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.

trying to keep all

so unlike his normal cool self, and the noise in the background suggests 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

because I need to, and nothing can fix this except space. What is talking going to do, Arry? Huh? Are you going to suddenly not love Natasha anymore and ask me to settle down and be your girlfriend?”

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

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

... What if you need me? What if I need you?” He sounds desperate, his voice straining and his calm demeanor going completely

needed me, and I need 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 do, then let me go. Let me do this on my own.” My voice wobbles and breaks; clear signs that I’m not as strong as I want to be and