole lot more fun without me.” I straighten and then begin to close the door.

“Wait!” His palms come up, pressing against the timber to hold it open. “That’s really not true. To be honest, I don’t even want to go. The only thing keeping me sane the last couple of days was knowing that you were going to be there with me.”

I stop in my tracks, my forehead creasing in a frown. His words are so honest, so open.

So not what I’m used to.

There’s a pleading in his eyes, only thinly veiling the hurt behind them. For whatever reason, he’s decided he wants me at this party. I’m taken aback by the way my own body responds to seeing him upset, my heart sinking with the weight of knowing it has something to do with me.

Then he smiles and warmth spreads through my chest. “Please?”

“Fine. Whatever,” I say nonchalantly, throwing my hands up in the air, an eyeroll deliberately employed to mask my growing enthusiasm. “Wait here and I’ll go get changed.”

His face lights up as he fist-pumps the air. “Yes! Okay, I’ll wait out here.”

I turn, closing the door behind me and march up the hall to my room. “Hey, where’s Liv?” I hear Kristen call out.

“It was a salesman!” I call back.

“Selling what?”

“Solar panels or some shit.” The last thing I need Kristen to know is that Dylan is outside waiting to take me to his parent’s anniversary party. I’ll never hear the end of it.

It only takes me five minutes to swipe on some lip gloss and slip into a sundress. I guess getting ready for a party takes less time when you aren’t spoilt for choice.

I give myself a once over in the floor length mirror, smoothing out the skirt of the ditsy floral sundress I purchased from Target on a day out shopping with Kristen and Liv. It’s the nicest one I own, so it will have to do. I throw my curls on top of my head and secure them in place in a messy updo and head back to the front door.

When I pass the living room, Kristen is back in her position on the lounge, the bridal magazine once again spread open in her lap.

“Hey, I’m going out,” I call.

Thankfully, she doesn’t question where I’m going, barely looking up from the magazine. “Oh, okay. See you when you get home.”

I never thought I’d see the day that Kristen turned into Bridezilla, but here we are.

I throw the door wide open, almost walking straight into Dylan where he stands on the porch waiting.

“Come on, let’s go.” I grab his hand and drag him down the steps, eager to get away before Liv turns up and blows my secret.

“Wow,” he breathes as we approach the car. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

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