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

CHAPTER TWENTY

“I can’t believe it,” Gabby said, a smile spreading across her face. “I’m finally going home.”

The doctor had just left the room after delivering the news she’d been waiting for. She was being discharged. She sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. Her mom, dad, and Playboy were gathered around, their expressions reflecting her own.

Her mom’s eyes glistened with happy tears. She reached out to squeeze her hand. “We’re so proud of you, honey. You’ve come so far.”

Gabby’s dad nodded, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s been a tough road for you kiddo, but you’ve handled it with such strength and determination.”

Playboy stood at the foot of the bed, grinning. “I told you that you’d get through this. You’re a fighter.”

Gabby felt a warm surge of love for everyone in the room. Their support had been a lifeline during the darkest moments of her recovery. She glanced down at her prosthetic leg, which she was still getting used to. But she was beginning to feel more comfortable with it. She wasn’t afraid to hide it anymore. This was who she was now.

“I’ll continue physical therapy on an outpatient basis but still meet with the doctors to check my progress,” she said, her voice filled with cautious optimism. “It’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m ready. Plus, it makes me happy knowing that I can get back in the water.”

As much as she liked working out, swimming was her go-to exercise. And when Dr. Ebers told her she could go swimming, Gabby had squealed like a little girl.

Her mom smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Gabby’s face. “We’ll be with you every step of the way. And you know you can always count on us if you need anything.”

Absolutely,” Her dad added. “All you need to focus on is your recovery and gaining your strength back.”

Playboy looked at Gabby. His eyes were full of pride. “You’re amazing, you know that? Not just getting through this but facing it head-on. I’m so proud of you.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips.

Gabby felt her cheeks flush at his words and the kiss he gave her in front of her parents. “I couldn’t have done it without you guys,” she admitted. I know I was difficult and stubborn to work with at the beginning, but thank you for not giving up on me. I know there were times when I felt like giving up, but knowing you were all here and also my team, it made all the difference.”

Gabby looked at the three people standing with her. They had been her rock, her anchor. And now, as she prepared to leave the hospital, she felt a newfound sense of determination.

“So, what’s the first thing you want to do when you get home?” Playboy asked, leaning casually against the wall.

Gabby thought for a moment, then laughed softly. “Actually, there are two things I want. I want to sleep in my own bed and have a home-cooked meal.”

Her dad chuckled. “That sounds like a good plan. We’ll make sure your first day home is special.”

Gabby smiled, feeling a swell of gratitude. “I can’t wait. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like myself.”

Playboy reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “You know that whatever you need, I’m here.”

Gabby squeezed his hand, feeling a rush of love and gratitude. “Thank you. I know it’s not going to be easy, and I’m going to have to make some adjustments, but I’m ready to start this next chapter.”

“That’s my girl,” her dad said. She smiled up at Playboy, and he winked at her.

They were talking about her brother Will and his deployment when someone knocked on the door. The familiar chippy voice that followed made Gabby smile.

“Knock, knock!”

“Hey, Luna. Longtime no see. Come on in,” Gabby told her best friend. Luna had been away on business for the last week and a half.

Luna burst into the room, carrying a vase of wildflowers with her gray wolf ears and tail bouncing with every stop. Her energy was infectious, which made Gabby’s smile widen.

Luna walked over and set down the flowers on the table next to the bed before leaning down and hugging Gabby. When she stepped back, she looked at Gabby’s parents.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Allen.”

“Hi, Luna. How are you?” Wendy asked with a warm smile.

“I’m good. Thank you for asking.” Luna replied, smiling and showing off her pearly white fangs.

“New canines?” Gabby asked, and Luna grinned.

“Yep! Aren’t they beauties?”

Gabby’s dad raised an eyebrow, his usual reaction to Luna’s eccentricities. Gabby had to stifle a laugh. She loved Luna’s quirks, especially the way they bewildered her dad.

Suddenly, Luna’s eyes widened in excitement as if she was about to reveal something big.

“Girl! You won’t believe what happened while I was out running this morning.”

Gabby was afraid to ask. “What?”

“So, I was out running in the park, right? And I saw this guy. I swear he was a shifter. I just got that vibe from him. He had the most amazing dark hair with a touch of gray by the temples. We locked eyes for a second, and it was like we communicated telepathically.”

Gabby’s dad coughed, trying to hide his disbelief. Gabby shot him a look, struggling not to laugh. “That sounds…incredible. Did you talk to him?”

“No. He took off before I could catch up,” Luna said, her disappointment showing. “But I plan on going back tomorrow.”

Gabby playfully raised her eyebrows. “Maybe this guy could be your mate.”

Luna let out a little squeal. “I hope so! Anyways, how are you doing?”

Gabby smiled. “Actually, I’m feeling pretty good today. I got some great news.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m getting discharged tomorrow. I can’t wait to get home.”

“That’s great!” Luna exclaimed, smiling, but her smile slowly faded until it was gone, and her expression turned serious. “I really hate to bring this up now, but Mr. Roberts, the property manager, stopped by yesterday to schedule a time to do the post-lease inspection.”

Gabby’s expression now matched Luna’s. In the chaos of everything that had happened, she had forgotten entirely about the apartment situation. They had until the end of the following week to move out.

She slapped her hand against her forehead.

“Oh, crap! When do we need to be out?”

“Monday,” Luna said, chewing on her lip.

Gabby looked at the calendar sitting on the table next to the bed. Today was Thursday. That only left three days.

“Ugh! I can’t believe I forgot about this.”

“Don’t worry, Gabs. I didn’t want you to worry about this on top of everything else going on, so I already went ahead and packed up most of your stuff before I left on my trip. All that is really left are some clothes. Did you sign the lease for the apartment you were telling me about? The one near the beach? If so, I could arrange to have all your stuff delivered there.”

Gabby shook her head. “No. I had planned on doing that the week before last.” She then nodded towards her leg. “But then this happened.”

She had no idea what she was going to do. That apartment had been the only one left, and the property manager told her that if she wanted it, she was going to have to act fast because there had been a lot of inquiries about it. Gabby knew for sure that she had lost out on it.

Panic set in, and she felt the weight of it pressing down on her chest.

As if sensing her distress, Playboy leaned in and took her hand. “Hey, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out.”

Gabby’s mom gave her a reassuring smile. “Playboy’s right, sweetheart. Your father and I can help you. Or, if things don’t work out, you can always move back home for a bit while you sort things out and decide what it is you want to do.”

She shook her head, already knowing that she wasn’t going to move back home.

“Thank you, mom. But I want to stay here.”

Playboy’s face suddenly lit up. “I might have a solution. Can you give me a few minutes while I make a call?”

“Sure.”

He winked before stepping out of the room. Gabby watched him leave, a small flicker of hope igniting in her chest. She wondered what he was up to.

“Any idea what his idea could be?” Wendy asked, looking towards the door.

Gabby had no clue and shrugged her shoulders. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

A few minutes later, Playboy walked back into the room and stood beside her dad.

“So, I spoke with a really good friend of mine, and I have an offer for you that I think you’ll like. At least, I hope you will.”

She raised her eyebrow at him.

“Okay.”

“You know Potter from Alpha Team, right?”

“He’s the broody one with the sweet and sassy wife, right?”

Playboy laughed. “That would be Potter and his wife Tenley, yes.”

“Vaguely. I was introduced to him once. Why?”

“Before Potter met Tenley, he had a condo on the beach. When he and Tenley got married, he moved into her house but kept the condo. He lets people use it when they are in town. But I just spoke with him and explained your situation, and he offered you the condo for however long you need it.”

Gabby’s jaw dropped.

“Seriously?”

Playboy nodded. “Completely. He’s happy to help out.”

“What is the rent? I mean, I have some money saved up, but knowing that I may be out of a job soon…well, that just makes me a little nervous.”

Playboy grinned. “Rent free. All that you would be responsible for is the electricity and water bill. Everything else is covered.”

Her parents exchanged astonished looks. “That’s incredibly generous,” her mom said, and Gabby agreed.

“It’s almost too good to be true,” Gabby said, looking at Playboy.

“I told you before, our teams are like a family. We take care of each other.”

Gabby felt tears of gratitude welling up in her eyes. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you. And thank Potter for me. This means so much.”

Playboy smiled, squeezing her hand. “You’re welcome. I’ll give you his number so you can thank him yourself. He’s a great guy.”

Gabby’s dad finally spoke, his voice softer than usual. “This is a wonderful opportunity, Gabby. It’ll give you time to recover and figure things out without feeling rushed.”

Gabby nodded, overwhelmed by the support of her friends and family.

Luna grinned, her wolf ears twitching with excitement. “Well, if you’d like, I can pack up the rest of your clothes and toiletries.”

Gabby smiled at her friend. “Thank you, Luna. That would be a huge help.”

The condo would be more than just a place to live. It would be a symbol of the next chapter in her life, away from the pain of the hospital and the struggle she had endured.

But her thoughts quickly drifted to her career. The uncertainty of her job situation had been a dark cloud looming over her. She knew returning to her former role might not be possible. Yet, the visitor that had walked into her room early this morning had sparked something in her—a glimmer of possibility. Maybe this person could be the key to opening new doors and new opportunities, as Clover spoke about. Gabby wondered if this unexpected twist might lead her to a different but meaningful path forward.