The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

We find his group fast, enveloped into handshakes and hugs and I even recognize a couple of familiar faces of people I have accompanied Arrick with over the years. I’m passed from person to person, as we reacquaint and Arrick is caught in the throes of welcomes and back slaps. He’s always been a sociable and friendly guy. He eases into the whole guy among guys thing so fluidly, at home with his circle of friends and at ease to just be Arry. Not a rich Carrero tycoon, or even Arrick Carrero, fighter extraordinaire.

The club is pretty cool, one I’m sure I have never been to, and it’s obvious the door fee is higher than most places, by the type of people milling around. It screams trendy, upmarket and stinks of money. I’m surprised that he comes here. I know they usually opt for classier places, but normally he likes more middle ground clubs. Affordable for his friends who are not born into money, and this is not one of those. Knowing him, he probably paid the door and bar tab in advance for whoever’s birthday this is. That’s what he’s like.

“You look amazing.” Nathan, Arrick’s best friend and fight promoter, winks at me, grabs my hand and makes me do a little twirl under his arm. Evaluating the new and improved Sophie, as it’s been weeks since I last saw him. I’m free of my jacket as Arry takes them to dump on a nearby chair.

“Thanks, not so bad yourself old man.” I jest with him. I’ve known Nathan as long as I have known Arrick; he used to frequent all the group trips he ever took me on. He now works tirelessly to put my boys’ face all over the New York fight scene and is the reason Arrick is fast becoming a known star. I love Nathan to bits; he’s tall with dark, almost black hair and deep brown eyes, pretty cute as men go and totally built like a boxer. I know he sometimes trains with Arry, but never went down the route of becoming a pro. He’s cocky, womanizer with a cheeky smile, roaming eye, and a serious aversion to commitment, generally a nice guy though. Like most of Arrick’s friends, I guess.

“Boy needs to man up and lay claim before I do.” He grins and leans in to give me a chaste kiss on the cheek. Innocent enough, as he’s one of the few men I trust, a little, almost as much as my brothers. Laughing when Arrick pushes him aside jokingly, returning to my side.

of bounds. For eternity.” Arrick jokes, placing me beside him and away from Nathan with a smirk, a little hands-off joke and I eye roll. I would never go there with Nathan, not for anything. It would be

smile, raising a brow at the saucy

wider when he catches that narrowed glare that his bestie throws him; it’s clear he knows exactly what has been going on with us, and his dig at Arrick just makes me a little uncomfortable. Nathan always likes to make jokes that graze a little close to the

briefly, and I work so hard to remain impassive and stare at my glass instead, giving no hint of the war of emotion that runs through me. My gut always knew she would show up, even though he never mentioned her, and I’m instantly somber. I want to leave, put the glass down, and hop

of something in my stomach in relation to her that is not hatred. I get that maybe she thinks we bonded in the bathroom the other night, but it’s plain weird that she is still being super nice to me; especially as I just

instead, with higher heels, and see a much more flattering look on her short height that would make a huge difference to her

she’s like you. Always following trends and fashion and has an eye for what’s hot.” She giggles my way and Arrick’s eyes rest on both of us, silently watching with that unreadable expression. I guess he’s wondering why, after so long being at each other’s throat, I choose now to act like a human towards her. Even I know

sorry for her, and guilt has a part to play. I can’t really hate someone for being completely in love with Arrick. He’s easy to fall in love with, and I can’t imagine what it must be like for her. Wanting to be normal with him, but can’t, wanting to act like his girlfriend, even though she’s not, the feelings all still there inside her, and she hasn’t done anything wrong to have him break up with her. I have to admit, my heartache and gnawing pangs this second are all for her, and the situation she