Page 29 of The Playboy’s Playbook

Chapter Twenty-Five

MATT

I walk into the restaurant and scan the area. I received a surprising text message to meet at Waffle House at eleven. I dressed casually, jeans and a polo shirt.

I can’t remember the last time I wore a polo shirt, but today felt fitting to wear one. I needed to look my best, to give off the impression that everything is alright in my life, when in actuality, everything is shit.

“Matty?” the soft voice of a woman says.

I turn in the direction of the voice and am met with a familiar face that I haven’t seen in years. I walk to the booth my mom occupies and scoot in the seat.

“Hi mom.”

My mom is quiet as she studies my face. Hannah has our dad’s features, a long face and slender nose – the only thing she inherited from my mom was her curly blond hair.

I’m my mom’s twin through and through. Bright blue eyes, blond hair with hints of brown, and tanned skin. Looking at my mom, I can see that the years have flown by.

She has more wrinkles framing her eyes and deeper laugh lines. Her hair has small streaks of white, but she’s still a beautiful woman.

“It’s so good to see you, Matty,” my mom says, a sad smile on her face.

“I’m sorry it took this long, mom.” I lace my hands together in my lap and look down.

“No, I’m sorry for how I treated you. Oh, my baby boy is all grown up!” She waves her hands in front of her, pride showing in her eyes. “You have grown to be a wonderful man. I see pictures Luke’s company posts with you at the forefront of it all. You are doing so well, Matty. I’m so proud of you.”

I nod, keeping my gaze low and avoiding eye contact. “Thank you, mom. I-I needed to hear that.”

“I wish I’d told you how proud I was of you when you were at home. I didn’t make life easy for you and I’ll always regret not showing up for you when you needed me the most,” my mom’s voice cracks and a few tears fall from her eyes.

I feel hot tears prick the back of my eyes, but I maintain my composure. “It’s okay, mom. I don’t…I forgive you. I forgave you a long time ago.”

“Hannah told me that you and Laila were seeing each other! She’s grown to be absolutely gorgeous!

She’s always been a pretty girl though. I’m so happy that you two found each other again!

I love Laila, she’s always been a sweetheart.

Her mom would stop by the boutique and we’d chat forever about you two, even after you graduated.

How’d you two reconnect? How is she in general?

I want to hear it all!” she says excitedly.

“Hannah didn’t tell you?” I ask, just to make sure this isn’t a trick to get me to express my heartache.

Mom shakes her head in confusion. Unfortunately, I’m about to disappoint her once again.

“We’re not together anymore. I, uh, I fucked up.”

My mom lets out a sigh. “What happened?”

“I didn’t tell her about my arrest. She saw some posts that girls I used to…uh, be with had shared.”

Mom leans back into her seat, studying me for a moment. “What are you going to do about it?”

I look at my mom and furrow my brows in confusion. “What do you mean? I can’t do anything about it.”

“Matthew Andrew Foster, you are one determined young man, always have been. Do not sit here and tell me that you don’t have a plan to get Laila back.”

“I don’t, mom. I genuinely don’t think there’s anything I can do. She said she never wanted to see me again. She hasn’t responded to any of my efforts that I’ve done already. I’m just going to give her space. Leave her alone like she asked me to do.”

“I’m not for interfering in someone’s love life, but you and Laila are a match made in heaven – you always have been. You two belong with each other,” my mom says, her voice low and serious.

“Laila quite literally hates me, mom. Giving her time and space is my best and only option now.”

My mom takes a sip of her water and nods. “Giving her space is great and as a woman, I appreciate that you’re respecting her wishes, but don’t go forever without trying. Just because it rains today doesn’t mean the sun won’t shine tomorrow.”

I soak in my mom’s words and we eat our meal in silence.

Just as I’m about to pay the bill, my mom speaks. “Do you love her?”

I don’t hesitate when I answer. “Without question.”

“Then show her, Matty.”

We say our goodbyes, but not before planning to see each other again, sooner rather than later.

On the drive to Luke’s house, I stop by the store and pick up a new notebook. I’m going to be up all night because my mom was right. I am a determined guy and I’m going to get my girl back.

Whatever it takes.

As I walk through the store to grab a few things, I feel a pair of eyes on me. I don't need to turn around to know who's watching my every move.

“Rachel.”

“Oh, think again, pretty boy.”

That’s a man’s voice. And definitely not Rachel Finley’s.

I turn around, curious to see who this guy is and as soon as I do, I immediately regret it.

“Bet you ain’t think you was gonna see me again. How was jail? Make any friends?” Randy berates as he stalks toward me.

“You son of a bitch. I spent six months away because your ass lied. You know it and so does that entire corrupt police force. Just cause your dad’s the sheriff,” I spit, anger bubbling in my chest.

“And what’re you gonna do about it? You gone sick that pretty little arm piece on me? Man, she is quite the catch. It’s a wonder how she ended up with you.”

At the mention of Laila, I abandon all restraint and this time I grab Randy by his collar and jack him up. This asshole actually has the nerve to laugh as he stands on his toes.

“Jail did something right because it looks like you finally learned to be a man. It ain’t so nice having someone talk about your girl like that, ain’t it?” Randy asks, a smirk on his face.

“If you ever mention her again, I swear, I’ll –”

“What? Beat me up? Please. You got off easy only having six months, but I’d make sure you’d get a much longer sentence if you touch me again.

You got a history of running through women like a tomb raider.

If you think that for a second that pretty one you got right now is going to last, whew, I feel sorry when you break her heart for the next best thing. ”

I tighten my grip on Randy and get closer to his face. “Shut. Up.”

“Ah, well. Maybe you won’t even have to cheat on her to break her heart. You’re doing that just fine right now,” Randy chides.

My grip loosens a little, but I don’t drop it completely. “What are you talking about?”

“Hey, sugar. Don’t mind us,” Randy says as he tilts his head to the side. I turn to follow his gaze and see Laila standing there, tears brimming her eyes.

“Laila,” I start, but she turns and runs in the opposite direction. I start after her, but turn back to Randy. “We’re not done.”

“Oh, I think we are, kid. Have fun getting your bitch back.”

I clutch my fist, ready to swing when I’m stopped. I turn and see Luke standing behind me, his hold on me tight, but his glare on Randy burning a hole through his head.

“Move on, McClain. Cause the minute I let go, I can’t promise I’ll be able to stop him,” my best friend says venomously.

Randy might try me alone, but he’s not going to try me with someone else around. He nods and practically runs in the opposite direction.

Luke lets go of my hand and I immediately turn to run after Laila.

She’s just now walking out of the store, so I follow her into the parking lot.

“Laila, I promise it wasn’t what it looked like.

” I jog lightly to catch up to her, grabbing her elbow when I get close enough.

She turns to me and my heart immediately breaks at her tear-stained face.

“Baby,” I begin.

“I’m not your baby! Stop calling me that!” she yells.

“Laila! If you would please shut up and listen to me! He was saying the worst things about you and I wasn’t going to let him run his mouth and get away with it!”

“So you resort to physical violence that could put you back in jail. Real smart, Matthew. You deserve an award!” She claps her hands in a sarcastic manner. It’s comforting to know that her firecracker spirit isn’t all gone.

“I don’t give a damn about going back to jail! I have you and that’s all I need!”

“ Had ! You had me and that was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”

My heart breaks even more at her words and the venom behind them. I shake my head and step closer to her. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do! There is nothing you can say or do that will repair this. I thought I knew you, but I guess I was wrong. You haven’t changed at all.

You still play with people’s emotions and I let your words and false promises cloud my judgement.

I let you ruin me when I should’ve walked away when I had the chance. ”

“It seems like no matter what I do, shit always happens, but I’m trying, Laila. I’m trying for you!” I cry in frustration.

“Just…leave me alone.” Laila turns on her heels and gets in her car, slamming her door behind her. She backs up and leaves me standing in the grocery store parking lot alone. As she drives off, I feel like she ran over my heart with her car. I blink back the tears that want to fall.

“Matty,” Luke says, placing his hand on my shoulder. I push him off and make my way to my truck, Luke following close behind. “Matty, talk to me.”

I stop and turn to my best friend. “Thank you for stepping in, but I just need to be alone right now. I’ll talk to you later.”

Luke nods in defeat and pulls me into a tight hug before going to his truck and driving away. I lean against mine and blow out a puff of air, tilting my head to the black sky.

“What a mess, Matty. What a fucking mess,” I mumble to myself.

After having a minute to breathe and get my thoughts somewhat together, I return to the aisle and see my cart is still there and full of the items I intended to buy. I glance over everything and walk away, heading to the aisle that was so familiar to me once upon a time.

I walk up to the cooler and grab a case of beer, slamming the door before walking off. As I’m checking out, a group of girls walk in laughing and talking. I immediately spot the petite brunette in a crop top and shorts the same time she looks at me.

She eyes me up and down, her eyes landing on the case of beer on the conveyor belt. She smirks knowingly and I hate that I know the look on her face. She’s been waiting on a mark all night long and she finally found one.

I hand over my ID to the cashier and pay for the beers, heading over to the group of girls, my eyes locked on the brunette.

“Matty Foster. Long time, no see,” she purrs.

“Let’s go,” I say wasting no time as I walk past her knowing she’ll follow me.

“I’m Liz by the way. In case you forgot my name,” she says as she climbs into the front seat of my truck.

Laila’s seat.

“Don’t care. Backseat,” I say as I quickly plop the drinks down to keep her from sitting down. She smiles sweetly before stepping back down and moving to the backseat of the truck. I climb in and close and lock the doors and Liz wastes no time getting down to it.

I have nothing to lose now.