The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

Arrick moves out of reach and wanders to the fridge, opening it to rummage the contents and pulls out some labelled tubs. His housekeeper is paid to keep it stocked and easy for him when he wants to eat; his strict diet when in training means he eats a lot of healthy foods and high protein, but he is rummaging for something else. It’s early morning, he woke me up with his alarm and now he’s showered and ready to go to the gym at stupid o’clock even though I am half asleep and struggling to get ready for school.

Who even does that on purpose?

We were up so late, watching movies, fooling around and even had a little steamy make-out session that could have gone a lot further if he wasn’t such a gentleman. I am suffering now though as I watch him, still in my clothes from last night, finding some breakfast before he takes me home to get ready properly. Normally I wouldn’t be up for another hour at least, but I don’t want to get a cab home this tired and dragging my weekend bags with me.

“I want to go back to bed.” I whine petulantly, tiredness making me grumpy. I’ve never been a morning person and rub my eyes and head groggily. Arrick throws me back an indulgent smile and goes back to raiding the fridge, pulling out what looks like oatmeal and fruit.

Ughhhh, he’s trying to poison me.

I join him at the fridge and poke around the huge pile of clear tubs with various titles. Spying a Chinese takeout box, I pull it forward and am disappointed to see it is being used to hold a variety of chopped peppers and salad.

“Do you never just want to grab a greasy dog and a chocolate bar?” I screw my nose up and dig deeper into the depths of organized eating; his fridge is a poster child for healthy living and organic goodness. There is nothing in here that even slightly calls to me to be eaten.

“Not at six a.m., Sophie, no. You really do worry me sometimes with your eating habits. Please tell me you have not been fending for yourself with hot dogs and candy for the last three months.” He runs an eye over my body as though to check if he might have missed any obvious signs of malnutrition and I eye roll. I pull out a box without a label and sigh at diced chicken with some sort of seasoning that is obviously marinating for another meal.

“I want pancakes.” I sniff a tub of dressing and stick a finger in to taste it, hoping it’s some sort of syrup and screw my face up at its chili taste. Wiping it off my tongue with my nail and catch him looking at me like I’m some sort of alien creature he found in his kitchen.

“Baby, I haven’t got time to make them right now. Just grab something quick so we can get ready and go. I have to get you home, so you can get ready. I need to meet Nate before five-thirty at the gym.” Arrick throws two containers back in the fridge and pulls out a carton of fresh orange instead. Pouring two glasses beside the two bowls of oatmeal and fruit.

He must be insane if he thinks I am eating that crap.

“I don’t like you anymore.” I sigh. Pushing the fridge shut dejectedly and eyeing up the plates he is now carrying to the table.

“I know. Come on, I want to make sure you eat before I drop you off. I know how lazy you can be in the morning and you’re then starving by lunch.” He’s bossy this morning, a return to Arry of old and no longer pandering to my every whim while he’s in paternal mode. I stick my tongue out at him behind his back.

“Let’s go now and find a convenience store to stock up on junk food, I cannot come over here if you do not have a good supply for my womanly needs. Chocolate is a must, Cheetos … we need some Pepsi for sure.” I slump back against the counter once more as he turns and gives me that commandeering narrowed gaze frown, making me obey and I follow him to what looks like granola, with fruit, and maybe milk, maybe yoghurt. Natasha comes to mind and I screw up my face in disgusting memory. I follow him anyway and sit in my usual seat, sliding down as he pushes my bowl towards me and digs into his own. I hate that he is a sexy eater, it just draws attention to the muscles in his face and that crazily strong jaw, those perfectly soft, not overly full lips that were invented for kissing

“You eat like a kid; your diet is awful. I don’t know how you are so thin and toned for someone who eats like a sugar-addicted five-year-old.” Arrick scalds me, pushing my plate back at me as I push it away, with a raised brow that signals he’s not in the mood. I push it sideways and lay my head on the table dramatically. Too tired to eat and hating that I have even met five a.m. on purpose. He has no idea how unhealthy for my disposition this is.

“I don’t know how you got so beefy and muscular for someone who eats like a rabbit.” I stick my tongue out at him from my flat posture and start running my finger in circles on the surface. Praying something falls out of the sky which is both edible and energy-boosting.

“Well, if you’re staying here a lot then get used to it, as you are not going to be living on Cheetos and Pepsi. I don’t mind the occasional splurge when I’m on a training break, but I don’t want you living on that crap, Sophs. I had to lose like ten pounds after getting lazy with you, I am not doing that again.” He frowns at me and then pushes my foot under the table with his to get me to sit up.

leave me to my fridge of cold pizza, takeout and junk food.” I sigh and bury my face on top of my outstretched arms, ignoring his attempts to get me upright, closing my eyes in a bid to sleep on the table. I feel like hell and now I am wishing I didn’t spend copious

have more say.” He sounds

only dream that you get to boss me around the way he does.” I sit up and narrow my eyes at him, not about to take any crap from him at all,

you around over.” He narrows his gaze back at me, I guess testing

things are not your concern?” I raise my eyebrows cheekily at him, smirking and relaxing into the old atmosphere we always had. I feel better after sleep, even if I haven’t had enough and I am getting used to his presence again, falling into our roles from before. I like that we haven’t lost the bickering banter and passive-aggressive

eventually. Besides, the crabby ass moods you get in would probably improve with a better diet.” He raises one

like ninety-nine percent of the time. I’ll change my diet in small ways if you give me full-body massages once a week.” I retort sassily, head thinking how good it will feel to let him strip me naked for that. I always did imagine what it would be like and I guess I get to experience it now. Perks of Arry

conversation taking a different turn. I narrow my gaze at him, breaking when he chuckles and pokes me

tonight I am back in training and I am overseeing a new merger in Carrero Corp, so would be easier if you stayed here with me some nights a week. That’s if you want to stay with me?” He

frown at him, confused why he would want that if he knows we are not going to do anything that requires a

makes me take a dozen cold showers.” He smiles again and goes on crunching on his food, completely dismissive of any weirdness in that sentence. My stomach rumbles involuntarily and I eye up the

pouting over my lack of pancakes and staring out past the ceramic bowl to the New York skyline from his wide windows. It’s raining today, and the sky is overcast, not that it’s important in any way but I realize

to know it’s an open offer, Sophs. I would have

sure what else to say really. Yes, I want to be here with him too but no, I am not ready to throw all in and give him everything

getting ahead of myself. I really want you here, want this to work.” Again, he looks so young and

need a little breathing space, to get my head around this.”

eat, Sophs. I can’t take you home unless you do. I hate seeing you living on pancakes and sundaes.” He cuts in, changing the topic because he obviously realizes it’s not the time to go into this. I need time

God’s sake. I think I’m going to rename you Jake!” I snap; never a morning person and hating how nagging he can be sometimes. He’s

do what he tells you.” He points out with a frown, a little hint of attitude because it’s true. But then Jake is my godfather and he can be one scary

and picking up the spoon in my bowl

this … I train every weekday morning and twice in the evening; I can never schedule my work rota at Carrero Corp as lately it’s been hectic so really, we are going to have to take each day as it comes in terms of dating. I also have a fight in three weeks, I

need a calendar to write this all down?” I smirk at him, slapping his hand off when he tries to pick up my spoon to push

maybe, how about you just text me daily and tell me when to pick you up. I’ll tell you when I can’t. I meant what I said. I would see you every second of every day if you

sigh, eyeing him up with scrutiny suddenly, wondering if it’s normal that we have reverted back to us of old. Suddenly wondering what that even

stops and glances up at me from his bowl, looking at me like

to make plans to go off skiing or to hang out, it doesn’t feel different. We’re being so … normal.” I wave my hands about to emphasize my point and then flop onto my elbows once more, caging my bowl. Arrick straightens and shrugs at me, eyes on my food that I am once again stirring

or people in the way, but like we were, with a whole lot more intimacy and touching.” He shrugs with one shoulder, looks relieved and goes back to what he was doing, reaching out to stop me from sending the contents of my bowl over the edge with the way I am messing with it. He stills my hand and pushes the darn thing back

did you think it would

not feel so normal and non-scary. I thought it would be something new and kinda weird.” I watch that perfectly calm face, the twinge of a neat eyebrow as he takes in what I am saying and the little smile that breaks the corner of his mouth. I also pick up my spoon and go straight back to drawing patterns in my granola so that some sploshes on the table