Page 7 of The Version You Hide

“Or what?” the guy retaliates, a spray of saliva raining down on both of us.

I don’t have time for arrogant pricks today. And this one is getting on my last nerve.

If there’s one thing I can’t tolerate, it’s a man who thinks he can use his physical size and the sheer fact that he’s male to belittle and overpower. I’ve seen my fair share of egotistical jerks, been abused into submission by one in particular for far too long. If this one thinks he can get the better of me, he’s sorely mistaken.

Not today, asshole.

I reach in front of Dylan and grip the water dispenser, pulling it out and aiming it at the man’s head. I squeeze the tap and the valve releases, shooting a steady stream of good old H2O into his face.

“Mackenzie!” Dylan shouts in surprise, his eyes wide as he fumbles with the tap in my hand.

“What did you do that for?” the man shouts. His hands fly up to his face, attempting to redirect the flow of water.

“Oh, I’m sorry sir,” I say politely, calmly returning the dispenser to its hook. “Your face was going a little red there. Thought you could use some cooling off.”

“Mackenzie,” Dylan says again, this time through gritted teeth.

“What? He deserved it,” I mutter under my breath.

Dylan’s stern expression tells me I’m going to be reprimanded for my little stunt. His jaw is clenched, his lips clamped together in a thin line. Despite not regretting my actions, I begin to worry that I’ve crossed a line. I really need this job and I hope I haven’t jeopardised it.

I wait for him to scold me, but then his expression slackens, and he gives a small shrug. He turns back to the burly man in front of us. “She ain’t wrong.”

The guy staggers back, swiping at droplets of water that cling to his short beard. “You just lost a customer,” he grumbles.

As he walks away, I swear I hear the words “stupid, crazy bitch” on his breath.

Jade’s laughter pulls my attention to the other end of the bar. “Oh, I like this one!” she says to Dylan, a finger pointed in my direction.

Dylan palms his face, shaking his head. “Mackenzie, there are rules and protocol we have to follow in situations like this. Remember your training?”

“Whatever.” I shrug, shaking off the seriousness in his tone. “That guy was a dick and he deserved worse.”

Dylan nods but he doesn’t share the same amusement as us. “You’re right. He was a dick. But that situation could have gone a whole lot differently had he been dangerous. What if he’d had a weapon?”

My face drops, my eyes softening with guilt. I’d never considered the fact that Dylan has had firsthand experience with criminals with weapons in this very bar. That, like me, maybe he harbors some post traumatic anxiety after what he’d experienced the day Henley was attacked. He knows what it’s like to witness the wrath of a ‘dangerous’ man.

But so do I.

It’s the last thing I need advice on. I’ve been there. I’ve already lived through that nightmare, and he knows it.

“I just don’t want to see anything happen to you,” he says quietly with such sincerity that it makes me uncomfortable.

That’s another thing about me. I tend to shy away from serious conversation and open displays of emotion, covering my unease with bad jokes and sarcasm. Which is exactly what I’m about to do now.

“Right,” I say confidently. “Okay. Next time I’ll just let you handle it.”

“Thank you,” he says, seemingly satisfied, resting his hands on his hips again.

“Because, you know,” I continue in a matter-of-fact tone. “Dangerous guys respond really well to just simply being asked to leave. Maybe you could offer to walk them home and tuck them into their beds too.”

Dylan rolls his eyes and sighs as Jade snorts out another chuckle.

“Sorry,” she blurts out, then quickly cups her hands around her mouth. She’s trying to hide her laughter but the way her eyes crinkle at the corners gives her away.

“Don’t you encourage her, Jade.” Dylan points a finger at Jade, the beginnings of a grin threatening to ruin his composure.

“Oh, come on!” she cries, throwing her hands up in the air. “The guy was a total wanker and she got him to leave. The girl is badass. I like her.”

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