The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers) Chapter 24: 24

“I’ll see you when I get back to the city. We’ll have dinner at that new place you want to try.” Arrick
smiles, his tone friendly, despite still throwing me daggers. I think his jaw has probably started to spasm
with the amount of tensing and teeth grinding he’s doing; I really want to poke him in that muscle that
keeps moving in his cheek but keep my hands to myself.

“Okay, Arrick, I love you.” Natasha croons, and another slice of anger hits me in the gut, another eye
roll and sigh as I mouth the words to the window in disdain. Breathing it out like poisoned smog. I have
no idea why she feels the need to drag it out, or even call at all, seeing we left her less than an hour
ago.

“You too, Tash. I’ll call you later.” Arrick ends the call via the dashboard and abruptly shoves me harshly
in the shoulder again, this time so my nose bangs the window that I’m looking out of. I turn on him
angrily in outraged reaction.

“What?” I feign innocence with an aggressive attitude. Rubbing my face and slapping his arm in
retaliation. “That fucking hurt!” I snap at him.

“You know what!” Arrick snaps right back. Sighing and returning to watching the road. “You need to
stop with the hostility; she’s my girlfriend and has been for a year and a half, Sophie. This is half the
reason we don’t hang out as much! Just because you’re tired, and cranky as fuck, doesn’t mean you
can start this shit again.” His furrowed brow almost overtakes his face. I just huff at his profile and throw
myself back in my seat, lifting my feet to his dash and popping both shoes off so I can nestle barefoot,
no longer caring if he is pissed.

“You have shit taste in women!” I scowl in accusation, huff some more and turn back to glare at the
passing scenery to vent some of my frustration on other drivers passing by instead. The startled look of
the woman at my side almost makes me feel bad.



“You have shitter taste in men, but I don’t act like a prize prick when I meet any of them.” Arrick snaps
again, his normally cool demeanor fraying a little today. Last night, sitting up most of the night with me
is obviously taking its toll on him. Or maybe eighteen months with the queen of proper has him like this
all the time, not that I would know, as he never fucking spends time with me anymore!

“Excuse me? You were a complete asshole to Colin, and to Dexter. You threatened to break Alex’s face
if I remember rightly!” I retort smartly. The anger inside of me bubbling away now that I’ve gotten myself
into the swing. I have no idea how we got from fun and messing around to arguing in less than ten
minutes.

Arrick doesn’t answer, knowing I’m right, and instead just shakes his head while focusing on driving
again. This is one of the things he at least does right, when he knows he is wrong; he shuts up and lets
it go.

Wise move.

“Just try for once. Try to get along with her because who knows … I may end up with her for a long
time, and then where will that leave us? If all you can do is be a bitch to her? This works two ways,
Sophie. If you want me around more, then you need to make it easier for me to be around.” He glances
at me, still that green storm brewing in those hazel eyes, but the brows have lifted a little, and he looks
less likely to throw me out the car.

“Fine … just don’t expect me to braid her hair or have sleepovers. I can do civil, but don’t ask me to be
her bestie, because I have one of those, and you’re more than enough to deal with at any given
moment!” I stick my chin up defiantly, shrugging, simmering, and give him a narrow glare. Arrick just
sighs heavily once more and leaves me be.


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