Yes, Alpha Daddy

GWEN POV

It was just a few days until Christmas. I was out shopping for a Christmas gift for my roommate and best friend, April. I felt like a complete idiot for waiting until the last minute to get her a present.

How April and I were best friends was a puzzle. We were totally different-like fire and water.

April came from a very rich family. Her father spoiled her with everything. My dad might have spoiled me, too, if he had the money, but he didn't.

Like me, April was raised mostly by a single dad after her parents split up.

I also had a single dad after my mom died. But April's dad stayed single, while mine decided to get married again. That marriage was a disaster. My stepmom, Mira, left him after spending all the life insurance money he got when my mom passed away.

The biggest difference between April and me, though, was our outlook. April went through life like it was paved with rainbows. Me? If I wanted rainbows, I had to work hard to create them myself.

It was sometimes tough to be around someone to whom life came so easily. But I honestly thought April was great. She was lucky in life, yes, but she was also sweet and kind. Her sunny, happy energy was a good balance to my constant feeling of being under a cloud.

She was nice enough to invite me to her house for a few days during our Christmas break. I loved my dad, even with his terrible taste in women after mom died, but the holidays at home weren't special anymore. Not since my mom died and the women he got himself involved with took his money and ran. His holiday plans usually meant drinking with his friends.

I didn't need a fancy Christmas.

But like my dad, I hadn't really looked forward to the holiday since my mother's death. But I really needed to get away from my house and this town.

This feeling grew stronger as I walked through the bitter cold and the crowds of last-minute shoppers.

I finally reached the little paper shop I knew April would love. She always had pretty papers, pens, stickers, and envelopes everywhere. Inside, I picked up some different paper products I thought she'd like. I saw a pack of paper covered in hearts. I rolled my eyes because it was so girly, but since April loved hearts, I added it to my pile and headed to the cashier.

After paying, I put the paper products into my big purse to keep them safe from the wind and cold. Snow was supposed to fall tonight, even though it had been clear when I left home.

As I opened the door to leave, a huge man pushed past me and bumped me hard. I stumbled backward, couldn't stop myself, and landed right on my butt.

"You should watch where you're going." His voice was deep and dark. It matched