Forever Yours (The Moreno Brothers 1.5)

He looked up at Alex a little annoyed that he’d managed to get him worked up for nothing. “Where?”

“Scroll through them,” Alex said. “She’s in there somewhere on a Jet ski.”

Just as Alex said it, Angel froze, staring at the photo of Sarah sitting behind Leo on a Jet ski. Except for the life jacket he wore, Leo appeared to be shirtless. Just like all the other guys partying with them. Just like the photo he’d sent Sarah weeks ago. Angel scrolled to the next photos that appeared to be taken consecutively as Leo and Sarah spun around doing donuts in the water. Sarah’s arms hugged Leo tightly. Her entire body pressed against his back as she held on for dear life with a scrunched up but still smiling face.

Angel reasoned with his already thudding heart that this was her brother. They’d already established he was a good guy, so why hadn’t she mentioned he was there? Had she invited him? Did she maybe think Angel would be upset and so she decided to not mention it?

She wouldn’t, not after everything they’d been through in the past about omitting the truth for the sake of unpleasantness. He scrolled through the photos, searching for more with her in them, his heart bracing himself to see her in even one photo with any dude looking too friendly or standing a little too close to her. It was even more infuriating now to think of the photos she’d had to see of him and Dana and some of those other pushy chicks wrapped around him, because if he saw even one as remotely close to that with her and another guy he was going to blow a fuse. Hell, the ones with her and her brother already had him seeing red when he knew they shouldn’t.

After scrolling a little more, Angel saw that the only other photos of Sarah, aside from the one of her on the Jet ski with Leo, were ones that appeared to be taken another time—possibly the night before because it was darker and all three girls were dry and obviously dressed differently. While there were some with Valerie and that other girl with other guys, Sarah was in none of those. Clearly, she wasn’t as stupid as he was to get caught up in compromising photos.

“I think you’ve stared at those long enough,” Alex said as he stood up.

Angel glanced up to see the receipt on the table. He’d been so caught up looking through all the photos he hadn’t even noticed the waitress had come by and picked up Alex’s card and he’d already paid and signed.

Standing up, he handed Alex’s phone back to him and hit speed dial on his own as they walked out together. Not surprising, Sarah’s phone went to voice mail. He almost didn’t leave a message but decided to at the last second. “Sarah, it’s me. I’m between practices.” He paused for a moment, thinking he should just tell her he loved her, and he was hoping to talk to her but decided to ask what he really wanted to know. “How come you didn’t tell me Leo was in Havasu with you? I just saw the photos. Call me or text me when you can. I’ll be free for about another hour.”

“She didn’t tell you her brother was going?” Alex asked as they stopped and waited for the light to turn green for them to cross.

“She didn’t tell me she was going,” Angel admitted, “until last night when I talked to her after practice and I found out she was even there.”

Staring straight ahead, Angel didn’t want to see Alex’s expression. He was never sure what Alex would have to say. Would he be an antagonizing smartass or would he have something helpful to say? Not that Angel felt he needed any help, he just felt like venting. Seeing Sarah’s body wrapped around Leo had done something to him, though he knew it was unreasonable to be pissed. Bottom line is Sarah knew that while Angel was coming around she’d still only met the guy once. Her dad was still a mystery—a mystery Leo likely had the answers to—and that still didn’t sit well with Angel.

“So she did go out there because of what happened Friday night?” Alex asked though it wasn’t in his usual all-too-amused manner.

Still, Angel was already regretting having said anything. “Yeah, but not to piss me off. She said after hearing about it and seeing all the photos she needed a distraction.”

Now Alex laughed. “Well, she sure as hell got it. I doubt she’s thinking about those photos right now.”

The light turned green, and they started crossing the street. Angel had no intention of furthering the conversation, so he didn’t respond to that.

“So what?” Alex asked. “I’d think you’d be glad Leo’s out there with her.”

“He’s not like us with Sof, Alex.” Angel said, trying not to sound as irritated as just thinking about it made him. “She just met the guy when he showed up at the restaurant the other day.”

Alex actually stopped as they stepped onto the curb and looked at Angel wide-eyed. “That was the first time she met him ever?”

“Yeah.” Angel motioned for Alex’s dramatic ass to keep moving. “She’s been skyping with him and shit for weeks and emailing even longer, but meeting him in person? Yeah, that was the first time.”

They reached the hotel entrance but didn’t go in. Angel didn’t feel like going back up to his room yet, so he started for the sitting area just outside. Alex had already pulled his phone out again. Before Angel could sit down, Alex scoffed, shaking his head. “Okay, I see what you’re saying,” he said, sliding his finger over his phone screen a few times. “So this guy is technically Sarah’s brother, but he just met her a few days ago, and now he’s out in Havasu with his hands all over her wet body.”