Here's the next installment. I'm sorry it's a little late getting out, real life got in the way for a while. I hope I got the Guinness right this time. Thanks as always to my editor Dawn. You're such a dear for sticking with me, also Misty and Miss Cullen for your guidance on the critics. Please enjoy the story, and don't forget to vote.
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For quite some time, the small group of SEALs drank beer and talked about different things. Mostly, of how good it was going to be to head back to the States. Every time it came up, Kristine's heart sank a bit more; her affair with Adam was ending.
When she glanced at Adam, he was smiling and talking about taking a few weeks vacation, something stupid about watching the Buckeyes. It was loud in the club, so she tugged on his sleeve to get his attention.
"Why would you want to watch a deer's eyes?"
"No Kristine, it's not a deer, it's the name of The Ohio State football team. Their called the Buckeyes."
"Oh, so you're not unlike European men. All they want to do is sit around and watch football."
"That's not football Kristine, that's soccer. Real football is hard hitting and fast, that's football baby," V-man corrected her.
Their conversation stopped when Laura approached the group to pick up the empty bottles. She knew Kevin was nervous around her, so she stayed away from him and went in between Hawkins and Dawson.
"Hi there little lady, if you can swing it, how about one more round and then I think I have to call it a day," Neal Hawkins said as he pulled out his wallet again.
"Hey Skipper, you got the last one, it's my turn," Kevin told him.
Kevin stared at Laura to see if his werewolf senses would kick in, they didn't. When she looked up and saw Kevin staring, she quickly diverted her eyes down. Kevin detected a hint of sadness, but couldn't figure out why.
"Laura, I'd like to apologize again for earlier. I had a cramp and I didn't mean to startle you," he told her with a big smile.
"I told you, it's alright. I'll be back in a few minutes," she replied, and her voice left little doubt about her feelings.
After she left, Hawkins leaned across the table towards Kevin. "It's just me, but I think you need to tip her big for making her..."
His critique of Kevin's behavior stopped when his pager went off. Hawkins looked down and found it was the duty office trying to get in touch with him. "That's it for me kids."
"Hey Skipper, we're going to call it a day also. Can you give me and the guys a ride back to the barracks?" V-man asked, as he looked over at the two other SEALs from Charlie.
"No problem guys. How about you Dvorska, need a ride?"
"No thanks Skipper, I got beers coming, and I'm sure Kristine could give me a lift."
Lieutenant Commander Neal Hawkins and the others walked out of the Enlisted Club. Now that Kristine was alone with her two favorite SEALs, she scooted her chair over towards Kevin.
"Ok, out with it Kevin. SEALs are some of the most physically fit men in the Navy. They don't just get cramps all of a sudden."
"This isn't really the proper place to tell you about my, you know what, side of me."
"So it's got to do with your gift?"
"I wish everyone would stop calling it that," Kevin replied with a grim face.
Just then, Laura came back with a full tray of beers. She looked around for the others and then got that sad look again. As she set the beer on the table, she looked at Kristine.
"I guess I made them nervous too. Sorry about running your friends off."
"Why would you think such a thing? They had to go take care of some things, that's all. Trust me I know those men, and they would have love nothing better than to sit her and flirt with you dear." Kristine told Laura, as she placed her hand over hers.
"It's just, I'm not very good around people. I still don't know why I took this job." Laura pulled her hand back, and then quickly glanced at Kevin. It lasted only a brief second before she diverted her eyes again.
Kevin's wolf side wasn't screaming to get out yet and thought that maybe it was just a fluke last time. He decided to test his theory. Standing up, he walked around the table and moved to within a few feet of her. His large frame dwarfed her waiflike body and she started to move away.
"I think we should start over Laura, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. My name is Kevin Dvorska, it's a pleasure meeting you," he said softly as he extended his hand.
Laura was a bit hesitant; she didn't need a repeat of the earlier episode. She slowly reached out and took his hand. She looked into Kevin's eyes to see his reaction and found him smiling brightly back at her. When she returned the smile, she had no idea that Kevin's werewolf was screaming holy hell to get out.
"See, that wasn't so bad was it Laura?" Kevin said politely, even though he wanted to rip his hand back.
"You seem like a nice guy. I don't get to meet nice ones very often."
Kevin pulled his hand back slowly so as not to make her nervous again. He reached into his wallet, paid for the beers, and then tipped her generously.
When Laura left, she had a huge smile on her face and a bit more spring in her step. After sitting down, Adam looked at his friend with a thankful look.
"You handled that well buddy, you must have been wrong last time."
"I wasn't L-tee, it happened again. The only thing different was this time I held my reaction in."
"I don't understand what reaction? She's not a -- um -- you know -- gifted," Kristine asked him as she carefully selected her words.
"I have no idea Kristine. When I touch her, my -- gift -- as you so put it, goes crazy. I wanted to -- you know, do it -- so bad it was hard to control."
"I tried to tell him earlier in the restroom honey, it might be love by the way he's reacting to her," Adam told her.
"Oh Kevin, that's great! It's her, you found her. Oh honey, I'm just so happy for you Kevin," Kristine told him as she wrapped her arms around him.
Kevin pulled her arms off him and looked at her with a very serious look.
"Stop Kristine, I don't think it's my true love. Besides, Adam has said a million times, people like us don't have lives like that, we have the teams. That's especially true for someone with my -- condition."
Kristine sat back and tried very hard not to comment. She knew all to well on what was going to happen soon. Adam even told her one night after they made love, it was going to end, and she should remember their deal, just friends with benefits.
She wanted to cry at that very moment, so she quickly grabbed her beer and took a long drink. After placing it down, she turned to Adam and kissed him deeply. Kevin was a little embarrassed, turned his head, and took a hit off his beer.
When Adam pulled away from her, he gave her a stern look. "Jesus Kristine, you know better than to do that in public. If the wrong person found out, it would mean the end of my career."
"I don't care anymore. If you weren't a SEAL then maybe we could be together more. I don't know why your job should keep you from having a life and love at the same time," she said with a hint of anger.
"We've talked about this before, and you know why Kristine."
"And I don't want to talk about it here."
"You brought it up honey," Adam said, as a matter of point.
"Now I'm dropping it. So what are we doing for dinner Adam? It's your turn to choose."
Adam shook his head in bewilderment. He knew he was in love with her, but he also couldn't put her through the pain if he didn't come back. It was a real possibility with the SEALs. She couldn't understand he was actually trying to save her from that heartache.
"I was going to grill out tonight since it's such a nice day. But since you seem to be upset, maybe we should just..."