Page 47 of Playboy

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment as he closed his eyes. When he pulled back, he kept his gaze locked on her, willing her to wake up and give him any sign that she could hear him.

But the room remained silent, save for the steady hum of the machines. All Playboy could do was sit there, holding her hand, and hope that somewhere deep inside, she was fighting her way back to him.

???

Gabby’s mom quietly approached her daughter’s hospital room. Her heart was heavy with worry but also filled with hope. The past four days had been an emotional rollercoaster—an endless cycle of hope and despair as she and her husband waited for their daughter to wake up. As she neared the door, she paused, hearing a low, familiar voice coming from inside.

Peaking inside, she saw Tanner, Gabby’s boyfriend. From the little time she’d spent with him at the hospital, she could understand why Gabby was so smitten with him. He was like a gentle giant.

The day after the accident, Playboy had sat down with her and her husband and assured them that he wasn’t going anywhere. He vowed to them that he would be by Gabby’s side throughout her recovery.

It was so very obvious to see that he genuinely cared for her daughter. And isn’t that what every parent or guardian couldwish for their child—to find someone who would be there for them through better or worse?

She leaned against the doorway, listening as he spoke to Gabby. It broke her heart to hear the raw emotion in his voice.

“I miss your voice,” he was saying. “I miss your laugh. I miss looking into your eyes—those gorgeous blue eyes that captivate me. You make everything brighter. You make everything…better.

“Your teammates miss you too. And your family—they miss you more than anything. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of people so full of love for someone. They need you, Gabby. We all do. So, please, please come back to us. Come back to me.”

She watched as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Wendy’s heart swelled with warmth and gratitude. At that moment, she realized just how much this man cared for her daughter. He wasn’t just there out of obligation. He was there because he truly cared. She took a deep breath, gathering herself before stepping into the room.

“Hey there,” Wendy said, softly knocking on the door as she entered. She did her best to act as if she hadn’t overheard the intimate conversation. Playboy looked up, startled at first, but then relaxed when he saw her.

“Hi,” he greeted her, his voice still a bit shaky. He gently placed Gabby’s hand back on the bed as he stood, giving her room.

Wendy smiled warmly. “You don’t have to get up. Please, stay with her.” She moved to the other side of the bed and started fiddling with Gabby’s hair.

“Goodness, who in the hell did your hair, sweetheart,” she said, talking out loud as she pulled the hair tie free and scooped up Gabby’s long hair and neatly tied it up in a messy style bun.

“There,” she said more to herself. She looked over at Playboy, and he smiled.

“That looks much better,” he told her. “And no, I didn’t do that.”

Wendy laughed, then became serious.

“How are you holding up, Tanner?”

Playboy sat back down, his eyes not leaving Gabby’s face. “I’m doing okay, I guess. I’m just…I guess I’m just hoping she’ll wake up soon. It’s hard seeing her like this. This isn’t who she is. I want to see her smile.”

Wendy nodded, understanding all too well. “It is hard,” she said softly. “But my baby girl is strong. She’s a fighter. She’ll come back to us when she’s ready.”

They fell into a comfortable silence. Wendy appreciated that Playboy was here, keeping vigil by Gabby’s side when he wasn’t working. It was clear that he was devoted to Gabby, and that brought Wendy a great deal of comfort.

As they sat there, Wendy noticed a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye. At first, she thought she was imagining it, but then she saw it again—Gabby’s fingers twitched slightly against the bed. Her breath caught in her throat as she leaned in closer, her heart pounding with sudden hope.

“Gabby?” Wendy whispered, her voice trembling.

Playboy’s head snapped up, his eyes wide, looking at Gabby’s hand, which lay flat on the bed.

Suddenly, her fingers curled inward like she was trying to grab something.

“Gabby?” Playboy echoed.

???

Playboy stood up, his grip on Gabby’s other hand tightening as he bent over her.

“Gabby? Can you hear us?”

---