The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

I’m in my bedroom, after showering and pulling on jeans and a T-shirt, after breakfast, looking a lot more like the wholesome kid of days gone by, rather than the hot mess of clubbing from days ago. My hair is up on top of my head in a messy bun of sorts, and I am texting back a so-called girlfriend ‘Sissy’ in New York. Finally, my absence has been noted, and now that I am clear-headed and have some distance, I can now see how shallow these people really are.

She didn’t text to see how or where I was, she only wanted to know if I was bringing my gold card to the next party to fuel the champagne supply. I have only ever been a source of freeloading for these girls; taking my designer clothes and shoes, which I take great pride in hunting down with every new season release and crashing in Ambers’ apartment anytime they saw fit. I haven’t heard from Terry, not that I expected I would, or even care, or any of the guys from my old group of friends and throw my phone aside in irritation. I flop back on the bed, pulling my fluffy pink unicorn, Princess Snuggles, over my face and sighing out loud.

How I went months, blind to these people and how little they give a shit about me, is crazy. It’s no wonder I was falling to pieces and feeling worthless when I was surrounded by self-centered dickheads who used me and discarded me effortlessly. I was looking for completion and set myself up for serious loneliness. I squeeze the stuffed toy tightly and quell the urge to scream into its little soft belly.

“You could replace the bear with me. I hug back.” The familiar male voice catches me off guard as I yank the unicorn away and snap my eyes to the open door with a heart hammering jolt. Arrick stands leaning against the door jamb a little sheepishly, and I have to stop myself from having a visible reaction. My heart catapults into my mouth at speed suddenly, as nervousness I have never known around him, envelopes me. I pull myself to sitting and tighten the hair bobble on top of my head. Averting my eyes to the toy I’m now picking at awkwardly while trying to appear completely normal.

would I want to do that?” I murmur quietly, torn between still being hurt and mad at him, and not knowing how to behave anymore. I was so sure he’d gone back to the city by now, to her, and not standing in my bedroom doorway, looking every bit like a fantasy man in a casual T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Devastating my insides in ways I have no way of dealing with now I not what it is. Having something made crystal clear for you changes

Fuck.

I didn’t mean. Tell me what you need to forgive me, Sophs.” He smiles my way, voice remorseful and eyes a little soft. I catch his eye and glance away shyly, completely freaking out with how not normal this feels and how crazily cute he is when he’s being this way. All I am seeing is hazy brown eyes over dimpled sexiness and my heart is

Jesus. H. Christ.

on his knees a moment, so he towers over me, his hand coming out to mess with my hair childishly. I slap his hand away and pull my knees in, cuddling Princess Snuggles into my abdomen in a bid to feel more in control, less likely

noticed just how kissable those perfect

the hell is wrong