Getting There

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Now why couldn't you have mom or one of your bridesmaids with you for this?" Jack asked his little sister as he pushed the flowers from his face.

"Because you are my brother and I want to you here." Val had dragged Jack to the florist to look over the arrangements for the wedding. Jack rolled his blue eyes, she knew he would do just about anything for her, but this was cruel.

"But this is girl stuff; I don't see how I can be much help." Val turned and glared.

"I want us to spend time together; it feels like ages, my goodness is it so much to ask?" She snapped, tears at the beam of her eyes, her hands went to her mouth and she a let out a whimper.

"Hey now, honey what's wrong?" He pulled her into a hug and stroked her fire red hair to soothe her.

"Everything, I'm freaking out." She cried in his shoulder. "What if I'm making a mistake, what if I'm not what Adam needs, what if...."

"Listen Val," Jack injected. "There are going to be a lot of 'what ifs' no matter what you do you will always wonder." He pulled her back so he could see her tear stricken face; he wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I understand you are about to embark on a life changing commitment and its will change everything, but remember some of the greatest journeys began with a great risk. This is going to be epic, and I will be here whenever you need me."

A weak smile appeared on her face, "Thanks you always knew how to make me feel better." She kissed his cheek, wiped her face with her hand.

"No problem." He told her as she move back from him. "Now let's get this show on the road, I'm going to need you to help me pick out some new stuff, for my new place."

"What new place?" She asked observing the flowers in front of her.

"Oh I didn't tell you, Leah and I have agreed to get a place together." He beamed. Val let out a squeal and hugged her big brother.

"That's amazing, wow but isn't it kind of soon for you guys to be moving in together."

"Isn't it a bit soon for you to be getting married?" He turned the question on her.

"Touché"

"I understand your concern, but I'm in love, I haven't felt this strongly about anything in my life. She is the one for me Val. I know it. I knew it from the first time I met her at the engagement party. It was that moment you talked about. My soul knew she was there before I did." Jack stared at his baby sister who looks as if she was going to start crying again.

"Don't start, Val."

She quickly wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry, I'm just so happen for you. You deserve to be happy and I'm glad you finally found someone worth giving your heart to. You have always been the best brother ever. I dreaded being alone before you came to live with us. You always took care of me, and protected me. If it wasn't for you dragging me out to that bar for my twenty-first birthday; I would have never seen or met Adam."

The fact that Jack thought that Valerie would like being in bar was ridiculous. She did not like bars, crowded with strangers and alcohol. Still Jack insisted that for her first drink as a legal adult it had to be at a bar. This was the same bar that a few of his law buddies came to after class; he assured her it was decent for a lady of her status. She hated when he made fun of her manners, damn it; it was drilled in her head since birth to be a proper lady. She was going to be psychologist, and her mother believed that Valerie needed to uphold herself in a certain fashion to do so.

"Can we hurry up and get this over with I want to get home in time for this documentary on sociopath behavior." She shuttered when a man in the nearby table winked at her.

"Come on Val, breathe a little." He took her hand and led her to an empty table.

"I would breathe better, in a smoke free environment." Jack chuckled and signaled the waitress.

"I need to two shots of tequila and two beers." The waitress nodded, and quickly returned with the shots. Jack reached for his wallet. The waitress stopped him, "These two are on me, but maybe you can return the favor." She slid him a piece of paper with her number on it. Valerie rolled her eyes, these woman was hopeless and bold. That waitress had no idea who she was and just handed Jack her number in front of her.

"How about we skip the phone," He glanced at her name tag, "Mika and you can just tell me what time you get off, and I'll make that happen a few more times tonight."

Mika; the waitress, blushed and answered him before scurrying off behind the bar. "Sometimes Jack, you disgust me."

He shook his head at her and pushed over the glass to her, "Now I want you, to take this and toss it back fast then take this beer and chase behind it. Watch me, ok?"

She nodded her and watched her brother swallow back the gold liquid with ease. Valerie took the shot and choked as it burned down her throat into her chest.

"That is horrid!" She swigged some of the beer, "And this is no better."

"You'll get you use to it." He signaled for more. Valerie eyes widen, horrified that her own brother was making her drink that vile stuff. She understood he wanted her to live a little. But it felt like that stuff was burning a hole in her chest. Val attention was snatched away by the sounds of the strings of acoustic guitar playing. Her eyes fell on the stage where the man sit with just his guitar and a microphone. His singing was mesmerizing, his playing was an art. She could feel her soul shiver in response. By the time his set was finished she could feel the effect of the two shot she had. The golden brown hair had stepped off the stage and heading towards their table to the back of the bar, Val went to stand and stumbled against him.

"Oh my goodness, my apologies I didn't mean to fall for you, I mean on you. You played great. I couldn't take my eyes off of you, Damn it, Jack look what you done. I must look like a complete fool." Jack laughed at his rambling sister, but kept an eye on the guy holding her up. The musician helped her back in her sit and kneeled in front of her.

"It's okay, I have a friend who really isn't built to hold shots either, are you going to be alright?"

She covered her face with her hands, "No. I'm going to die from this utter embarrassment. And my brother isn't helping the slightest."

"Listen," Jack gestured for his name.

"Adam."

"Listen Adam, my sister seems to be into you, her eyes never left the stage."

Val interrupted her face still hidden "Jack please!"

He continued ignoring her, "How about I go to the table over there, where I will be watching closely, very close, you get her a cup of coffee and you can have a chat."

"What's your name?" Adam gently pulled her hands from her face.

"It's Valerie."

"Well what do you say Valerie can I buy you a cup of coffee?" He smiled and Val peered in his brown-green eyes and she knew she was in love.

"You're right, it was all me, huh? Remind Adam of that the next time he throws mental daggers at my face. This will most likely be when he hears about Leah and me moving in together."