The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

I’ve endured being yelled at, hugged and cried on. Yelled at some more, by various members of my family, and I’m now standing in the last address on my tick list of people I owe apologies to. So far, I’ve stood up to it well, and in the end, most of them, minus Leila, have forgiven me for my disappearing act.

Leila is being Leila, and no doubt will come around after she calms down; luckily, her husband, Daniel, is good at restraining her and my apology was pretty much shouted from behind Arrick as Mr. Hunter. kept her lassoed in his arms across their lounge. I’m sure that even Arrick would have little to no chance of being any sort of interference if she actually flew for me. Leila’s an actual psycho.

Now I’m standing in Emma’s kitchen, while her housekeeper alerts her to our presence. Arrick checks his watch, standing beside me with an arm casually around my shoulder. I’ve literally given up trying to point out that maybe he shouldn’t keep touching me, knowing that it’s natural for him, it always has been. We were always this way, and he can’t break the habit of an entire friendship that easily. To him, touching me, being close to me this way, is like breathing, and would be more awkward if he stood feet apart with a gap between us.

As much as I like to think that Jake and he are not alike, I guess he does have that same touchy-feely thing going for him when it’s someone he is really close to anyway.

“Jake should be arriving home any minute, when he gets here, we’ll go out and give you two a little time.” He kisses my temple reassuringly, causing me to become a bundle of nerves I’m not sure it relates to seeing Emma at all. He knows how important Emma is to me and I want to be alone with her to talk properly.

“Sophie”. Emma’s voice rings out from behind us and she envelops me as soon as she walks in, that bump making an awkward obstacle, but it feels better than good and instantly I lose all the fear and tension in those loving little arms. Emma pulls back and regards me closely.

girl. I’m only glad you had the sense to call us.” Emma kisses me affectionately on the cheek and slips her arm in mine as she pulls me back towards the low table to our familiar place to chat. Arrick lingers back as the housekeeper follows and prepares a tray of refreshments. It’s late, getting on into evening and we should head home soon, give her space to rest and put the kids to bed, but I had to see her tonight. I had to make

at the kitchen table, while the housekeeper lays out the glasses and cakes in front of us, freshly baked I guess, as they

how stupid the rehab thing was once he calmed down. I think he blames himself to be honest.” Emma regards me with a gentle nod and pushes a glass of iced tea towards me. “Were’ just glad that Arrick came and got you. Best thing right now is being with him. Jake called and told me that you have

in a fit of screaming giggles; obviously on a sugar high that Jake has inflicted, and he tries to hide the empty ice cream wrappers as he walks in.

Emma’s mouth, across the table between us. Ignoring our presence until he has stuck his tongue down his wife’s throat for a minute, and the only thing I can do is lean away to give his ass room to get in closer. Emma giggles as he pulls back,

but Jake has never cared about making a scene when it comes to her. He has eaten her face at just about every family function there has been

winks suggestively, leans back in, and kisses her, with a smile, lingering a moment, rubbing noses, and grazing his thumb across her cheek in a

wondering what it would be like to be that way with someone who’s very close by. Arrick is focused on his cell, oblivious

types a reply with an unreadable frown across his face, honed in and blanking us all out. I can’t help the jolt in my chest, or the way my eyes keep wandering to him, wondering what they are saying to each other and that gut-wrenching bite of jealousy. I

ruffles my hair affectionately, dragging my somber expression back