Meant For Each Other?
I'm sure really where this story is going to go yet but stay tuned! Obviously I don't own anything SEAL Team related (characters, etc). Enjoy!
Clay sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. After watching the TV for a few minutes and wallowing in his loss he looked up. There, at the end of the bar, was Stella. She was shyly glancing at him from the other end. Trying to decide if she should leave him alone or walk over. Once they made eye contact her decision was made.
Clay watched as Stella got up from the other end of the bar and slowly made her way over.
"This seat taken?" she asked. He shook his head and gestured for her to take a seat.
"Where are the guys?"
"Not sure. I didn't tell them I was comin."
"You don't look yourself Clay. What's going on?"
Clay glanced up at her and then back to his beer. "I'm not sure you really want to hear about it"
"Clay… I know we didn't leave things on the best of terms but I'll always be here. Friends, right?"
Clay thought about it for a moment then responded. "Rebecca has been seeing someone on the side while I've been spun up. She came clean about an hour ago. Didn't really feel like telling the team and letting them rub it in my face."
"Ah I'm sorry Clay. I'm sure your team will support you when you tell them."
"Not Sonny. That man hated her. I guess I can't really blame him now."
Stella and Clay sat in silence for a little while. Occasionally taking a swig of their beers. That's one thing Clay always loved about Stella. Her preferred drink was an ice-cold beer. She fit right in with the rest of the guys.
"What else has been going on? We haven't seen each other in a while," Stella asked.
After that they fell back into the old swing of things. Stella told Clay all about her new job at the local University. It didn't pay great but she was happy with it. Clay filled her in on the unclassified things about their recent missions.
Clay loved how her eyes would get so wide when she went off on a tangent about how work was or how she looked at him so intently when he was talking.
After a few drinks they called it a night. They paid their tabs and decided to split an uber. They were both in no shape to drink. He'd grab his truck in the morning and she ubered here anyway. On the way to drop Clay off Stella couldn't take her eyes off him. He wasn't the same Clay that she broke up with. She could tell that he was stronger now and a little more guarded. From the moment that she had left she knew she made the worse possible decision. She broke up with him to protect herself from the grief she'd feel if he died but she didn't prepare herself for the overwhelming pain of watching him live his life without her.
"This would be me," Clay said pulling Stella from her thoughts. She looked out the window to his apartment building.
"Clay, you have my number if you want to talk. I'm always around."
"Thanks Stel. I'll see ya."
He quietly shut the door. Stella watched at he walked up the steps of his apartment building and disappeared inside as the uber pulled away. She thought to herself, "I can't fuck this up this time."
After shutting his door Clay walked to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. He wasn't sure he was ready to let Stella back into his life. He cared about her, a lot actually. But she hurt him and her reason hadn't changed. He still lived the life he lived. He wasn't going to change being a SEAL for her. He wasn't really sure if there was anywhere to go from here.