The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

Arrick has boyish, cute sort of gorgeousness; always clean shaven. He’s still manly and would still be called handsome, but there is a softness to his face that I always preferred. Square-jawed with man brows and a steely glare when he wants it, but something sweet, almost a gentleness when he’s relaxed. Eternally young.

“Food fit for a queen.” He laughs jokingly, dishing out my fries and burger and hands me my banana shake. Everything I always order.

McDonald’s used to be a place we hung out on a Saturday morning for our junk food fix and for something to do. My mom would have had a fit if she knew how many times Arrick drove me to burger joints and ‘unhealthy’ eating places to pig out, but that was the nature of being kids. We didn’t care if it was bad for us; we just liked it and we had no pre-conceived notion that because we came from rich families, we couldn’t enjoy normal places like everyone else. That is one of the things I have always loved about Arry. He’s normal.

He doesn’t do the whole overly flashy lifestyle; he doesn’t have a million housekeepers or assistants or acts inaccessible because he’s rich and becoming famous. He cooks, he sometimes does his own laundry, drives himself places, and he does things for himself. He hangs out at fast-food joints and goes to movies and theme parks. He has normal friends, with normal incomes, and likes bars that are downtown and unknown, with no flashy price tags. I came from poverty and when I was adjusting to the grand lifestyle of my new family, Arrick reminded me that it was okay to not fit in with the expected grandeur. He was the link between two worlds.

I dig into my food heartily, never shy about making a pig of myself in front of him, even now. I’ve always been an eater; food is like my second weakness, after shoes.

tries the new releases everywhere at every food joint. He shakes his head at me and holds out his burger for me to take a bite without question. It looks laden with an array of meats, bacon, and cheese and has a fancy crusted roll. I lean in and take a big one, chewing on the barbeque

an ugly eater; he eats like a guy who has zero cares about looking sexy while doing it, yet strangely, he does. Chewing enhances that muscular jaw and crazily handsome bone structure of his. I pick up my milkshake to wash it down and gaze out at rain that seems to have calmed down already. The noise in the restaurant has

in the day. We spent a few hours in his apartment after seeing Jake; Arrick stuck in his study making calls to his

at the back.” He frowns out at the rain too, looking up at the dark sky, seeing some gaps in the distance where the sun is

doing this.... Despite everything. You always come through for me. I’ve never said thank you for all the times you came and rescued me in the city, or for just being there in my life when I needed you.” I gaze at him wistfully, catching

any of that. I did it because I wanted to, because I care about you. This...Us … Sophs if we don’t …” He pauses for a second, putting down his shake and sits forward to rest his arms on the table, hesitant for a second as he thinks. “No matter how things work out between us, I will always be here for you. I’ll always care about you.” He says it more forcefully. Looking me dead in the eye, and I

for bringing me to my family, and my mom and Dad for taking me on. I know I’m not easy to handle sometimes …” I trail off, emotions getting the better of me as tears fill my eyes, and I can’t continue. Arrick reaches out across the gap in our food and takes my fingers in his. Cradling

gave me something too, Sophs. I grew up for you, I became a better person so that I could take care of you. I stopped being a dumb teen who was partying his life away, because I knew I had to be responsible and show you the way. You’re hard to handle, you always have been, but that’s what I love about