CHAPTER NINETEEN
Playboy lifted the towel to his face and wiped the sweat from his forehead as he and the team walked out of the Operations Center.
The evening air was cooler than the sweltering indoor heat they had just endured. Today’s training had been grueling, an intense combination of live, virtual, and constructive training simulations. It was mandatory but essential, as it kept them sharp and ready for combat situations by using cutting-edge technology to simulate real-world operations. But now that it was over, Playboy’s thoughts drifted to Gabby. He wondered how her big day had gone. He hoped she had been surprised by all of the support that showed up.
He couldn’t wait to see her. He hadn’t expected to be done early enough to see her today, figuring their training would run late into the night, but now he had the time to swing by after grabbing a drink with the guys at Bayside. The thought of holding her, seeing her face light up when she saw him, made him grin. He was glad Clover, Jocely, Selena, and her team had shown up to support her. She needed that right now.
Beside him, Nails was still grumbling, his voice muffled as he spoke into his hand. “I still don’t know how it happened. One minute, I’m clearing the building. The next, I’m in some virtual reality wasteland, and I have no clue where the hell I was.”
The rest of the team roared with laughter.
“Nails, how do you get lost in a simulation?” Jay Bird choked out between laughs.
Nails scowled but couldn’t hide his grin. “Ask the geniuses who programmed it. That virtual environment’s got no business changing on me mid-run.”
“You didn’t see the flashing exit signs?” Bear added, shaking his head.
“Nah, the only thing I saw was confusion,” Nails fired back, the laughter spreading around the group again.
By the time they reached Bayside, Playboy’s heart felt a little lighter. The crew walked in, and as usual, the familiar hum of the bar greeted them. Bayside was their go-to spot for downtime, and tonight, Playboy was ready to decompress. But as they made their way toward their usual table near the back, something caught his eye.
Over at a high-top table near the bar sat Gabby’s teammates, huddled together and looking anything but celebratory. Their postures were tense, and the air around them seemed heavy. It was unusual—they were usually loud, animated, and joking like they didn’t have a care in the world.
Playboy changed course, walking toward them. He wanted to find out how Gabby did. He raised his hand in a casual greeting. “Hey, guys. How was Gabby’s appointment?”
“It was great,” Captain Graham told him. “She did awesome.”
The others around the table all nodded in agreement. But Playboy could sense there was something else going on—something that wasn’t being spoken.
“Have you not spoken with Gabby yet?” Graham asked, his expression a little darker than it was just seconds ago.
Playboy felt a knot of dread form in his stomach.
“No. Not yet. We just finished up some training. I planned on going to see her after this. Why? What's going on?” Playboy pressed, his heart pounding now. “Did something happen at her appointment?”
“No. Her appointment went fine.” Graham exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. “Vice Admiral Alley paid her a visit today.”
Playboy’s blood ran cold. “What the hell did he want?”
“He’s recommending her for a medical discharge,” Graham said grimly. “Came to deliver the news himself. He told her it’s already in motion.”
Playboy’s fists clenched his vision narrowing. “He did what ?” His voice was low and dangerous. He hadn’t thought much of Alley before, but now he wanted to put the man through a wall.
James reached out and placed a hand on Playboy’s arm. “Take it easy, man. Captain Graham’s already working on something. We’re not gonna let this stand without a fight.”
Playboy forced himself to take a deep breath, though his anger was still simmering just below the surface. He nodded curtly, grateful that at least Gabby’s team had her back. “Alright,” he muttered, trying to steady his thoughts. “Thanks for letting me know.”
After chatting for a few minutes more, Playboy made his way back to where his own team had claimed a table near the patio door. They had already started on drinks, and when he sat down, they immediately picked up on his mood.
“What’s wrong?” Jay Bird asked, narrowing his eyes.
Playboy shook his head, running a hand through his hair. “Vice Admiral Alley. He’s trying to force Gabby out with a medical discharge.”
The whole team went quiet for a beat, and then the outrage kicked in.
“You’re fucking kidding me,” Bear muttered, his face darkening. “That bastard.”
“We’re gonna have to do something about that,” Nails said, shaking his head. “Can’t let him pull that kind of crap.”
Before the conversation could spiral, their commander, Derek Connors, walked in with a familiar figure beside him—Tink, the former SEAL turned security firm owner. Derek was smiling, likely eager to hear about how the team’s training had gone, but that smile faltered when he saw Playboy’s expression.
“What’s going on?” Derek asked as he sat down, Tink taking the seat next to him.
Playboy quickly filled them in on what had happened with Gabby and Alley, his voice tight with frustration. By the time he was done, Derek’s face was hard with anger.
“I’d take Gabby on my team in a heartbeat,” Derek said, shaking his head. “Even with her leg. She’s one hell of an operator. Shit, even everyone in the SEAL community knows it. Word got around quickly about what she did, putting her life on the line for you guys.”
Playboy nodded. “And it’s not just her physical skills. She’s got her intelligence certifications, too. Alley’s just trying to screw her over.”
Tink, who had been listening intently, raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “It sounds like the Coast Guard would be making a huge mistake if they let her go,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “Even if she can’t handle the day-to-day operations in the MSRT, her intelligence background makes her highly valuable. They’d be stupid not to keep her.”
Before Playboy could respond, Bear’s phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen, then looked up with a grin. “Jocelyn just texted me. She and Clover are still at the hospital with Gabby. They ordered some food to be delivered.”
Playboy’s mood shifted slightly, a sense of relief washing over him. “Good. At least she’s not alone.”
Bear pocketed his phone, looking at the rest of the team. “We’re back early, so why don’t we head over to the hospital after this?”
The whole group nodded in agreement, determined to support Gabby in any way they could.
◆◆◆
As Playboy and the team approached Gabby’s room at the end of the hallway, Playboy could hear the sounds of laughter and conversation seeping through the closed door.
“Sounds like a party in there,” Duke commented, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
Playboy chuckled. “Wouldn't expect anything less with those ladies together.”
He pushed the door open, and the sight that greeted him warmed his heart. Gabby was surrounded by her closest friends—Jocelyn, Clover, her nurse Selena, and even Autumn was there. They were all laughing, plates of food in their laps, the room filled with an air of joy and camaraderie.
“Hey, look who decided to join us,” Jocelyn called out, spotting the guys.
“About time you boys showed up,” Clover teased, waving them over.
But Playboy’s attention was solely on Gabby. She looked radiant, her smile brighter than he had ever seen. And then, to his utter shock and amazement, Gabby set her plate down, slowly uncovered her legs, and stood up.
Playboy's breath caught in his throat as she took a few tentative steps toward him, her new prosthetic leg moving smoothly with each step. She walked with determination, her eyes locked on his, a proud and triumphant smile on her face.
“Gabby...” Playboy whispered, awe and pride evident in his voice.
She reached him, and he couldn’t contain his happiness. He enveloped her in a hug, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. “I'm so proud of you,” he murmured, his voice choked with emotion.
Gabby laughed, the sound like music to his ears. “I did it, Tanner. I really did it.”
He set her down gently, his hands still on her waist as if afraid she might disappear. “You did more than that, Gabby. You're incredible.”
“Actually, you’re the incredible one,” she told him. “Thank you for calling the girls and my team and having them there to support me. It helped a lot.”
“I’d do anything for you. You know that,” he said, hugging her close.
She grinned. “I’m beginning to really see that.” She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss.
Gabby then looked around at her friends, then back at Playboy. “I couldn't have done it without all of you. You’ve all been my rock.”
Playboy cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had started to fall. “And we'll always be here for you, Gabby. Always.”
The room fell silent for a moment, everyone sharing in the emotional triumph of Gabby’s achievement. Then, Jocelyn broke the silence with a playful tone. “Alright, enough with the mushy stuff. Let's get back to celebrating!”
Laughter filled the room once more, but this time, it was tinged with a sense of accomplishment and hope. Playboy kept his arm around Gabby, unwilling to let her go just yet. He knew there would be more challenges ahead, but for now, they had this moment, and it was perfect.
Gabby looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “Thank you, Tanner. For everything.”
He kissed her forehead, his heart full. “No, Gabby. Thank you for being the strongest, most amazing woman I know.”