A CRUSH ON MY BEST FRIEND'S DAD

                      ~HOLLY~

My phone buzzes, I lazily stretch my hand to pick up the phone from where it's laying on my bed. 

It's a message notification from Troy, my boyfriend. I open the message and instantly, my stomach sink.

“Hey. I think we should break up. Things are not working between us, and I can't force it anymore. I hope you understand. And I'm sorry for breaking up with you four days before Christmas. I know how you're looking forward to spending the Christmas with me. I'm sorry about that.”

I stare at the screen for a solid ten seconds before letting out a soft, humorless laugh. Figures.

I had seen it coming. Not because I was psychic, but because deep down, I had known he was never going to be the one, and I hadn't given my best in the relationship. It's only a matter of time before he got tired of me.

He was easy, familiar, and available—but he lacked the spark that made my heart race every time my best friend’s dad walked into a room.

Sliding onto the edge of my bed, I toss the phone beside me and bury my face in my hands.

 “Good. Finally, honesty,” I mutter under my breath.

My reflection in the mirror caught my eye. My cheeks are flushed, a little from irritation, a little from embarrassment. 

I give myself a wry smile. Troy wasn’t what I wanted anyway. I hadn’t needed him to break my heart—I had always known he was just… filler. A substitute for the real thing.

Consoling myself, I whispered, “It’s fine. I didn’t need him anyway. I’ve always known… I’ve always wanted him.”

My fingers itched with the memory of my best friend’s dad. The one person I can't have, no matter how badly I want him.

 And so I had settled, like I always did. Settled for someone who was convenient, someone safe.

And now, he has broken up with me some days before Christmas. This is going to be the worst Christmas ever.

****

The weather decided to snow later in the day. I have never seen snow fall this heavily my life.

Thick white sheets blanketed the town, swallowing cars, burying rooftops, and turning the roads into glossy death traps. 

My apartment building groans under the weight of winter, and inside my small room, the sound of water dripping grows louder. Too loud.

Another droplet falls from the ceiling.

Then another.

Then the whole plaster caved in, sending freezing water splashing across my blanket.

“Are you kidding me?!” I yelp, scrambling off the bed just as another stream burst through the ceiling.

This is not the right time for this…I groan.

Cold, miserable and absolutely ruined, I grab my phone with shaking hands and dial the only person I can think of.

“Holly?” Gabriel, my best friend answers groggily, his voice thick with sleep.

“My ceiling just gave out,” I snap. “My stuff is soaked. I’m freezing. Can I come stay at your place till I figure out what to do about it later??”

A pause.

Then, “You’re staying with me. I’m coming.”

Before I can argue, the call ends.

It takes Gabriel exactly seven minutes to arrive.

“Let’s go,” he says, already moving toward my bags. “Dad won’t mind.”

My stomach drops.

Damien Blackwood.

The stern, cold, devastatingly handsome Alpha of the Silver Thorn Pack. The man whose intense gaze makes me forget how to breathe. The man who lived by rules, structure, discipline.

The man I definitely should NOT have a crush on.

“Gabriel, I don’t think….”

“My dad isn’t even home most nights,” he interrupts. “He’ll barely notice.”

That was a lie and we both know it.

Damien notices everything.

But I am too cold, too tired, and too desperate to argue. I follow Gabriel through the snow, trembling as the icy wind bit into my skin.

When we reach the Blackwood residence, I curse under my breath.

The house is massive…. dark wood, warm lights glowing from inside, smoke curling from the chimney. Cozy, intimidating, and too perfect.

Gabriel unlocks the door.

“Dad? You home?” he calls.

Silence.

Relief loosen my shoulders. Thank goodness he isn't home. I am not ready to face him again.

“See? All good. Come in…..” and then, Gabriel is interrupted.

“Why are you home early? Thought you just left??”

The deep, commanding voice freezes me in place.

Damien Blackwood step from the hallway like a shadow made flesh — tall, broad-shouldered, muscular, commanding, wearing a fitted black t-shirt that clung to muscle and authority. His presence fills the entire room.

I take a look at his intimidatingly handsome face—Strong jawline, Dark hair, neatly trimmed beard, Deep brown, controlled, intimidating eyes.

His eyes lands on me 

And for a moment… I stop breathing.

Warmth spread across my cheeks. I suddenly wish the snow outside will swallow me whole.

“Holly?” Damien says slowly. “It’s been a while.”

Gabriel steps forward. “Her ceiling collapsed from the storm. She needs a place to stay until repairs are done.”

Damien’s jaw clenches.

I feel judged. Watched. Stripped bare.

But then…..his expression shifted.

He steps closer, and my breath siezes.

Just then, Gabriel's sister saunters into the room.

“Hey, Holly. It's been a while” she says gleefully, as she walk up to me and pull me into a hug.

“Hi, Ella. Yeah, it's been a while…and a merry Christmas to you in advance” I smile at the eighteen years old gorgeous girl with big brown eyes, chocolate brown hair, pointed nose and cute lips.

I am twenty two, and Gabriel is twenty three. While his father…is forty two.

When I look up, Damien is staring at me. 

“You’re trembling,” he says.

I swallow hard. “I–I’m fine.”

He reaches out and brushes melting snow from my hair—an instinctive, protective gesture.

Electricity shot down my spine.

He must have felt it too, because he immediately withdraw his hand, expression tightening.

“You’ll stay here,” he says, not a question. A command.

My pulse spiked.

Damien Blackwood has never spoken to me like this.

Gabriel grins at me. “See? Easy.”

But I am not even listening to him. I am staring at the lips of the man I should never want and I'm wishing to have those cute lips on mine.

And when Ella pulls me away saying that we should take a stroll down the street because she is feeling bored, I'm grateful for the distraction.

I follow her immediately out of the door before I do something very stupid.