When You Were Mine (Moreno Brothers)

Chapter 3

Alex

The warmth of Valerie's naked body next to Alex's was always amazing. This was the only time being with a girl ever felt perfect. Not that he'd been with anyone else in years.

Not like this.

As much as they liked to think of their relationship as simple—carefree—unlike most of the couples their age, theirs was arguably more convoluted than most.

Still, as the years had gone by, one thing had become clear: Alex had never met any other girl who could make him feel the way Valerie did. It had never been just about sex with Valerie as it'd been with most of the girls he'd gone out with in the past. Even in the very beginning when they both agreed their relationship would be just that—friends with benefits—the friends part, the relationship they'd built, had always outweighed everything else.

Alex glanced down at Valerie, who slept soundly next to him. As usual, he couldn't gaze at her without instantly admiring everything about her. Her soft blond hair spilled delicately over his pillow. He smirked, knowing Romero would certainly call him a pussy for even thinking it, but that pillowcase her beautiful head rested on—he'd likely not wash it now until the scent of Valerie had faded.

Then there was that stubborn little brow that even as she slept arched just so. How many times had those delicate brows said so much in just a movement—that she was furious at him, excited, aroused, or just very, very content. As she was now.

He reached for the small envelope on his nightstand. It was full of photos Sofie had dropped off earlier. He'd conveniently used them as excuse to go out and find Valerie tonight.

As expected, they'd both had a few laughs going through them. Alex didn't know Sofie had so many old photos of the two of them. He pulled one out and stifled a chuckle so he wouldn't wake Valerie.

The next photo took his breath away. It was of Valerie, so young and sweet, before all their drama. She sat in a booth at his family's restaurant, smiling beautifully for the camera. He stared at it for a moment, stared at her striking big brown eyes, eyes he'd stared deeply into countless times and he'd never get enough of. Finally, he flipped to the next one, again refraining from laughing. This one was taken that same day, but in it, he sat next to her, smiling just as big. It'd only been a few years, and he couldn't get over how young and innocent—naïve—they both looked. Both of them were oblivious—had no clue what was about to begin that day.

Alex had heard of Valerie from her cousin Sarah, who back then had recently started dating his brother Angel. Sarah had told him about Valerie being a "fan" of his for years since he and his brothers had been on the football team and on the popular side all through high school. At the time, he'd been a freshmen in college, and Valerie was still a senior in high school like Sarah and Angel. Alex had expected to meet a young, timid, and sweet girl he'd make squirm with his flirting as he'd done so easily when Angel introduced him to Sarah. He'd expected someone he could tease a little for his own amusement and then be on his way.

Instead, she'd been so impressively undaunted by him and his flirtatious attempts to unnerve her, even shot back with her own playfulness, he hadn't been able to get enough of her. So he asked her out on the spot. And ever since, he still couldn't get enough of her.

Alex leaned back against the headboard, staring at the photo of them that felt like a lifetime ago now. Just like when Sofie first showed it to him, he was unable to wipe the smile off his face and closed his eyes remembering the day he met Valerie . . .

He spotted her instantly the moment he walked into the dining room at the restaurant. Angel had mentioned Sarah and her cousin would be coming in for brunch today when he rushed out of the house that morning. Alex had to admit he'd been curious, so he'd been looking out for her from the moment he arrived. And then he saw her.