Chapter 18

DYLAN

"H ey, Dylan," Harper calls to me from the other side of the bar. "Have you seen Mackenzie? I feel like I haven't spoken to her in days. Is she working today?"

"She's supposed to be," I answer, frowning at the antique grandfather clock on the wall. "Her shift started ten minutes ago."

Mackenzie has never been late to a shift, so I find her tardiness to be somewhat concerning. I hadn't heard from her since dropping her home after our eventful night at my parent's party. I'd walked her to the door, fumbled through another apology for my bad behaviour and she'd laughed it off, throwing a sarcastic comment my way.

It had seemed as though she'd begun to let go of any resentment she'd been harbouring towards me, but that hadn't done anything to resolve me of the guilt I still feel.

I know I should have done better.

I need to be better.

I slide my phone from the top pocket of my shirt, but as I'm finding her name in the contacts, the tavern's doors swing open and Mackenzie barges through them looking mildly dishevelled.

"Oh, here she is now," Harper says, stating the obvious. She lifts a hand up to wave at her friend, an expectant smile on her face. "Hey!"

"Hey," Mackenzie says abruptly as she rounds the bar. She doesn't return the smile.

I spare a glance at Harper. Her frown tells me I'm not the only one that's noticed the aura of defensiveness surrounding Mackenzie. Something is wrong and I need to find out what it is.

I follow her into the storeroom where she dumps her backpack aggressively in one of the lockers.

"What happened?" I dare to ask. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she says, slamming the locker door.

"Are you sure?"

She ignores me, looking away as she piles her long hair on top of her head, securing it with an elastic.

"You've never been late to a shift before," I add, awkwardly rubbing the base of my neck. "It kind of had me worried for a second."

"I said I'm fine," she scowls, pushing past me to get back out to the bar.

I guess she still isn't over what happened on Saturday night. I'm going to have to try much harder to win back her affections.

And I want to win back her affections. That's something I'm sure of now.

"Hey, what's up?" she asks Harper, offering her a weak smile. "How's Noah doing?"

"He's finally over this virus. Thank God!" Harper cries, her hands held together as though in prayer. "It's been a long week."

"I'll bet," Mackenzie says, busying herself with wiping down the bar. "I'm glad he's okay though."

"Yeah, me too. He's with my mum right now actually. Grandmothers are the best babysitters, I swear," she says, resting her chin on her hands. "Speaking of, I'm ready to take that raincheck. You ready to go back out on the snorkel tour again?"

Mackenzie glances in my direction, her nostrils flaring, but she doesn't make eye contact. "Uh, I don't know. Maybe we could do something else instead?" she suggests. "We could go shopping or do dinner?"

"Oh, come on!" Harper complains. "I want to do something different. You said it was really good and I want to see for myself."

I can't help but grin hearing this, but my smile fades when I hear Mackenzie's reply. "I said it was okay, but I'm sure we can find something better to do."

I feel a crease form between my brows. "Ouch," I mutter under my breath.

What is Mackenzie's deal today? I guess I had seriously misread her. I know things had become complicated between us over the weekend, but I thought we'd overcome that. She had been fine on the drive home from the party. Hadn't she?

"But I really want to go,'' Harper persists. "I've got total FOMO over the pics you sent me. Don't make me go without you." She gives her best attempt at puppy-dog eyes, forming a pout, but not even this can crack a smile on her friend's face.

"The pics I sent you, you mean," I snicker, wiping a wine glass dry and hanging it on the overhead rack.

Harper lets out a laugh. "I was referring to a really great pic Mackenzie sent of the water, but yes, Dylan. Your pic was great too."

Mackenzie doesn't react to my comment or to Harper's reply. I feel the crease between my brow deepen. This is not just Mackenzie being her usual grumpy self. She's completely pissed. And it's obvious it has something to do with me.

I bend down, bringing my mouth so close to her ear that I can smell her coconut shampoo. "Hey," I say in a low voice. "Can we talk for a minute?"

She rolls her eyes at me, then turns her attention to Harper. "I'll be back in a second."

She barges past me in the direction of the courtyard. I follow closely behind, not speaking until we've cleared the crowded tavern and the doors of the courtyard are closed behind us. There are two women sitting in the corner, but the area is otherwise unoccupied.

"What's going on Kenz?" I ask in a softer tone. "I thought we were cool."

"Yeah," she scoffs, then mutters almost inaudibly. "That was before."

She begins to move past me, but I catch her arm. She stares intently at the place where my fingers wrap gently around her bicep, her nostrils flared in defiance, and I realise I've made a mistake touching her so unexpectedly. I draw my hand away swiftly, as though her arm is on fire, disappointed in myself for encroaching on her personal space like that.

I take a step backward. "Sorry. I didn't mean to grab you. What do you mean ‘before'? Before what?"

"Before I saw you out back making deals with the devil," she accuses, fury in her icy eyes.

"When?" I'm dumbfounded by her cryptic statement.

"Does it matter?" she retaliates.

"Kenz, I have no idea what you're talking about. Please. Tell me what you mean," I plead.

She leans back up against the courtyard wall, exhaling as she crosses her arms over her chest. "I came looking for you yesterday. I saw you."

"You came looking for me?" Despite the situation, I feel a warmth spread through my chest.

"You're missing the point."

"Okay?" I draw the word out, wondering where this is leading to.

"Look, I'm just here to do my job, okay? We don't have to be friends. You're my boss. Let's just keep it that way. I've had my fair share of dirty money in dark alleyways. I can't be a part of that life anymore."

I let out a breath as understanding dawns on me. She came looking for me yesterday. She saw me in the alley. She saw an exchange of money, heard words that out of context, may have sounded dodgy.

"It's not what you think," I begin, shaking my head profusely.

"Yeah. It never is," she says sarcastically. "Look, whatever you're up to is your business. I don't want any part of it."

"I mean it, Mackenzie. You have to know I would never do that."

The next words out of her mouth cut through me like a knife. "I think we established over the weekend that we really don't know each other at all."

Despite how upset I am, I manage a laugh. "You know, it kind of hurts my feelings how little you think of me."

I mean it as a joke, but honestly, if it was Madison or any other girl I've dated standing in front of me making these accusations, I'd be walking away right now, not bothering to look back.

But this is Mackenzie and I need to remember what she's been through. God only knows what that asshole of an ex-boyfriend has put her through.

"Putting on the guilt trip," she says, pushing off the brick wall. "Nice. The first sign of a narcissist."

I sigh. "Please meet me tonight. I'll explain everything."

"No, thanks," she says, her palms raised defensively as she backs toward the doors.

"Please Kenz," I plead. "Look. I know I haven't given you a whole lot of reasons to trust me, but I'm not out to hurt you."

"I don't care."

"I'll pick you up tonight." I'm determined to prove to her that I'm not the monster she thinks I am.

"No, you won't." With that, she turns and pushes through the doors into the bustling tavern.

Like hell I won't.