Page 32 of The Playboy’s Playbook

Chapter Twenty-Eight

LAILA

One Year Later

F uck me, why is dating so damn hard? Tonight was my third date with this guy I’d met at a work event and it went about as well as getting Nola in her harness to go on a walk. I don’t even remember the guy’s name.

Daniel? Brandon? Something or another.

I thought that I’d have an easier time going on dates, moving on with my life. I quickly found out that dating is a very hard thing to do when my mind has been stuck on one person for a year.

Three hundred and sixty five.

That’s how many days it’s been since I ended things with Matthew. That’s how many days it’s been since I’ve felt genuine happiness. That’s how many days it’s been that I’ve been living with a broken heart. That’s how many days it’s been without so much as a spark that ignites my entire body.

Three hundred and sixty five days since I’ve felt love.

Every so often, Hannah posts pictures of her son, Hunter playing with Matthew. Those pictures are my favorite. I’m glad that Matthew is speaking to his family again.

The last picture Luke posted with Matthew was seven months ago on New Year’s Day. Luke hosted a party for the construction crew and Matthew was posing with a smile on his face and holding two thumbs up as he stood behind a buffet table with an apron around his torso.

The smile didn’t reach his eyes.

He cut his blond hair short, the sides tapered close, but the top was still a chaotic mess like I loved. His hair was lighter, almost no sign of the brown streaks that used to flow through it. His ocean blue eyes were still my favorite part of him.

But they were full of sadness.

The guys I’ve dated after Matthew ticked all the boxes that I wanted – stable job, family oriented, sweet. Those guys gave me sunshine on a cloudy day.

But they weren’t Matthew Foster.

Matthew rode into the eye of the storm and took me with him, but I felt safe with him. Secure in his arms, loved by his gaze. Matthew ticked the box that I want the most – pure and raw love that stings. Matthew was the gasoline to my fire.

But he loved me. And I loved him.

When tomorrow comes, I’ll still love him. Three hundred and sixty six days after he broke my heart.

The office phone rings and I quickly answer it. “Senator Mitchell’s office, this is Laila,” I say, my voice void of emotion.

“Hey Laila! Eleanor’s ten-thirty appointment is here. Do you want me to send them up?” asks Jessica, the new front desk clerk. I look at the clock on the wall and see that it’s ten-twenty.

“Yeah, send them up to the waiting area outside of my office. I’ll handle the rest.”

I hang up and move to the file cabinet and reach for the file labeled for today’s meetings. Since the new legislative session began, the staff’s expanded exponentially.

We went from a small staff of four to a full staff of twenty. It’s been an adjustment getting used to people doing all of the things that I used to do. Sometimes I feel like I have to find something to do to keep busy because my workload has lessened by a lot now.

I used to handle all of the scheduling, meeting agendas, and public events. Those duties have now been divided up amongst the rest of the team, mainly interns needing college credit.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when a knock sounds on the door, followed by someone clearing their throat. “Laila?”

I snap my head in the direction and fight back tears as I take in Luke standing in the doorway, dressed to the nines in a navy suit with a white button down.

His wavy brown hair is shorter and darker. His beard is fuller and cut closer to his sharp jawline, with flecks of gray throughout. He studies me as if he can’t believe I’m real. The feeling is very mutual.

“Luke? You’re the ten-thirty meeting with Senator Mitchell?” I ask, finally opening the file folder I’ve been holding. Sure enough, the name on the scheduling chart reads Lucas Turner, ten thirty at the top.

Luke nods. “Yeah, I’m here on behalf of the Southern Construction Workers Union. I’m sorry, I should’ve asked if someone else could come in my place. But the chances of this happening were slim and –”

I lift my hand, cutting him off. “Luke, it’s fine. I’ll let Senator Mitchell know that you’re here.” I nod to one of the chairs in front of my desk before I walk across the hall to the senator’s office.

“Senator Mitchell, your ten thirty meeting is here. Are you ready for him?” I ask, trying to keep my emotions steady.

Senator Mitchell sighs. “Crap, I forgot about the meeting and I’m afraid I double-booked. Can you see if they’ll reschedule for eleven today or if you can hold the meeting and get all the details I need, that would work. Then we’ll review it and see what we can do to help those folks out.”

I nod and smile softly. “Of course.” I back out of the room and back into my office. Luke is texting on his phone, but quickly tucks it away in his pocket when I enter the room. He moves to his feet and straightens his suit.

“Senator Mitchell double booked today. If you’re free at eleven, you can come back then or you can have the meeting with me…if you want.”

Luke nods and smiles softly. “You and I can have the meeting. I’m flying back home right after.”

“You’ll have to update me on the details about what you were meeting with the senator about.” I gesture for him to sit as I walk to my office chair, pulling out a notebook to take notes.

“Yeah, no problem. Construction work is dangerous, so the main goal of the Southern Construction Workers Union is to make sure that all workers within the trade receive proper training at school.”

I continue flipping through the papers, briefly looking up at Luke. “You doubled in HVAC and construction, right?”

Luke smiles and gives me a small nod. “I did. Right at home at Oakridge Community College.”

“I heard they have a great trade program for different careers.”

“One of the best in the state if you ask me,” Luke beams.

“Do the boys show any interest in wanting to follow in your footsteps?” I ask, wanting any details I can get about the two boys who captured my heart like their uncle.

I keep Clay’s seashell on my desk in my home office. I haven’t used the gel pens because I don’t want them to run out, so I leave them in my pen holder.

Luke’s sigh tells me that neither of his sons care about his job, which is on par for Jen who just wanted to play with his trucks. I’d expect Clay would want to be like his dad.

“Clay is hellbent on being a seashell. I thought he would’ve grown out of that by now, but he’s got a vivid imagination. Jen’s latest obsession is biscuits, so he wants to own a biscuit shop.”

I laugh and then cover my mouth quickly to suppress the sound. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh.”

For the first time since he walked in, Luke relaxes a little bit. “It’s completely okay, Laila.”

“Just biscuits? Nothing else?”

Luke nods and presses his lips into a thin line, as if he’s trying to keep himself from laughing.

I motion for him to continue, bringing us back on track for the reason he’s here today. “Please, continue. What is it that the union wants the senator to do to support trade students?”

“Right. We’re lobbying for the trade students to be integrated into the Senator’s education bill to continue the progression of training more students.” Luke flips through a couple of documents and explains a few things more in depth if I have a question.

Once I’ve written down enough notes to write a book on construction, I look up at Luke proudly. “I think this would be great for the Senator to consider. I’ll make sure she knows it, too.”

Luke smiles softly and relaxes a bit into the chair. “Thank you, Laila. That means a lot to me.”

“Of course.” We sit in silence, both of us wanting to ask the question we’re thinking of, both scared to make the first move.

“How is he?” I break the silence, my heart beating rapidly.

Luke nods and smiles sadly. “He’s been better, but then I guess I could possibly say the same about you.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and fight back tears.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that,” Luke rushes out when he takes in my face.

I quickly shake my head. “No need to apologize. I’ll make sure the Senator gets these notes and someone on the team will contact you or the Union.” I quickly rise to my feet and walk to the door, holding it open for Luke.

“Laila,” Luke sighs, shutting his eyes. He reopens his eyes and I can see the sadness flowing through them.

“Tell the boys I said hello. Have a safe flight home, Luke.”

Luke nods his head and exits my office, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I text Senator Mitchell to let her know that I’m heading out early and that I won’t be in tomorrow. She responds with a thumbs up and says to email her anything she needs to look over and that she’ll see me when I get back.

The entire drive to Nola’s day camp was silent, but my mind was moving a million miles a minute. Seeing Luke made me realize even though I forgave Matthew a while ago, it still hurts.