Page 21 of Playboy

Playboy chuckled. “I guess so.” Tonight couldn’t come fast enough.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Mom! Stop apologizing. I already told you that I’m not upset.”

“I know, honey, but your dad and I should’ve been there. We wanted to be there to support you.”

“I know you did, Mom. It’s not like dad co-conspired with his doctors to suddenly have his appendix removed,” Gabby chuckled.

“Gabriella Allen, this is not funny. Your father is devastated that he missed seeing you win that competition.”

Gabby sobered instantly, remembering how just yesterday she had been worried when she got the call from her mom saying that her dad was being admitted to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. Yeah, it sucked not having her parents there watching her kick-ass, but her dad’s health was way more important. As she told him, there would always be more competitions, but she only had one dad. At least he had been able to watch the competition on the internet since it had been live-streamed.

“So, how is dad doing anyway? I’m sure it is killing him to be laid up.”

“Nothing has really changed since I gave you the last update. The doctor said the surgery went well, and he should be able to leave the hospital tomorrow. But he’ll have to take it easy for the next two to four weeks.”

“Dad? Taking it easy? Good luck with that,” Gabby laughed, knowing how her dad couldn’t sit still.

“Oh, you don’t need to tell me that. Since he woke up from surgery, all your father has been doing is making to-do lists for around the house.”

The sound of her mom sighing made Gabby laugh. Gabby knew her dad could be a handful for her mom at times, especially now that he had retired. When he decided to retire, he had been stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. Her parents fell in love with the historic city, and what it all had to offer, so they bought a house there on the water. The house had been in foreclosure for quite a while and needed a lot of updating.

“I’m sure he is. Tell him that I said he better listen to his doctor and get plenty of rest before he starts any new projects.”

“I will, honey. What are you up to tonight? I thought you’d be out celebrating with those crazy teammates of yours.”

Gabby glanced at the illuminated “open” sign that hung in the window of the rundown-looking building, otherwise known as Bayside Bar and Grille—the best-kept secret in Virginia Beach.

“I celebrated with them earlier. I think a lot of people from the competition are going to Bayside. So, I might stop in there for a bit.” She wasn’t going to tell her mom that she was already sitting in Bayside’s parking lot.

“You mean to seewhois there?”

Busted, Gabby thought to herself. She had confided in her mom about the handsome Navy SEAL she had a crush on.

“Maybe,” Gabby teased, as a smile formed on her lips.

“I don’t know why you don’t just ask him out.”

“Because I’m nervous,” she admitted.

“Are you nervous because he’s a SEAL?”

“No. It isn’t that.” Hell, being a member of the MSRT team, she was used to intimidating guys.

“Then what is it? What makes you so nervous?”

Gabby leaned her head back against the headrest.

“Rejection. It’s like I get mixed signals from him. I told you about what happened at the gala with that Vicky woman. But then, when I saw him the other night, he came over to make sure I was okay and even bought me a drink. And then today, after the competition, he hugged me and even kissed my cheek.”

“Did you ever think that maybe he could be nervous too? And as far as that other woman is concerned, if what you say is true and she has been barking up his tree for months, then why aren’t they together?”

Gabby thought about it. Her mom made a good point.Shit.Now, she wondered if she had been too harsh on him after the gala. Maybe she should have stayed and showed Vicky that her presence didn’t bother her. Hell, perhaps she should have just kissed Playboy right there in front of Vicky. That would’ve been funny.

Her mind then drifted back to earlier in the day after the competition and how Playboy had congratulated her. She felt her entire body begin to heat up, remembering the way he wrapped his big, strong arms around her, hoisted her up against his rock-solid body, and then kissed her cheek. She definitely hadn’t been expecting that, but she wasn’t complaining about it either. Even Adrian and Tristan had made comments about Playboy’s show of possession, though they seemed happy about it, and told her that Playboy and his team were top-notch and respectable men.

Gabby took a deep breath and exhaled. She just needed to rip the band-aid off and tell Playboy how she felt. The worst that could happen was that he’d tell her that he didn’t feel the same way. But at least she’d know where they stood.

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