Page 12 of The Playboy’s Playbook

Chapter Ten

LAILA

M atthew surprised me when he asked to see me today. I was beginning to think that he had enough of me last week because he didn’t make any mention of wanting to see each other again.

I was sad at first, but then I remembered that’s the type of person he is. He treats girls like they’re on top of the world and then he ghosts them or completely avoids them once he’s had his way.

He makes people feel low, cheap. Worthless.

I was hesitant to accept his invitation today, but eventually – and by eventually, I mean a long phone call with Erica where she yelled at me to stop being a baby – I told him I’d be there.

Nola’s never been to a cookout, so I asked Matthew if it was okay to bring her. He said absolutely and that he had some people who would love to meet and play with her.

After an hour of struggling to find an outfit and wrangling Nola into her carrier, I finally pulled up to the address Matthew gave me. I’m sitting in my car, looking at the gorgeous house in front of me and giving myself a mental pep talk to get out of the car.

The house is typical for southern suburban Alabama. It looks like my mom’s house with its brick exterior and polished yard. There’s a basketball hoop attached to the top of the garage and a few toy trucks scattered on the front porch.

I must be the first person here because normally at cookouts, the street is jam packed with cars. There’s only two trucks in the driveway – Matthew’s blue F-150 and a blacked out Silverado.

I continue to study the house as I walk up the driveway to the front porch, clutching Nola tightly to my chest.

“Okay, Nola. Remember what I said in the car. This is not a playdate, so whoever offers you pets is not automatically your friend. We’re here because your Auntie Erica said to be nice and I’m being nice,” I explain to Nola as if she’ll understand a word coming out of my mouth.

I ring the doorbell and Nola lets out a tiny bark. I pet her behind her ear and bounce her while we wait. A minute later, the door swings open, revealing Matthew in jeans and a form fitting white t-shirt. His blond hair is pushed back by sunglasses sitting on his head.

“Hey,” he breathes, flashing me a dimpled grin.

“Hey.”

We stand in silence smiling at each other until Nola barks again, snapping us back to reality.

“Oh, this is Nola,” I say, holding her up.

Matthew reaches out and I place Nola in his hands. She’s already small, but in his large hands, she looks like a toy. Matthew scratches behind her ear and she immediately falls in love with him.

Traitor.

“Nice to meet you, Nola,” Matthew coos at her. Matthew nods for me to enter the house fully, moving out of the doorframe. I know I gave Nola a pep talk about not falling for anyone who gives her pets, but seeing Matthew like this – a big softy – makes it kind of hard to not swoon a little.

He turns to me to speak when he’s cut off by two tiny voices calling for him. Soon, two boys come into view from downstairs, excitement all over their faces. I remember Clay from the rodeo and he’s followed by another boy with wavy brown hair and gray eyes.

“Uncle Matty, daddy said you have a date coming over!” Clay exclaims, bouncing up and down.

“Yeah, he said that you –” the shorter boy follows, but Matthew cuts him off before he can finish his sentence.

“Stop speaking and go outside. Please,” Matthew says, shooing the kids off.

I smile at them just as they notice me. Clay smiles back and runs up, hugging my legs tightly. I gently hug him back, running a hand gently over the top of his head.

“Nice to see you again, ma’am!” Clay beams at me and it’s impossible not to fall in love with him.

“Nice to see you again, Clay,” I answer.

“Are you my Uncle Matty’s girlfriend?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No, I’m just his…friend. I brought a friend of mine who I think you would enjoy playing with.”

Clay’s eyes light up and he jumps even harder. “Who? Who? Who? Tell me!” he shouts excitedly.

I take Nola from Matthew, much to her dismay, and I bend back down to show her to the kids. “This is my puppy, Nola.”

“Our daddy won’t let us have a puppy,” Clay says.

“Yeah, he’s scared of puppies,” the smaller one follows up.

“Well, Nola is super playful and if you promise to be kind and gentle with her, I’m sure your Uncle Matty will let you play with her outside.” I look up at Matthew and he smiles down at me.

Both of the boys suddenly calm down and Clay looks at Matthew, his blue eyes wide and pleading. “We promise to be good with the puppy, Uncle Matty.”

Matthew smiles and nods. “Take her to the backyard. The first time I see or hear you boys being rough, you’re in trouble. Understood?” Matthew looks at the boys seriously, almost father-like.

“Yes, sir,” the boys respond in unison.

I give Nola to Clay and both of the boys walk slowly to the backdoor. Once they set Nola down, all three of them start running around the grassy area of the backyard. I return to my full height and look over to see Matthew smiling proudly at the boys playing outside.

“Uncle Matty?” I ask curiously. Clay called him that at the rodeo, but I was too stunned to even question it.

“This is my friend Luke’s house and those are his sons.

Clay is the oldest. The younger one is Jen and he’s nothing but trouble.

I’d stay away from him,” Matthew says, a small spark coming to his eyes as he talks about the boys.

“I’ve been around since they were born, so I’ve always been Uncle Matty.

They think Luke and I are brothers,” he laments.

“You’re good with them,” I praise, meaning every word. Matthew turns his gaze to me and the same firestorm that was raging in them last week is back.

“Yo, dipshit! Food’s ready. And why the hell do my kids have a dog?” a heavy voice sounds, followed by heavier footsteps, as the backdoor slides open.

Matthew closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m so sorry about him. I asked him to be on his best behavior.”

I wave him off. “I’m used to a best friend being on anything except their best behavior, trust me.”

A man about Matthew’s height comes around the corner and I’m assuming he’s Luke. He looks just like Clay with blue eyes and curly brown hair. Once he notices me standing there, he smiles sheepishly, embarrassed by his word choice.

“Hi, I’m Luke,” he says, extending his hand.

I happily step forward and shake his hand. “I’m Laila.”

Matthew steps closer behind me, placing his hand on my lower back. “Does Nola have a food and water bowl?” he asks, looking down at me.

At a loss of words at the feel of his hand on me, I simply nod and pass him Nola’s puppy bag with all of her things in it. He takes it from me, his eyes not leaving mine. Matthew walks outside, leaving Luke and I alone in the kitchen.

“You rattle the kid, you know,” Luke says, crossing his arms over his chest, a smug smile on his face.

Snapping back to reality, I shake my head. “I’m sorry? I don’t get what you mean.”

Luke lets out a hefty chuckle. “Trust me, you rattle him. Come on, let’s go outside before my kids try to shove a rib down your dog’s throat. Matty says you don’t eat beef or pork, so he grilled chicken and set it aside for you.”

While we make our way outside, I take a look around his house and notice how clean it is for having two young kids.

Not a pillow out of place or a dust bunny in sight.

Aside from the toys on the front porch, I wouldn’t have guessed that children lived here.

There’s several pictures of Luke and his sons, even a few with Matthew, but none with a woman.

Luke slides the backdoor open, letting me step outside first. His backyard is huge and fit for someone with kids.

To the left, there’s a pool with a slide and to the right, there’s a playset covered by a huge shade tree where the boys and Nola are.

Clay and Jen are trying to get Nola to sit, but Nola is of course being her typical self and refusing to listen.

“You have a beautiful home, Luke,” I comment.

“Thank you. I built it myself,” he replies proudly.

I turn to him, eyes wide. “Really?”

“Well, dipshit over there helped.” Luke nods at Matthew who is currently setting Nola’s food and water bowls down.

“I heard that, asshole,” Matthew gripes, bringing smiles to mine and Luke’s faces.

Matthew pours Nola’s food into her bowl and at the sound of the rattle, she stops playing with the boys and runs over to Matthew.

She sits down and looks up at him patiently waiting for him to tell her to eat.

Matthew gives her the go ahead and Nola immediately dives into her food, almost falling into the bowl.

“Boys, come on! Time to pig out!” Matthew shouts, clapping his hands.

Clay and Jen get up from their swing set and run to their kids’ table. Luke begins fixing their plates and Matthew makes his way to me.

Even though I’m not a hundred percent set on Matthew or his intentions, I don’t mind the way he’s looking at me right now. I’m so glad I let Erica talk me into wearing a sundress today.

He steps forward and grabs my hand, leading me to a small table with two place settings covered by an umbrella.

“The last time I checked, there were three adults here.” I turn and see Luke sitting at the other table with his sons, smiling and laughing at something Jen said.

“Why is –” I begin, looking at Matthew confused.

“He offered to sit with the boys. I didn’t make him,” Matthew says, holding his hands up defensively.

I turn back to Luke and see that he is still smiling at his sons. It makes me wonder where their mom is, but I don’t want to seem insensitive, so I don’t ask.

Matthew pulls my chair out for me and I thank him. He sits across from me, his hair blowing in the gentle breeze. Even though we’re sitting under an umbrella, the sun’s reflection casts a beam onto Matthew, making his eyes appear an even brighter shade of blue.

“Thank you for inviting me today,” I say, pulling my sunglasses out of my purse and setting them on my face.