CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gabby stood at the window in her room, looking out at the ships and boats in the water, wishing she could be out there.
She looked down at her phone screen for what felt like the hundredth time. It was early afternoon now, and still no word from her parents. She had texted them late last night after talking with Selena. She wanted to apologize for the way she had snapped at everyone. She knew they were only trying to help, and she hated how she’d treated them. They hadn’t replied yet, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she had pushed them away too far this time.
Selena had been blunt with her, but that was what Gabby needed. Last night’s conversation replayed in her head.
"You’ve got a good support system, Gabby. You don’t want to push them away when you need them the most."
Selena was right. Gabby had been too wrapped up in her own frustration and pain to see it. Her family, her teammates, even Playboy—they were all just trying to be there for her. And she had pushed them away with her irritation, her mood swings, and her exhaustion.
Her thoughts drifted to Playboy. She had texted him, too, apologizing to him as well. Of course, he’d brushed it off, telling her there was nothing to apologize for and that he understood. He’d said she’d been under a lot of stress and that he would be by after work today, like always.
That thought alone brought her a small sense of relief. At least he wasn’t upset with her.
Gabby let out a long sigh, her gaze flicking back to the door. Would her mom and dad stop by today? She hoped so. She needed to see them, to apologize in person, to tell them she appreciated everything they’d done. But what if she had really pissed them off? What if they didn’t want to come?
A soft knock on the door snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts. Gabby’s heart skipped a beat. Mom?
“Come in,” she called, trying not to sound too eager.
The door swung open, but instead of her mom, it was Clover, beaming and carrying a massive basket overflowing with goodies. Gabby’s eyes widened at the sight. She could already see a mountain of chocolate, her favorite.
“Hey, girl!” Clover said, her voice full of energy as she walked in, the basket practically taking up her entire torso. “This is from me, Jocelyn, and Hannah. We thought you could use some cheering up.”
Gabby felt a wave of warmth wash over her, a smile appearing on her lips for the first time all day. “Clover, you guys didn’t have to do this… but I’m so glad you did.” She laughed, eyeing the basket appreciatively. “You know me too well.”
Clover set the basket down on the bed and plopped into the chair beside her. “Of course we do. Chocolate fixes everything, right?”
Gabby chuckled softly, but there was a heaviness in her chest she couldn’t shake. Gabby hobbled on her crutches to the bed bed and sat down.
Clover, ever perceptive, must have sensed something was off because she tilted her head, her smile softening into concern.
“Okay, spill it,” Clover said. “What’s wrong?”
Gabby hesitated, staring at her hands as she fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. “I just… I was awful yesterday,” she admitted, her voice quiet. “My family, my team, Playboy—they all came to see me, and I just… I couldn’t handle it. I snapped at them, and I now feel horrible. I know they mean well, but I didn’t treat them like they deserved. I texted them to apologize, but I haven’t heard from my parents yet, and I’m worried I pushed them away.”
Clover listened intently, her expression empathetic, but she stayed quiet, letting Gabby continue.
“And there’s more,” Gabby said, swallowing hard. “I’m scared, Clover. I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to work, not like I was before. What if I lose my job? My whole life has been in the Coast Guard. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and now… now it feels like it’s slipping away.”
Clover nodded, her eyes softening. “I get it, Gabby. More than you think.”
Gabby looked up, her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Clover leaned back in the chair, exhaling deeply before she began. “You know I was a Marine helicopter pilot, right? Well, earlier this year, I got caught up in some serious drama. I won’t get into all the details, but it ended with me getting shot.” She paused, letting that sink in before continuing. “It cost me my career in the military. I was devastated. Like you, I thought my life was over. Flying was everything to me, and losing that was like losing a part of myself.”
Gabby felt her heart twist at Clover’s words. She hadn’t known the full extent of what Clover had gone through.
“But here’s the thing,” Clover said, her voice growing stronger. “When that door closed, another one opened. I was offered a job with a reputable security firm that allows me to keep flying helicopters. I still get to do what I love, just in a different way.”
Gabby stared at her, the weight of Clover’s story settling in. “So… you’re saying that even if I lose my job…”
“There will be other opportunities,” Clover said firmly. “You’re smart, and you’ve got those Intelligence certifications. You’ve got options, Gabby. I know it’s hard to see that right now, but trust me, there’s more out there for you. Even if it’s not exactly what you planned.”
Gabby let Clover’s words sink in, the tightness in her chest loosening just a little. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was more for her beyond this injury, beyond her fear of losing everything she’d worked for.
Just as the two of them were laughing over something ridiculous—Clover making a joke about Gabby’s obsession with chocolate—there was another knock on the door.
Gabby’s heart skipped a beat, and this time, she knew exactly who it was.
Playboy stepped into the room, his smile warm and easy, but his eyes immediately softened when they landed on her. Gabby felt her heart do a little flip, a feeling of relief and something more settling into her bones.
Clover noticed the way Gabby and Playboy were looking at each other and grinned knowingly. “Well, that’s my cue to go,” she said, standing up. “I’ll let you two lovebirds have some time alone.”
Gabby blushed, but she smiled as Clover gave her a quick hug. “Thanks, Clover. For everything.”
“You got it,” Clover said, winking as she headed for the door. “I’ll check in with you soon.”
And with that, she was gone, leaving Gabby and Playboy alone in the room. As Gabby looked at him, she felt the weight of the past few days start to lift.
◆◆◆
As Playboy walked down the quiet hospital hallway toward Gabby’s room, he heard something that made him pause—a soft laugh followed by another. It was Gabby’s laugh. It was the first time in days that he’d heard her sound anything close to happy, and it brought a smile to his face. He knew how tough the last few weeks had been for her, and how much she had been holding inside. Hearing her laugh like that, even for a moment, gave him hope.
He had no hard feelings about her bad mood yesterday. Gabby had asked everyone to leave, a storm of frustration and exhaustion behind her words. But Playboy didn’t take it personally—he knew better. Nobody could truly understand what she was going through, the weight of her injury, and everything she’d lost. If she needed space, he’d give it to her. But today, he was here to remind her that she didn’t have to carry it all on her own.
In his hand was a bag containing dinner for both of them. It was Friday, and Fridays meant one thing—Bayside’s prime rib special. It had always been Gabby’s favorite, and he figured a taste of her old routine might cheer her up. He stopped by on his way to the hospital, picking up two to-go orders, hoping it might bring some comfort to a difficult week.
He’d spoken with her parents last night, and while they were a little hurt by Gabby’s outburst, they didn’t hold it against her either. After he’d explained that she was just overwhelmed, they understood. Her parents had decided to give her a day to herself, letting her process things in her own time.
Reaching Gabby’s door, Playboy knocked lightly and opened it, stepping inside. He was surprised to see Clover sitting next to her, the two of them sharing a laugh. Gabby was sitting on the bed, and even though she looked exhausted, there was a light in her eyes that hadn’t been there the day before.
Clover looked up at him with a smile. “Hey, Playboy,” she greeted, standing up. “I was just about to head out. I’ll give you guys some time.”
“Hey, Clover. Thanks for keeping her company,” Playboy said, genuinely grateful. It was clear Clover had done Gabby some good.
Clover turned to Gabby and hugged her. “I’ll give you a call or stop by in a day or two, alright?”
Gabby smiled warmly. “Thanks, Clover. I’d like that.”
Once Clover left, Playboy set the bag of food down on the small table, turning his attention to Gabby. She sat there, looking at him with that familiar mix of vulnerability and strength. His first instinct was to go to her and hug her, but before he could move, she was already closing the distance, standing up on one leg, and she launched herself into his arms.
“Hey, hey, easy,” he murmured, but his arms wrapped around her instantly, holding her tight as she buried her face in his chest. He could feel her body trembling, the weight of everything crashing down again as she clung to him.
“I’m so sorry,” Gabby whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry for how I acted yesterday. I was awful.”
Playboy held her closer, his hand gently rubbing her back. “You don’t have to apologize, Gabby,” he said softly. “I know you’re going through a lot. I’m not mad at you. I never was.”
She sniffled against him, and he could feel her relax just a little in his arms. “I didn’t mean to push everyone away. I just… I don’t know how to handle all of this.”
“I know,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. “But you don’t have to handle it alone.”
They stood like that for a while, the world outside fading as they held onto each other. Slowly, Gabby’s breathing evened out, and when she pulled back, her eyes were red but calmer. He wiped away the few stray tears on her cheeks, smiling softly at her.
“Come on, I brought something that’ll cheer you up,” he said, stepping over to the table and pulling the containers out of the bag. “I stopped by Bayside and got us the Friday night prime rib special.”
Gabby’s eyes lit up with surprise and gratitude. “No way. You didn’t.”
“Oh, I did. Figured you’d be missing it by now.”
She laughed, the sound lighter this time. “I’m starving. This is perfect.”
They sat down together, and as they ate, Gabby opened up about her conversation with Selena the night before. “Selena basically told me I’m being an idiot for pushing everyone away,” Gabby said with a small smile, shaking her head. “But she’s right. I’ve been so focused on what I’ve lost that I didn’t realize how lucky I am to have people who care about me.”
Playboy chuckled. “Sounds like you made a new friend.”
“Yeah,” Gabby admitted. “She’s blunt, but I like her. I needed that.”
As they ate, Playboy noticed how much more relaxed Gabby seemed, and the tension that had clung to her for days was finally starting to ease. He was grateful for that.
“So, what were you and Clover talking about?” he asked casually.
Gabby paused, chewing thoughtfully before answering. “Clover was telling me a bit about what happened to her. How she was forced out of the military after getting shot but ended up working for a private security firm flying helicopters.”
“Rockwell, Inc.,” Playboy added, nodding.
Gabby’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait— that Rockwell? I’ve heard about them. Their owner, Tink, has quite the reputation.”
Playboy leaned back, grinning. “Yeah, Tink’s a badass. He actually served with my commander. They go way back. Rockwell is one of the best firms out there. Clover’s in good hands.”
Gabby nodded, absorbing the information. “I didn’t realize… It’s kind of amazing how things turned out for her. I guess maybe there’s hope for me too.”
“There’s always hope, Gabby,” Playboy said, his voice steady. “You’re strong. You’ll figure out what’s next, and whatever it is, you’ll be great at it.”
They talked a little more as they finished eating, but eventually, Gabby yawned, her eyes drooping with the kind of tiredness that went deeper than just physical exhaustion.
Playboy smiled, standing up. “Looks like it’s time for someone to get some rest.”
◆◆◆
Gabby had to admit, she was tired.
Playboy leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips. Hethen slipped his boots off, climbed in her bed, and patted the spot next to him.
Gabby cocked her head. “Tanner, what are you doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m going to sleep with you,” he replied, a small smile dangling from his lips.
She looked over the small bed. “I don’t think there is enough room for the both of us.”
“Sure there is,” he said, scooting over, then taking her hand and pulling her gently down. She found herself half laying on top of him.
“Nurse Kim is on duty tonight, and she isn’t going to approve of this,” she told him laughingly.
“Well, Nurse Kim will just have to get over it. I’ve waited a long time to lay like this with you, and some old crotchety nurse isn’t going to stop me. Now close your eyes and go to sleep. I promise I’ll protect you.”
Feeling the large lump in her throat brought on by her emotions, she placed her hand against his cheek. She loved the way his scruff felt beneath her fingertips. She inhaled, breathing in his masculine scent.
“I seriously don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you. You’ve been by my side through all of this, even when I couldn’t stand to look at myself. You always know what to say to make me feel like I’m more than this,” she paused, her voice catching. “When I was at my lowest, you didn’t give me space like everyone else. You held me, even when I tried to push you away. You’ve been nothing but patient, reminding me that it’s okay to hurt but also to heal. You make me believe I can do this, and I don’t think I could without you.”
He covered her hand that was against his cheek with his large hand, and looked into her eyes.
“As I’ve said a hundred times, I’ll always be here for you. And I will always be real with you, Gabby. What you see is what you get.”
She smiled. “I like what I see.”
He chuckled, then leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“The feeling is mutual, babe. Now, lay your head down and close your eyes,” he told her, placing his hand on the back of her head and gently guided it down so her cheek was resting against his chest.
The sound of his strong heart drumming beneath her ear was calming, making her relax. She took a deep breath and let her eyelids close as she was pulled under by the melody of Playboy’s big heart.
Thump-thump…thump-thump…thump-thump…