Playboy (The Trident Series II: BRAVO Team #4)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Gabby leaned heavily against the wall of the elevator, her body screaming at her to stop. Every muscle ached, the residual strain of pushing herself through another grueling physical therapy session. Five days. It had only been five days since she woke up from the coma, and she was already determined to start training again. The doctors told her to take it slow and not overdo it, but that wasn’t an option for her. In a few days, they said she could be fitted for her prosthetic and might even be walking again. And if everything went well, she could be out of this hospital sometime next week.

But she was so tired .

It wasn’t just from the therapy, though that was its own kind of exhaustion. She hadn’t been sleeping. And she hadn’t told anyone. Not the doctors, not her parents, and definitely not Playboy. The sleepless nights were starting to wear on her, making every ache worse, every emotion sharper.

Beside her, Drew, her physical therapist, cast a glance in her direction. He’d been walking her back to her room after each session, probably because he could tell she was pushing too hard. Gabby could sense him about to say something, his concern radiating in the tightness of his jaw.

“You overdid it again, Gabby,” he said, keeping his voice low but firm. “You’re going to regret this tomorrow. You need to start listening to your body.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped, her patience thinning. She immediately regretted the tone but didn’t have the energy to smooth it over. Instead, she focused on the floor numbers ticking down, counting how close she was to her room. To maybe—just maybe—getting some rest.

Drew sighed but didn’t push further. He knew when to back off, and for that, she was grateful. Her moods had been all over the place these last few days, swinging wildly from frustration to guilt to anger and then back to guilt again. She hated how unpredictable she’d become, but she couldn’t help it.

The elevator finally reached her floor, and as Drew helped her navigate the short walk to her room, all Gabby could think about was lying down and shutting her eyes for just a few minutes. Sleep had been elusive, but maybe today would be different. She needed it to be.

But when Drew pushed open the door to her room, Gabby froze. Her mom and dad were standing near the window, smiling at her with cautious optimism. And next to them, leaning casually against the bed, was Playboy, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw her. Not just them, though—her entire team was also there, clustered around the room like they were waiting for some grand reveal.

“Surprise!” her mom said, beaming.

Gabby’s stomach twisted. She forced a smile, but it felt thin, strained. This wasn’t what she needed right now. She was exhausted, her body barely holding together, and all she could think about was collapsing into bed. Instead, she was being greeted like a hero returning from battle.

She looked around the room. Where in the hell did all the flowers and balloons suddenly come from?

“Hey, guys,” Gabby said, trying to sound upbeat as she moved into the room. She hugged her mom and dad briefly before her gaze flicked to Playboy, who gave her that familiar grin. Normally, that grin would have melted some of her tension, but today, it just grated against her nerves.

Playboy reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “How are you feeling? You look… well, you look tired,” he said, frowning slightly.

Gabby stiffened, pulling her hand back a little too quickly. “I’m fine,” she muttered, her irritation flaring again. She sat down on the edge of the bed, forcing herself to breathe slowly, in and out. Her team surrounded her, all asking questions at once—how was therapy going? Was she excited about getting her prosthetic? When did the doctors think she could go home?

Their words blurred together, the room feeling smaller and smaller by the second. Her head throbbed, and she tried to answer them, but it was becoming harder to focus on anything they were saying. The noise, the attention—it was all too much.

Gabby clenched her fists, hiding them in her lap as she fought back the growing frustration. They were all here to support her, to show they cared, and she knew that. But the longer she sat there, the more she just wanted them to leave . She needed space. She needed quiet. She needed sleep. Instead, she was stuck trying to play the role of the grateful survivor when inside, all she felt was the sharp edge of exhaustion dragging her down.

Her dad was saying something to Drew about how well therapy was going, and she almost laughed at the irony. Well? Therapy was killing her. She’d barely made it through today without collapsing. But she couldn’t let them see that. Not now.

Gabby’s eyes flicked back to Playboy. He was watching her closely, his smile fading as he studied her face. He knew something was wrong, but she couldn’t even begin to explain what she was feeling. She was beyond tired, beyond frustration. She was breaking.

And nobody knew.

As she sat there and listened to them all talk about her like she wasn’t sitting right there in front of them, her patience wore thin until she couldn’t handle it any longer. She was beginning to feel like a jack in the box. Slowly but surely, she was being wound up little by little until—snap! She exploded.

“Can you all just be quiet!”

With her sudden burst of anger, all conversation in the room stopped as everyone turned their attention to her.

“Gabby?” her mom questioned, taking a step towards her.

But Gabby held her hand up. “I’m sorry. I appreciate everyone's concern. But right now, I just need some space, alone,” her words cut through the silence like a knife.

She could see the shock in their expressions, along with a mixture of hurt and confusion. But she stood firm.

“I love you all,” she said as her voice softened and even cracked a little bit. “But right now, I need to be alone.”

Her mom started to cry. “Gabby, please, we’re just trying to be here for you,” she said.

Gabby closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Why couldn’t they understand?

Opening her eyes, she looked at her mom, who looked devastated. “I know, Mom, but I just want to be alone right now.”

Her dad stepped forward, putting his arm around his wife. He looked stunned and sad as well.

“We understand Gabby.”

“Do you, Dad? Do all of you really understand what I’m going through right now?” Her voice started to rise. “I don’t even know what’s next for me. Will I still have a career? What will my home life be like now?” Her voice cracked, and tears filled her eyes. “Please, just give me a little bit of space.”

She could tell she was breaking her parent’s hearts, but she could at least see the understanding in her dad’s eyes.

Her dad nodded and walked over to where she was sitting. He pulled her into a hug. “We’ll give you some space, sweetheart. Just promise me that you’ll call us if you need to talk.”

She sniffled as she wrapped her arms around her dad’s waist.

“I promise.”

He pulled back and then kissed her forehead. “We love you, Gabs.”

“I love you, too. Both you and mom,” she said as she looked right at her mom, who had tears rolling down her cheeks.

Her mom ran over and hugged her tight.

“I love you, baby girl,” her mom whispered.

“I love you, too, mom.”

When they broke apart, Gabby watched as her mom and dad walked out of the room.

Her team was still standing there. Tristan stepped forward. “You may not think we understand what you’re going through. But we know to an extent. But blocking everyone out isn’t the solution, Gabs, and you know that. If it’s space you need, that is fine. But don’t expect us to stay away. Believe it or not, we need you just as much as you need us.”

Then, one by one, each of her teammates stepped forward and hugged her before leaving the room.

But when the door clicked softly behind the last person, the sound of shoes scuffing the floor told her someone hadn’t left.

She didn’t need to look up to know who it was—Playboy. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, terrified of the hurt she’d see reflected back at her. She squeezed her hands into fists, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor. The silence stretched, heavy and thick between them.

He crossed the room slowly, his footsteps soft but sure. She felt the weight of his presence, felt the warmth he carried with him even though she hadn’t let herself feel his touch yet. “Gabby,” his voice was low, gentle, yet it tugged at the storm raging inside her.

Still, she refused to look up, her shoulders tense. But he wouldn’t let her stay hidden. He crouched beside her, his fingers brushing lightly under her chin, lifting her face so that their eyes met. She flinched, feeling the surge of guilt rise in her chest as she saw the mixture of love and pain swirling in his deep gaze.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through,” he said, his voice raw with emotion, “but I do understand to a degree.” He paused, letting the words settle between them. “I know it feels impossible right now, but people care about you. They want to help you.”

Gabby swallowed hard, her throat tight. “I just...I felt like I was suffocating,” she said, her voice breaking on the last word. “Everything is changing, and I don’t even know who I am anymore. This—” she motioned toward her leg, feeling the sting of reality, “it’s going to change who I am. I’m not the same person.”

He shook his head, not in disagreement but in reassurance. “Everyone’s damaged, Gabby. In some shape or form. None of us are perfect. But those flaws? They don’t define us. And this,” he gently placed his hand on her leg, “doesn’t change who you are.”

He moved closer, his hand resting over her heart, the warmth of his palm steadying the shaky ground she was navigating. “Remember what you told little Max at dinner a few weeks ago? You told him that what’s inside defines who we are. That beauty on the outside is just a bonus.”

Her chest tightened as she remembered that moment, telling Max that the world cared too much about what people looked like or what they did, but it was the inside that really mattered. Now she felt like a hypocrite for not believing it herself. Her eyes filled with tears she hadn’t wanted to shed in front of him.

He smiled softly, brushing a thumb across her cheek to wipe away a stray tear. “I know you need space, and I’ll give it to you. Some alone time might be good for you, but not too much,” he added, his lips curving into a teasing smile. “Because the truth is, I can’t stand being away from you for too long.”

Gabby’s heart twisted, torn between wanting him to stay and needing to be alone to process everything. She couldn’t speak, the emotions swirling inside her like a hurricane.

Before he turned to leave, he hesitated, his expression softening. “I promised your mom and dad,” he said quietly, “that I’d never walk away from you. I’ll be by your side through your recovery and into the future, no matter how hard it gets. I’ll always be here, Gabby.”

Her breath hitched as his words sunk in, a mixture of warmth and guilt swelling in her chest. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, one that lingered, filled with a promise. When he pulled back, he brushed her hair from her face with tender fingers. “I’ll have my phone next to me,” he said softly. “If you call, I won’t miss it. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Gabby watched him leave, the door closing softly behind him, leaving her alone with her thoughts. The room felt quieter now, but instead of suffocating, it was comforting. Her heart ached, but it was filled with something else, too—a sense of hope, fragile but real.

Laying back on the bed, she finally let her tears fall. She cried until she wore herself out and fell into a restless sleep.

◆◆◆

“Did I do the right thing?” Gabby asked herself as she lay in her hospital bed. She felt a whirlwind of emotions—fear, anger, sadness, and a profound sense of loss.

After a restless nap, she had eaten dinner, which, for hospital food, wasn’t too bad.

Now, she lay there alone with her thoughts.

Had she been too harsh with her family and teammates? She wasn’t trying to be mean, but like she told Playboy, she felt as if she was suffocating with everyone hovering and making decisions for her. The only one who wasn’t was Playboy.

She picked up her stress ball from the table next to her and started throwing it up in the air as she tried to make sense of everything.

Suddenly, a soft knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. When she looked towards the door as it opened, a nurse stepped inside. She was around five-six, with a curvy figure and an olive complexion that seemed to glow in the soft light. Her long, straight black hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her big, beautiful brown eyes framed with thick eyelashes gave her an air of warmth and kindness.

“Hi, Gabby. I’m Selena, one of the night nurses here on the floor,” she said with a gentle smile.

“Hi. I don’t think I’ve seen you before,” Gabby said, sitting up in the bed.

“Oh, I've been out on vacation for the last week. And before that, they had me down in labor and delivery.”

“Well, that would explain why I haven’t seen you,” Gabby said jokingly.

Selena washed her hands and then approached the bed. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

Oh, wow. Now, that was a loaded question.

Gabby took a moment to study Selena. Something was calming about her presence, a soothing energy that Gabby found herself gravitating towards. “I’ve been better,” Gabby admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “But I guess that’s to be expected.”

Selena nodded, stepping closer to the bed. “It’s completely understandable. You’ve been through a lot. If there’s anything you need or want to talk about, I’m here for you. And I’ve been told I’ve got some excellent listening skills.”

Gabby appreciated the offer. She could sense that Selena genuinely cared, and it made her feel a little less alone. “Thank you. I just…I don’t know how to process all of this. One moment, I’m fine, and the next, I’m missing part of my leg. Then, to add to my misery, I feel awful because I let my mood swings get the best of me, and I got snippy with my family, teammates, and boyfriend and kicked them out.”

Selena’s eyes widened a fraction. “Oh, boy,” she said with a slight laugh.

“Oh, boy is right,” Gabby said, running her hands down her face in frustration.

Selena motioned to the chair next to Gabby’s bed. “May I sit for a minute?”

“Of course,” Gabby replied.

Selena sat down and looked at Gabby. “It’s a lot to take in, and it’s okay to feel however you feel. There’s no right or wrong way to handle something like this.”

Gabby felt tears welling up in her eyes, and she blinked them back. “I’m scared, Selena. I don’t know what my life is going to be like now. Everything feels so uncertain. Today, my family and teammates were all here talking about me and what I should do or what could happen, and I just snapped. It was like I was invisible to them, and they were planning my next steps after I got out of here without even asking me what I wanted.”

Selena reached out and gently took Gabby’s hand in hers. “It’s natural to feel scared. But you’re strong, Gabby. From what I’ve heard, you’re a fighter. You’ll find a new normal, and you have so many people who love you and will support you through this. I can assure you that there will be times when you’re going to have to put your foot down and remind others that you have a voice as well. You have to remember that they’re probably scared too.”

Well, shit. Gabby never thought about that. But it made sense.

Gabby squeezed Selena’s hand, feeling a bit of her fear ease. “Thanks. It helps to hear that. And you’re right. I never thought about what everyone around me must be going through.”

Selena smiled, her eyes shining with kindness. “Anytime. Now, how about we do a quick check-up? Make sure everything is in order, and then we can talk some more if you want.”

Gabby nodded, appreciating the distraction. As Selena went about her duties, checking her vitals and adjusting her medications, they talked. Selena told her about her son, her love for cooking, and her dream of traveling the world one day. Gabby found herself opening up as well, sharing stories about her Coast Guard experiences and her love for the ocean.

By the time Selena finished, Gabby felt she could see herself befriending her nurse. “I like you, Selena,” she said with a small smile. “Thanks for the talk. I needed it.”

Selena returned the smile, her eyes warm. “You’re welcome. And I’m here for you, whatever you need.”

As Selena left the room to attend to her other patients, Gabby felt a little lighter. She still had a long road ahead, but she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could navigate this new reality and come out stronger on the other side.