Page 3 of Snap

"Is that what you do?" I teased. There was a lot more to it than that, but that was his choice. He didn’t have to take an active role in the team.

"Absolutely." He put a hand under his chin and batted his eyelashes. "I should start doing some influencing of my own. What’s the latest social media platform? MySpace?"

I laughed. "I’m pretty sure that went out of style before I was born. And before Skye was born."

His smile dimmed a fraction, but he waved a hand. "Whatever. I bet I could get more fans than you."

"They’re called followers," I told him. When did he get so out of touch? Oh yeah, only forever ago. "You’re welcome to try. Care to make a bet on it?" If he was focused on building a social media following, he might be too distracted to care what I was doing. Or not doing.

"I would," he said slowly, "but I had Mary set up accounts ages ago. One for me and one for the team. There’s even a social media manager running the accounts." He cocked his head. "If I told you that sooner, you might have taken more of an interest."

"I know you might find it hard to believe, but I know there's more to life than social media." Like pizza and fast cars.

Dad laughed. "I wouldn't have believed you said that if I hadn't heard it myself."

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "I know you like to think I'm just a spoiled little daddy's girl."

His expression turned serious. "I know you're not that shallow. If anyone says otherwise they'll have me to deal with."

“Yeah?" I toyed with my phone. "What are you gonna do? Glare at them?" A smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

He chuckled. "I could start with that, yeah. Then I've got a whole AGL team I can put on their asses. If that doesn't scare them, nothing will."

I shook my head and grinned. "We both know that's not going to happen. You wouldn't risk their reputation for my sake."

His brows knitted. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for you. You know that, right?"

"Yeah. You're the one who wore a pink tutu when I was too scared to go to ballet class by myself." The memory of him and his hairy legs made me smile. Until I remembered why he'd done that. "Right, Mum just walked out on us."

"On me," he said firmly. "It was never about you. I was the one who screwed up."

I shrugged as though it wasn't still painful after all these years. "I was just as left as you were." I blinked against the prickling in my eyes. I was not going to cry over something that happened a lifetime ago. I still saw her once in a while. Usually just long enough for her to express her disappointment in me.

"I know," he said softly. "If I could have saved you from that, I would have."

"I know you would," I said.

"Yeah. So it's you and me against the world." He nodded. "No matter what happens, no matter who comes along, it's you and me. Okay?"

I wanted to say, ‘And all your ex-wives,’ but for once I didn't. He was doing the best he could. He might not be the warmest, or most attentive father in the world, but he made an effort. A lot of my friends never saw their fathers. To be honest, a lot of them didn't want to. I had my share of days when I didn't want to speak to mine. And once in a while I wore him out.

I know, it's hard to believe, but it's true. I'm not always a little ray of sunshine. Sometimes spoilt little daddy's girl is the only way to describe me. At least I could admit it.

"So the thing is," I said slowly, "if you want me to take a bigger role in the team, I might need some new clothes." I smiled sweetly.

Dad smacked a hand to his forehead. "I should have known that was where this was leading."

I grinned. "Doesn't it always?"

"No," he said, "sometimes you ask for a new car."

I snapped my fingers. "I knew I should have led with that." After a beat I added, "Hey, Dad, can I have a new car?"

"No," he said. "Your newest car is three months old."

"It has a speck of dust on it." I pouted playfully.

He snorted. "Go and buy yourself some new clothes. And no, I don't want to know how much you spent."

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