Page 63 of Playboy

She could feel her body shaking. It wasn’t from pain. It was from the fear coursing inside of her—the fear of failure.

The room seemed to hold its breath as she lifted her left foot, the prosthetic leg feeling heavier than expected. With careful precision, she placed it down, her muscles tensing as she took her first step, and all of the air leaving her body as she exhaled. It wasn’t easy, and she wasn’t about to celebrate just yet.

“Great job, Gabby,” Autumn encouraged, her voice steady and supportive. “Now, try to shift your weight smoothly as you step with your right foot.”

Gabby nodded, focusing on Autumn's instructions. She took another step, this time with her right foot, feeling the slight give of the prosthetic as it adjusted to her movement. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. She glanced up, catching Clover’s eye. The pride in her friend’s gaze was palpable.

“That's it, Gabs!” Jocelyn cheered, her voice full of excitement. “You're doing it!”

Gabby couldn't help but smile, a mix of relief and pride washing over her. She took another slow step and then another, each one feeling a little more confident.

The prosthetic leg was still unfamiliar, but she was learning to adapt with each movement.

Drew watched closely, nodding his approval as she moved down the bars. “Your gait looks good. Just keep focusing on even weight distribution. That’s key.”

As Gabby reached the end of the bars, she paused, a wave of emotion crashing over her. She had done it. The first steps were behind her, and while the journey ahead was long, she felt a renewed sense of hope and determination.

“You did amazing,” Autumn said, smiling warmly. “How do you feel?”

Gabby took a deep breath, blinking back tears. “I feel good. Stronger than I thought I would.”

“Any pain and anything feeling uncomfortable?” Cale asked.

Gabby shook her head. “Not really. I mean, there was a little bit of an ache where the prosthetic connects. But other than that, it felt mostly good.”

Cale, Drew, and Autumn all looked at each other and nodded.

“That’s good to hear,” Cale said.

“You did great, Gabby,” Autumn stated and gave her a side hug.

“Do you feel like another round?” Drew asked.

Gabby grinned. “Sure.”

Before Gabby could turn around to go back the way she came. Clover rushed forward, enveloping her in a gentle hug. “You were incredible. I'm so proud of you. And I got it all on video,” she said, holding up her cell phone.

Jocelyn joined the hug, laughing with joy. “This is just the beginning, Gabby.”

Selena wiped a tear from her eye, smiling softly. “You’ve got an incredible spirit, Gabby. Keep pushing forward.”

Gabby felt a swell of gratitude for the support surrounding her. She looked at Autumn and Dres, who both wore encouraging smiles.

Gabby’s heart felt lighter than it had in weeks. She could still feel the slight awkwardness of the prosthetic, but it was overshadowed by the pride swelling inside her. She’d done it.

Suddenly, claps and loud cheers echoed from behind her. Gabby froze, a wave of surprise washing over her. She turned around slowly, and there they were—her entire team, grinning from ear to ear, hooting and hollering as if she’d just scored the winning point in a championship game.

Her breath caught in her throat, her emotions crashing over her in waves. She hadn’t expected them to be here, but seeing their familiar faces, knowing they had come to support her in this deeply personal moment, nearly brought her to tears.

Oliver stepped forward, a knowing smile on his face. “Someone who cares for you deeply wanted to make sure you had all the support you could today.”

Gabby’s chest tightened, her heart swelling with warmth. She didn’t have to ask who. She knew it was all Playboy’s doing. Even though he couldn’t be here, he’d made sure she wasn’t alone, that she was surrounded by people who loved and supported her.

She looked up at Captain Graham, who looked like a proud dad seeing his kid walk for the first time. And in a way, he sort of was their dad.

“I thought you said you had a meeting across town today?” Gabby asked her Captain.

His cheeks turned a little pink, knowing he had been caught. He cleared his throat. “The guys all wanted this to be a surprise.”

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