026 | rehab check-in

Gianna's leg stretched out in front of her as she sat on the padded mat in the rehab center, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. Her therapist, Clara, stood a few steps away, clipboard in hand, observing her progress.

"One more rep, Gianna. You've got this," Clara encouraged, her tone firm but kind.

Gianna bit her lip, gripping the resistance band tightly as she worked through the last stretch. Her muscles burned, her knee aching slightly from the strain, but she pushed through. She wasn't going to let a bad injury keep her down.

When she finally finished, Clara gave her a satisfied nod. "Good work. Take five, and then we'll move on to balance drills."

Gianna nodded, wiping her face with a towel as she leaned back on her hands to catch her breath. Her rehab sessions were grueling, but the thought of getting back on the pitch kept her going.

The sound of the door opening caught her attention, and when she looked up, her breath hitched. Hector Fort stood in the doorway, dressed in a hoodie and joggers, his duffel bag slung over one shoulder. He scanned the room before his eyes landed on her, his face breaking into a wide grin.

"Hey, superstar," he called out, walking toward her. "How's the knee holding up?"

Gianna's heart did that stupid fluttery thing again, and she hated how easily his presence could fluster her. She forced a smile, sitting up straighter. "It's fine. What are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd check in on you," Hector said, dropping his bag on the floor beside her. "You didn't think I'd let you do all this alone, did you?"

Clara, who had been observing the interaction with an amused smile, stepped forward. "And who might you be?"

"Hector," he said, holding out a hand. "Gianna's... friend."

Gianna tried not to roll her eyes at the slight pause before "friend." She could almost hear the hesitation in his voice.

Clara shook his hand, nodding approvingly. "Well, she's been doing great so far. A little stubborn at times, but nothing we can't handle."

"Stubborn? Gianna?" Hector teased, raising an eyebrow at her. "Never."

Gianna threw her towel at him, hitting him square in the chest. "Shut up."

He laughed, catching the towel and tossing it onto her bag. "Alright, what's next? Can I help?"

Clara smiled. "Actually, we're about to start balance drills. If you're up for it, you can help support her during one of the exercises."

Hector's eyes lit up. "Perfect. What do I do?"

Gianna groaned. "Clara, you don't have to involve him-"

"Too late," Clara said with a smirk. "Alright, Hector, stand here and hold out your hands. Gianna, you're going to balance on your injured leg and reach forward to tap his hands one at a time."

Hector moved into position, holding his hands out at shoulder height. "Alright, Gigi. Let's see what you've got."

Gianna rolled her eyes but stood up, testing her weight on her injured leg. She wobbled slightly, and Hector immediately leaned forward, his hands hovering near her waist.

"Relax," she muttered, trying to focus. "I'm not going to fall."

"Yeah, well, I'm not taking any chances," he shot back, his voice soft but protective.

Gianna sighed, but a small part of her appreciated his concern. She steadied herself, lifting her good leg slightly and reaching forward to tap his right hand. Her balance faltered, and Hector's hands shot out to catch her, gripping her waist firmly.

"You okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of pain.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, her cheeks burning. She wasn't sure if it was from the exercise or the fact that his hands were still on her waist.

Hector smirked, his fingers lingering for a moment before he let go. "Alright, keep going. You've got this."

With his support, Gianna managed to finish the drill without falling, though her knee throbbed by the end of it. Clara nodded approvingly. "Great work, Gianna. That's enough for today. Rest up, and we'll pick up again tomorrow."

As Clara walked away, Hector handed Gianna her water bottle. "You did good, Gigi. You're getting stronger."

"Thanks," she said softly, taking a sip. She sank onto the mat, stretching her leg out and leaning back on her hands. "You didn't have to come all the way here, you know."

"I wanted to," he said simply, sitting beside her. "I've missed you. It's weird not seeing you at training."

Gianna glanced at him, her heart twisting. "I miss it, too. But I'll be back soon."

"You better be," he said, bumping her shoulder with his. "The team's not the same without you."

She smiled, her chest filling with warmth. For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the world seeming to fade away. And as Hector reached over to ruffle her hair, Gianna felt a flicker of hope. Maybe things would be okay after all.