The next week went well. When ever they were sent home he would fly out and spend those couple of days with her. They would go out to dinner and movies, lunch, and for walks in the park. Today was their third week of seeing each other, and Valerie had decided to have him come to her apartment for dinner. They had talked before he got on the plane about what movie to watch that night. She had wanted to watch Camille and he wanted to watch Die Hard, so when they couldn't agree they chose to watch both.
For dinner she was making grilled chicken, scalloped potatoes and Caesar salad. She had just finished throwing the chicken into a plastic bag if marinade when there was a knock on the door. She made a dash for the door thinking it was Adam. She looked through the peep hole and saw that it wasn't Adam.
"Hi Beth, Jeff! What are you guys doing here?" Her pulse began to quicken as she looked at the time. Adam was due to show up in ten minutes. Jeff had to be gone before that.
"We haven't seen you in awhile baby sista. You've been working to hard so we came to take you to dinner with us."
"Thank you, but I wouldn't want to be third wheel."
"You wouldn't be. Matt, Kimo, Shannon, and Yuk are all going to be there. We all haven't seen hide nor hair of you in weeks," Beth replied taking a seat on the bar stool at the counter.
"Really guys, I would love to, but …"
"But what?" Jeff smiled, oblivious to the all of the food on the counter.
"Jeff, look around. Can't you see she's got company coming over?"
"Well, she can bring her friends along. Who is it? Sara, Brenda? They can come with if they want. We won't …"
Beth hushed him, "I don't think it is that kind of a friend. Is it Val?"
"What other kind of friend … Oh," he said looking at the color growing on Valerie's cheeks. "That kind of friend."
"Yeah. That kind, she finally managed to say."
"Well then I guess we'll leave, but I want to know some more about the guy who's messing with my baby sister. You be sure to tell him to watch his self 'cause you've got a whole group of brothers," he said standing up and asserting his dominance.
"Down Jeff, I'm sure he's a great guy. Now go start the 'Vette and I'll be down in a minute. We need to have a quick girl talk."
"Okay, but be careful Val. I love you, you know."
"I know." He kissed the top of her head and went out the door.
When he was gone Beth turned to her, "It's Adam isn't it?"
"What? Are you kidding, I mean," Beth stared at her like she did to Jeff when he tried to jump on the trampoline off of Matt's roof. "Now come on, don't be mad. Leave that to Matt and Jeff. You're supposed to be my friend, my sister, not my mom."
"Honey I'm okay with it, its just, do you remember what we talked about before?"
"Yes."
"Just keep that in mind tonight when you two are here. All alone. Matt and Jeff are just a phone call away if he gets handsy, and I'll be here in nothing flat if you need emotional support, okay?"
"I don't know why everyone is so worried about him. Isn't it possible that he actually is a decent human being who has just made some mistakes in his life? At least give him the benefit of the doubt. I mean we have been seeing each other for going on three weeks and the most we have done is hold hands."
"Okay Val. Just be careful."
"Thanks," they exchanged a hug and she left. Ten minutes later the Chicken was grilling, and Adam was at the front door.