The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

Chapter 202

I think I just found my new purpose in life. To make this girl smile, even once. Just for me.

“You’re lame. I think you maybe just need to go find a girl who may actually be interested. This one isn’t.” She picks up the spoon and licks the batter in a really juvenile way, not sexy at all, not even trying to be, and I grimace with her. I know how bad it tastes; I should have forewarned her not to put it in her mouth.

“I’m not someone who gives up. I will ask you every time I see you...You will cave one of those times.” I shift to get comfy, glad she hasn’t insisted I still leave. I kind of like it here and I feel like I might actually be getting somewhere with her.

“Find me the elusive last unicorn and I’ll think about it.” She sighs heavily, and that same ghost of a smile peaks out at me, like she figures she is being clever, and I will never work it out. I find myself willing her to let it loose, watching that mouth a little too closely and I have to remind myself that she is only fourteen.... so I need to back the fuck off.

This isn’t right. She is a kid, Arry.

“Is that a challenge?” I focus on what she said, wondering what the hell she is on about, but the t-shirt is maybe a clue. Some sparkly white horned, magical looking horse. She obviously has a serious addiction to Unicorns, which is good to know. Maybe a subtle way in and she seems to think her challenge will rescue her from my invitations.

If I can figure it out, then she might rethink a pizza date...

Not a date, date ... a platonic hanging out playdate sort of thing. Kid, remember.

Too young, too scarred. Just friends. That’s all I want from her.

“Sorry about that, mia Bambinos... family like to talk. I hope you were getting acquainted with Arry, my golden child. Such a good boy for his mamma.” My mother pinches my cheek as she swans past and blows a kiss at me. She loves to embarrass her kids at every opportunity, and I roll my eyes while allowing her affections. It’s futile to ever stop my mother from showing love, she can be scarily hostile and hold you down for a kiss if you fight it.

I catch Sophie giggling at it though, that elusive smile brightening her whole face and it’s better than I expected. It’s a perfect smile. Lightens her entire soul, brings out her eyes, her tiny dimples, and makes her nose scrunch up daintily with her childlike laugh. She really is crazily pretty, even for a kid who looks way older than she should. I smile straight back impulsively with the infectiousness of it.

her...who

her with a goofy grin. I want Sophie to know that it’s innocent, my offer to hangout. That I am not some weird hormonal guy angling

My mom slaps my arm hard and I literally gawp at her

the f.... Mamma. Protective much? Jesus Christ, that stung.

a semi abusive slap. Maybe I should ring her own

her with zero amusement. She never spanked me much as a child, sure as hell won’t

Sophie dear...” She turns to Sophie with a warm smile and the girl nods at her while I shake my head behind

my mom knew me better than that. Well, maybe not the first thoughts when I walked in here... but the ones I have now. I want to be

if he ever tries to proposition you again.” She is utterly serious,

mom. Real classy.

was trying to be nice. It was in no way a loaded invite.” I shrug but move fast when I see aggressive mother hen moving my way with speed. I know better than to

Time to go!

slapping me with dish cloth, and I get the hint she thinks I am trying to angle her sweet kid into something vulgar. That is never going to happen. I have way more sense and I can tell this girl is a hand’s off, forever, type of a deal. It’s not even like that. I genuinely

go, reluctantly. Hating that I am about to lose those blue eyes and pretty face but determined that

it before I catch the sense not to. She eyes me up warily, mask back in place, really not sure how to take me but I don’t deflate this time. I feel strangely

maybe a chance at seeing her again on a more regular basis. Something tells me that this girl is going to matter in my future, especially if she is going to be living across the street for the next god knows how many

***

movie bored to tears, but intent on the answer with my pen poised on the post-it note, so I can turn this shit off. I

last Unicorn - some lame cartoon from the eighties. I was lucky to find a shop in town that had one, and I couldn’t resist the hanging display of fluffy toys nearby at the checkout when I went to pay for it. A pink haired fluffy white Unicorn now lays on top of the sleeve, to go with her movie. A stuffed toy for a kid, which seemed appropriate.

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