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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Gabby sat in one of the chairs she had moved over by the window. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest as she gazed out the window. This time, as she looked at the ships and boats, she felt a pang in her gut. Would she ever sail those waters again?

The encounter with Vice Admiral Alley was still fresh in her mind, his condescending words ringing in her ears. He wanted her out, gone from the Coast Guard, and the idea made her stomach churn. But it also fueled something deep inside her—a stubborn fire that refused to be snuffed out.

Fine, she thought bitterly. He wants to write me off? I’ll prove to everyone, including him, that I can still do everything I used to. Nothing’s changed.

Her leg ached faintly, a dull reminder of everything she’d lost, but Gabby refused to dwell on that. Instead, her focus was on the next step—getting fitted for her prosthetic. She wasn’t just going to walk again. She was going to run, climb, swim—she would do everything she once used to . The thought of showing up Alley, of standing tall in front of him when he least expected it, brought the barest hint of a smile to her lips. Even if the decision had already been made about her future in the Coast Guard, she would make him eat his words. And she would make sure that the world would witness it.

A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. She blinked, her mind shifting gears. Drew, her therapist, was supposed to be here any minute, but something told her that the knock didn’t belong to him alone.

“Come in,” she called, shifting to sit up straighter.

When the door opened, Gabby’s jaw dropped. It wasn’t just Drew standing there—Clover and Jocelyn were with him, along with a woman Gabby didn’t recognize. The stranger had fiery red hair that spilled past her shoulders, and her sharp green eyes glimmered with warmth.

Gabby stared at the group, a mix of confusion and surprise. “What are you guys doing here?” she asked, her voice caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.

Clover grinned and stepped into the room, followed closely by Jocelyn. “Playboy and your mom called us,” she explained. “They told us they couldn’t make it today and asked if we could be here in their place. And, of course, we couldn’t say no to that. This is a huge milestone in your recovery, Gabby. We wouldn’t miss it.”

Gabby’s chest tightened, her throat suddenly thick with emotion. She didn’t expect anyone to be here. The fact that Clover and Jocelyn had shown up because her mom and Playboy asked them to made her heart swell. “I don’t even know what to say,” she muttered, feeling tears sting the back of her eyes. But these weren’t sad tears. It was something else, something stronger—gratitude.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Jocelyn added with a warm smile, her hand resting on Gabby’s shoulder. “We’re here for you. That’s what matters.”

Clover gestured toward the redhead beside her. “This is Autumn, by the way. She’s a friend of ours and a therapist here at the hospital.”

Gabby glanced at the woman, curiosity sparking. “Nice to meet you,” she said, offering a small smile despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

“It’s a pleasure, Gabby,” Autumn replied with a nod. Her voice was soft but confident, and she exuded a calming presence. “Drew thought an extra set of eyes on your fitting might be helpful, so I tagged along.”

“Plus,” Clover chimed in, “Autumn’s married to Frost, one of the SEALs on Alpha Team. We figured you’d all get along.”

Gabby blinked in surprise. “Oh! So you know Tanner…err…Playboy?”

Autumn laughed lightly. “Matter of fact, I do. You are lucky to have snagged a great guy.”

Drew stepped forward then, clapping his hands together with a smile. “Alright, ladies, time to get going. We’ve got a long day ahead, but trust me, this is going to be a good one.”

Gabby nodded her earlier frustration with Alley fading into the background. She had her friends here, people who genuinely cared about her. Her heart felt lighter, knowing that even if Alley wanted her gone, she wasn’t alone in this fight. With Clover, Jocelyn, and now Autumn by her side and Drew leading the charge, she felt a new wave of determination rising in her chest.

“Let’s do this,” Gabby said, her voice filled with renewed purpose.

The group gathered around her. Their energy was infectious. Drew gestured toward the door leading the way. As they made their way down to the PT area, Gabby couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Today wasn’t just about being fitted for her prosthetic. It was about moving forward with the people who were ready to support her every step of the way.

◆◆◆

Gabby sat in the wheelchair, her heart pounding in her chest. The prosthetic leg felt foreign, an extension of her body she had yet to accept fully.

She looked around the room, which was filled with supportive faces—Clover, Jocelyn, and her nurse Selena had shown up. All of them were watching her with encouraging smiles. Beside her stood Autumn, Drew, and another guy named Cale, who was a prosthetist.

Gabby took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. The parallel bars in front of her seemed both inviting and intimidating. She knew this moment was significant, her first steps on her prosthetic leg.

“Alright, Gabby,” Autumn said gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Whenever you’re ready, take your time.”

Cale knelt down to check the prosthetic one last time. “How does it feel? Any discomfort?”

Gabby shook her head, her voice steady but quiet. “No, it feels okay. Just... strange.”

“That's completely normal,” Cale assured her, standing up. “We'll adjust it as needed. The key is to listen to your body.”

Clover leaned forward, her eyes shining with encouragement. “You've got this, Gabby. We believe in you.”

Jocelyn nodded enthusiastically. “You’re stronger than you think. Just take it one step at a time.”

“Remember what we talked about, Gabby—one step at a time,” Selena said as she looked on.

Gabby smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest from their support.

She glanced at Selena, who gave her a reassuring nod. “You’re ready,” Selena said softly. “And we're right here with you.”

Taking a deep breath, Gabby placed her hands on the parallel bars, feeling the cool metal under her palms. Using her arms and her right leg, she stood up. Once she was up, she shifted her weight slightly, testing the balance.

She could feel her body shaking. It wasn’t from pain. It was from the fear coursing inside of her—the fear of failure.

The room seemed to hold its breath as she lifted her left foot, the prosthetic leg feeling heavier than expected. With careful precision, she placed it down, her muscles tensing as she took her first step, and all of the air leaving her body as she exhaled. It wasn’t easy, and she wasn’t about to celebrate just yet.

“Great job, Gabby,” Autumn encouraged, her voice steady and supportive. “Now, try to shift your weight smoothly as you step with your right foot.”

Gabby nodded, focusing on Autumn's instructions. She took another step, this time with her right foot, feeling the slight give of the prosthetic as it adjusted to her movement. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. She glanced up, catching Clover’s eye. The pride in her friend’s gaze was palpable.

“That's it, Gabs!” Jocelyn cheered, her voice full of excitement. “You're doing it!”

Gabby couldn't help but smile, a mix of relief and pride washing over her. She took another slow step and then another, each one feeling a little more confident.

The prosthetic leg was still unfamiliar, but she was learning to adapt with each movement.

Drew watched closely, nodding his approval as she moved down the bars. “Your gait looks good. Just keep focusing on even weight distribution. That’s key.”

As Gabby reached the end of the bars, she paused, a wave of emotion crashing over her. She had done it. The first steps were behind her, and while the journey ahead was long, she felt a renewed sense of hope and determination.

“You did amazing,” Autumn said, smiling warmly. “How do you feel?”

Gabby took a deep breath, blinking back tears. “I feel good. Stronger than I thought I would.”

“Any pain and anything feeling uncomfortable?” Cale asked.

Gabby shook her head. “Not really. I mean, there was a little bit of an ache where the prosthetic connects. But other than that, it felt mostly good.”

Cale, Drew, and Autumn all looked at each other and nodded.

“That’s good to hear,” Cale said.

“You did great, Gabby,” Autumn stated and gave her a side hug.

“Do you feel like another round?” Drew asked.

Gabby grinned. “Sure.”

Before Gabby could turn around to go back the way she came. Clover rushed forward, enveloping her in a gentle hug. “You were incredible. I'm so proud of you. And I got it all on video,” she said, holding up her cell phone.

Jocelyn joined the hug, laughing with joy. “This is just the beginning, Gabby.”

Selena wiped a tear from her eye, smiling softly. “You’ve got an incredible spirit, Gabby. Keep pushing forward.”

Gabby felt a swell of gratitude for the support surrounding her. She looked at Autumn and Dres, who both wore encouraging smiles.

Gabby’s heart felt lighter than it had in weeks. She could still feel the slight awkwardness of the prosthetic, but it was overshadowed by the pride swelling inside her. She’d done it.

Suddenly, claps and loud cheers echoed from behind her. Gabby froze, a wave of surprise washing over her. She turned around slowly, and there they were—her entire team, grinning from ear to ear, hooting and hollering as if she’d just scored the winning point in a championship game.

Her breath caught in her throat, her emotions crashing over her in waves. She hadn’t expected them to be here, but seeing their familiar faces, knowing they had come to support her in this deeply personal moment, nearly brought her to tears.

Oliver stepped forward, a knowing smile on his face. “Someone who cares for you deeply wanted to make sure you had all the support you could today.”

Gabby’s chest tightened, her heart swelling with warmth. She didn’t have to ask who. She knew it was all Playboy’s doing. Even though he couldn’t be here, he’d made sure she wasn’t alone, that she was surrounded by people who loved and supported her.

She looked up at Captain Graham, who looked like a proud dad seeing his kid walk for the first time. And in a way, he sort of was their dad.

“I thought you said you had a meeting across town today?” Gabby asked her Captain.

His cheeks turned a little pink, knowing he had been caught. He cleared his throat. “The guys all wanted this to be a surprise.”

She blinked away the tears that threatened to spill over, feeling overwhelmed by the care and thoughtfulness that filled the room. Gabby smiled through her emotion, her heart full, knowing that even in his absence, Playboy had made sure she felt his presence. He had given her everything she needed to take that first step—love, support, and strength.

“Thank you, all of you,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “I couldn’t do this without you.”

Autumn nodded, her eyes shining with pride. “You're the one doing the hard work, Gabby. We’re just here to help guide you.”

Gabby nodded, feeling a sense of empowerment she hadn't felt in a long time. As she looked around the room, she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she was not alone. With her friends, family, her medical team, and her own inner strength, she was ready to face whatever came her way.

However, there was one particular person she had her sight set on—Vice Admiral Alley.