The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

Pulling my cell from my bag stubbornly, intent on ending this if it kills me, I swipe to my block list, find his name and press unblock. I at once follow it with ‘call’ before I lose my nerve or change my mind. I sit back, heart pounding through my chest and pulse rate erratic, but I must stop this once and for all.

He answers after two short rings, and I have to control the stab of pain that his voice gives me.

“Sophie?” He sounds shocked, yet emotional.

I pull myself together and sit up straighter. Taking a long deep breath to steady my inner chaos and center myself so I sound calm and mature. My stomach twists and my hands shake.

forcefully, trying to keep all

he is at Carrero Corp. The hustle and bustle of office noises and the reason he’s keeping his tone down. He must be in either his office with his PA nearby or out at Jake’s, maybe even on the main office floor by the

Are you going to suddenly not love Natasha anymore and ask me to settle down and be your girlfriend?” It comes out nastily, hurt moving in, and I scold myself for

know what else to do but talk to you about it. Your head is not’ the only one which has been fucked up by this.” His tone is ravaged; I know Arrick better than most, I’m one of the few people he openly gets emotional in front of, and this is so not him to be like this when surrounded by others. I hate that this is hurting him as much as it’s hurting

Arry. I’m begging you. Stop calling me, stop texting, and just leave me alone. Let me get over you and get some sanity back. Maybe after that, we can see each other ... but not until then.” A knot of emotion hits me hard in the throat, threatening to choke me, but I must stay

me? What if I need you?” He sounds desperate,

to learn to stop needing you. I won’t be going back down that route of self-destruction and booze, so you can be happy knowing I’m sorting myself out. I’m trying to be a better person, for me, and I’m trying to find a way to get on in life. I can’t do that if you keep pulling me back to you. If you care about me, like you say you