The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

I sit at the bus station waiting for the coach to the city anxiously and watch the huge clock over the ticket box tick slowly by. I’ve been watching the oncoming arrivals like a hawk for any sign of my family, or Arrick’s. I have no doubt that once they realize I’m gone they’ll check the bus terminals for me, and I can’t face any of them. I’ve mulled over every scenario; running to Jake to talk sense into my parents, running to Leila, but it all comes down to one very unavoidable fact. When my dad gets something in his head that he thinks is for the best, then no one, and I mean no one, can stand in his way. The fact he thinks I’m some kind of drug-addicted alcoholic in need of saving, and the only way is to condemn me to dry out, means he’ll make sure it happens no matter what anyone else says to him. No way in hell I’m going through that kind of insanity.

My phone rings in my bag and I haul it out nervously. I’ve been waiting for the calls to start but I see red when Camilla’s name flashes on screen. I think about rejecting it, but my fiery temper wants to be unleashed somewhere and may as well be on her, seeing as she is the reason I’m even in this mess right now.

“What is it, Camilla?” I snap haughtily down the phone at her. Glaring furiously at the scenery in front of me.

“Oh, babes, I’m soo, soo, very sorry about last night. I’m such a prize bitch when I’ve been on the champers, and I was a complete wreck when I woke up this morning and remembered how much I let you down. How truly awful I behaved toward you, Dahling.” The whiny voice and overdramatic sniffs grate on my nerves and spike up the rage that’s been simmering the full thirty minutes I’ve been here.

“You didn’t just let me down, Cam, you let that sleazy fuck grind on me and get his hand up my skirt. Do you know how disgusting I felt when I got home? What would have happened if I hadn’t come round and stopped him?” My voice catches in my throat, a hint of a panic attack taking effect as memories of last night flood back. I get that sickening flashback feeling when I visualize Malcolm’s slimy face.

another chance. We’ll spend time together somewhere of your choosing to make amends, a little girly night, and I’ll prove you can trust me. I’m soo sorry. Please don’t be mad at me, Sophieboo.” Her tone grates

here. I don’t know when I’ll see you again.” I shrug, seeing a coach in the distance and checking once more than no one familiar has shown up. I clutch my ticket tighter and scoop up my backpack. Camilla’s apology is doing nothing for my mood, and I have no idea if I should believe her. I’m still

could meet you there. Please, Sophieboo, let me make this up to you? Let me do this to show you how genuinely sorry I am.”

head racing with what I should do and trying to figure out if Amber would even let me move back in; that arrangement was only meant to be temporary, but seeing as she is one of the so-called friends who didn’t give a shit about my disappearance,

if you want to meet me then tell me where and when, as I need to go.” I’m caving, I know I am, and even though every part of me is telling me that Camilla is bad news, I really have no one else at this moment in time. If I go to Emma or Leila, they might side with my parents and agree that no real harm can come of easing their worries with some time at a five-star rehab clinic, and the last thing I need is being put under house arrest by strangers. I’ve heard stories about those places; I don’t need anyone trying to enforce

Like, okay.” She sounds as flustered and excited as the morning she offered to shop for me. I bite down on my lip as another bout of doubt hits me in the stomach. “Just give me your coach details and I’ll meet you at the other end. I have a car, so I’m sure I’ll make it in better time than you will, once I organize the details. I know how slow those coaches are.” Camilla gushes with happiness down the cell and

***

I turned my cell off for fear of my family trying to call me when I hit the bus and am relieved to see I won’t need to switch it on to locate Camilla. My next step will be to ditch my phone altogether until I am ready to face them all, maybe leave

still hostile after last night, not ready to forgive anything just yet. Even after hours on