The Boyfriend (The Camgirl Part 3)

Part IV: Hey, Dad

IV: Blake

Blake took a deep breath as the DOC guard handed her back her ID and told her to step through the metal detector. She hesitated, panicking that she'd forgotten something before forcing herself to step through. Nothing happened.

It never had, not since her first visit almost two years ago.

She smiled at the next guard, who handed her the tray of quarters she'd brought, then ushered her through to the visiting area once she'd pocketed them, and swallowed a lump in her throat as she spotted her dad, dressed in a blue jumpsuit, sitting at one of the tables, his forearms resting on the surface.

Blake had to stop for a second and take a deep breath. She tried not to itch at her wig. Normally, she wouldn't have been able to wear it, since it was pretty close to the "hat" category, but her blue hair would have been considered inappropriate or inflammatory. So, they let her wear the dark brunette wig, and Blake had forgone any blue today, per regulations, opting for a hoodie and jeans. She'd left her overcoat in the car.

Blake walked over to the vending machine, first, and got two bags of cheetos, along with a snickers and a milky-way.

When she had those in her arms and turned toward the table, her dad was looking at her.

Her throat closed up for a moment, and Blake had to take a few deep breaths, eyes already hot, before she pushed herself forward.

"Hey, sweetie," her dad said as she sat down. He smiled so wide that his blue eyes danced.

"Hey, Dad."

He looked good. Much better than his first few months. He'd leaned out a bit, and his hair had gone grey at the temples and streaking his beard, but he still looked like her dad. He had the same crinkles around his mouth and at the corners of his eyes from smiling so much.

Seeing those made Blake's heart hurt. She hoped they never faded.

Blake pushed one of the bags of cheetos and the Snickers over to him.

"Thanks, Kiddo," he said, taking the cheetos and popping them open.

Blake didn't miss the way his hand twitched toward her, and her breath caught as she sniffed, wanting to take just his hand, just his finger, even. Anything to try and convey just how much she missed him, and how happy she was to see him again.

She didn't.

That was against the rules, and Blake didn't want anyone to have any reason to think her dad should stay here a second longer than his six-year sentence demanded.

"You look so beautiful," he breathed, "I swear--more every time I see you. You must be leaving a trail of girls and boys with broken hearts behind you at college."

Blake smiled at that. She didn't elaborate--she didn't want to talk about Liam, today; just her and her dad--but she smiled.

"Thanks, Dad. You look good, too."

He grinned, shrugging, "If there's anything good about being in here, it's that it's pretty conducive to getting in good shape. Maybe I'll take up a career in body-building when I get out."

Something slipped from Blake's lips that was half-sob, half-laugh, and her dad frowned.

"Oh, sweetie."

Blake gave her dad a tight smile as she drew in a deep, sniffling breath and wiped her eyes. She opened the Milky Way and took a bit to have a moment to collect herself. Her dad knew what she was doing. He could see it in his eyes. He didn't say anything, though, just let her collect herself.