The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

“Emma?” Hands shaking as I locate his number and pull the cell to my ear, stomach doing a nosedive. Eyes on her incredibly calm face and falling into the first stages of freak out.

“Don’t panic.” Emma smiles gently. “These things take hours; this is just a twinge, and I just want to be sure he’s here, in case it’s not.” She smooths a hand over mine on the table and yet moves her chair back so she can sit further down in it. I watch her tilt her head back and take some deep breaths as Jake’s cell seems to ring for eternity.

I chew on my lip, tap my foot harder and tap the table with my nail as it rings, and rings, and bloody well fucking rings.

Pick the fuck up!

“Sophabelle. What can I do you for?” Jake jokes down the phone and I practically sigh with relief at his voice. Typically playful, yet I’m on the verge of yelling at him for taking beyond an average amount of time to answer his goddamn cell.

Doesn’t he realize his wife is pregnant!

“Your wife requires your presence. Soon, like yesterday.” I gush down the phone, stomach in knots. I aim a worrying glance towards her, and I’m alarmed to see her panting; her hands splayed on her stomach and her eyes closed tight. Emma’s withdrawn internally and clearly no longer here with me.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I get that serious tone. He sounds very much like ‘bossy asshole of New York’ and I instantly calm, knowing this version of him

have no clue what else to say, lost in my own anxiety and panic that she might drop a baby at any second and I am so not equipped to deal with this kind of shit at all. Emma is still sitting the same way, lost inside her own head and it’s clear as day to see she is breathing through the pain. I have no

feet already homeward bound. Tell her I’m coming. I’ll be there in minutes.” Jake sounds alien, panicked I guess, strangely cool despite it though. The thought of his beautiful girl in pain and not being here with

you know. Hurry, cos I don’t know what to do.” I bite on my lip, breathing hard. My own body starting to

her calm, get her comfy and just breathe slowly. I’m coming, Sophs, take care of my girl.” Jake is quick to make me feel calmer, something reassuring in his commands, something that snaps me out of child

around the table to stand beside her. She opens her eyes when she feels my hands on her shoulder and tries for a smile. She doesn’t look like her; pale as hell, considering she

faster than I have ever had it. This is not how it normally goes.”

it like a pro. No outward clawing, or screaming hysterically, like I predict I would. Just calm and quiet, dealing with it internally. She is the picture of control, silently coping with ever whatever it is she’s getting, and when

a focus and trying to get my shit together, for her, for Jake. Emma isn’t a big girl, besides the bump. She’s a little shorter than me and despite her curvy figure, she is quite petite.

to haul her to her feet with a little gentle coaxing; an awkward balancing act as I totter with her when I try to get her upright over her bump. Jake always makes this look so effortless and I internally scold him for his height and strength, and the lack of his presence. I have my arms around her back and hers on my shoulder, easing her slowly towards the

starts to pant, screwing her eyes shut again, and this time I know for sure that this baby is coming, whether we are ready or not. I will Jake, with the powers of the psyche, praying he can somehow feel the vibes that his woman is in trouble here and gets his

cannot handle

reflecting back at me. “So .... Fast” She struggles to

bed. Jake’s coming, he’s on his way. He won’t be long.” I try to soothe her, but my voice is shaking crazily, and I have no idea what I’m supposed to