Page 120 of The Daddy’s Girl

My muscles turn rigid as I tense. With my eyes glued unfocused on the screen, I mumble, “Yeah. What about it?”

I can’t bear to look at my dad to see the suspicion in his eyes. If I do, it’ll give everything away.

“I’m not blind, Melly.”

Suddenly, my throat is thick, and I can’t swallow. My blood has turned so hot I can feel it radiating from my cheeks.

So this is how this is going to go down? Right here? He’s just going to bring it up like it’s nothing? This is good, right? He’ll acknowledge that we’ve been seeing each other, and then we can move on with our lives.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, my voice cracking on the words.

“I know you’ve had a crush on him.”

Suddenly, I can’t keep my eyes from his face. Flashing toward him, I stare at my dad in surprise as I try to make sense of what he’s saying.

“A crush?”

“Don’t be so embarrassed. You’ve always been close to Matis, and I can understand why. He has always taken good care of you. But now that you’re helping him find a partner, I just want to make sure you’re okay with all of it.”

“A crush,” I repeat, and my dad chuckles before patting my legs over the covers.

“I have a good eye for these sorts of things,” he says proudly, and I want to laugh.

“Dad, I do not have a crush on Matis.”

Then, as if he wants to make a point, he turns toward my door. “Don’t think we haven’t noticed your little keepsake.”

My gaze follows his as it lands on the hooks hanging behind my door. Purses and belts hang from them, one red plaid scarf draped among them.

“Oh my God, stop,” I whine, burying my face in my pillow.

My dad knows. Which means my mom knows. And now I realize…Matis must know too. He surely saw that scarf—his scarf—hanging there while he was here this morning.

“I’m sorry. I’ll stop,” he mutters, rubbing his hand over his jaw.

The air between us grows incredibly tense and awkward, so I sit up to try and stifle it. “Dad, I promise you that I’m good with Matis dating and going to London if he chooses. I appreciate you and Mom checking on me, but I’m fine. I’m focusing on my project anyway.”

This does the trick to ease the worry lines on his forehead. With a sigh, he pats my leg again. Then, standing, he glances around my room with a sort of wistful, nostalgic look in his eyes.

“I keep forgetting you’re not my little girl anymore, Amelia.”

My throat starts to sting as I stare at him, so I move to stand and put myself in his arms, wrapping myself around him for a hug. He wraps me up in a familiar, comforting embrace.

“I’ll always be your little girl, Dad.”

It hits me in this moment just how hard it’s going to be when he really does learn the news. Will he look at me differently? Will he stop seeing his little girl? Will it change us forever?

His lips gently graze the top of my head, and I blink away the tears starting to moisten my eyes. When we both pull away, he clears his throat.

“Don’t forget about Archer’s birthday dinner at the restaurant tonight,” he says, apparently noticing my loungewear outfit choice.

With a wince, I clap a hand to my forehead. “I completely forgot.”

“You’ve been very distracted lately,” he says, ruffling my hair. “Your mother and I are taking the car over in an hour if you want to join.”

“Thanks,” I mumble, not loving the thought of having to get dressed and go out. But if I don’t show, my brother and my best friend will have my head.

As soon as my dad leaves, I quickly get dressed in a maxi skirt and a tube top. Then I throw a knitted shawl over in case we sit on the patio again. While I put on my makeup, I snap a shot for my Instagram story, looking at the mirror and feeling cute.