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“Not to you,” I reminded her, laughing. “Plus, he’s set in his ways. I just don’t know why he can’t understand I have a life.” A life I’d fought hard to achieve on my own with little encouragement from my father. Granted, several pieces were crumbling as if a cookie being stomped on by a bully, but that was beside the point. It was my life. Plus, I was a big girl.

“He’s just worried about you,” Ashley told me.

My two best friends were with me on this glorious trip. It had been a present to myself for losing my job, a promise to work harder to make my personal social media pages kick some serious butt.

My ruthless father knew jobs were often cut when one company purchased another because he’d participated in the slicing and dicing many times in his illustrious career. Yet when it happened to his own daughter, he’d been outraged. At least he’d acted like it, trying to prove how much he loved me.

If I knew him, he’d purchase the company I’d worked for and completely dismantle them. Why not add a marketing firm to his growing list of companies? Maybe he’d try pushing me for the fifteenth time to join his flock. The last thing I wanted to do was to work for my father. The man was a tyrant. Plus, our relationship was rocky and had been for years.

“I know and I love him for it, but he doesn’t need to call every day asking me what I’m doing. I’m on vacation.” I did love my father, even if we didn’t see eye to eye on almost anything.

“That’s the spirit.” Ashley plopped down on the couch, immediately pulling her phone into her hand. “Besides, the Threads footage you uploaded last night is trending. Plus, youhave five hundred new followers since the start of our trip and yesterday’s adventures brought thousands of likes.”

“You’re kidding me.” I grabbed her phone, flicking through the Instagram pictures. I was proud of them and the work I’d done over several years building from only a few followers to almost one point five million. Enough I had sponsors, but not quite enough to rest on my laurels.

Money did make the world go around and I refused to live off my trust fund.

“I think you need to add some hot guys in your videos and pictures,” Cami suggested.

I frowned and handed Ashley her phone. “I’m not a romance author writing about hot guys in every book.”

“No, but the video we shot of you and the hot waiter from lunch yesterday went viral on TikTok.” This time, Ashley held out her phone, practically cooing as she divulged the news.

Folding my arms, I walked closer. “One hundred thousand views? And fifty thousand nine hundred likes? That’s insane.” They were the kind of numbers I’d dreamt of. “That could mean more sponsors. Maybe I don’t need another marketing job.”

“See? Your artistry is incredible and people love you. That’s why you’re going to change your mind and come out with us. We’ll find another hot waiter. Maybe this time, you two could dance the tango or something.” Cami had been insistent since I’d refused to go shopping and drinking. Two of my favorite things, but I just wasn’t in the mood.

Maybe my ugly mood was exacerbated by the fact my on again–off again boyfriend had decided the off position was permanent. Or maybe I craved doing something else entirely in my life.

I laughed from envisioning the act. “Not tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll party. Go have fun. I’m going to take a few photographs and run a nice, hot bath.”

Ashley frowned. “It won’t be as much fun without you.”

“Hey!” Cami smacked her arm.

They laughed and I shook my head. I loved having them with me, but tonight I craved some alone time. “Go. Have fun.” I shooed them away, laughing as they headed for the door.

After they were gone, I danced a little jig, trying to keep from shouting. Maybe I was finally on my way to a successful career. Photographing nature in its finest. That’s the way I celebrated, creating more content.

I slipped the lock into place and headed into my bedroom, grabbing my beloved Nikon. My Christmas present from a bazillion years ago had been a thirty-five millimeter. My father had told me I had an eye for beauty and an iPhone couldn’t capture the necessary elements for bringing nature and the various wild creatures I loved so much to life. That had morphed into taking photographs of everywhere I’d traveled with my father, which had in turn mushroomed into a viable and formerly lucrative career.

Until now.

I’d cherished the camera, replacing the first with a second and third, finding solace in being alone.

There was something so incredibly peaceful about capturing natural beauty and there was so much of it in this world. The photographs shoved aside the nastiness that I’d seen and experienced in people.

Colleagues.

Random strangers.

Former friends.

Their nasty behavior had nearly drowned me in sorrow that only the quiet realm of nature had cured.

Losing myself in nature’s beauty had helped with the loneliness not only of losing my mother, but also because my dad had prevented me from developing close friendships. He’d been too worried about my safety to realize I’d been a sad little girl.

But this was no time for lamenting about the past.