Page 33 of The Playboy’s Playbook

Chapter Twenty-Nine

MATT

L uke may be my best friend, but he is the most infuriating human being to walk this Earth.

He asked me to keep watch on things because he had some meetings and I didn’t question it until it was going on two days of him not being at work.

I asked one of the guys and that’s when they told me that he was in D.C.

with the union workers to meet with Senator Mitchell.

As soon as they told me, I blew his phone up and of course the asshole ignored my calls. When his flight landed and he was back home, that’s when he told me that he didn’t want to upset me.

I knew there was a high chance that he’d see Laila and I had to practically force him to tell me if he did. I won’t lie, I was slightly jealous over the fact that he got to see her in person, even if it was for official business.

I had so many questions for him that went unanswered because he’s a dick. How did she look? Did she mention Nola? Did she ask about the boys? Did she have pictures of a boyfriend on her desk?

Did she ask about me?

I know it’s none of my business to know what’s going on in her life. I lost that right to have access to her, but I can’t help it. It’s selfish of me to think that I can walk back into her life, but I still love her.

I’ll always love Laila Wright.

The closest I am to seeing her is through the pictures she posts, which are few and far between. In pictures she would post during our very short-lived relationship, she would always smile directly at the camera. Her smile used to belong to me and it was my favorite part of her, next to her eyes.

Now, her head is turned to the side and she smiles at objects or looking up at the sky. It’s like she’s hiding her smile from the world.

Or saving it for someone else.

The past year hasn’t been easy, but Luke got me back on a routine and made me move back in with him. He said it was because he didn’t want me to be alone, but I knew he wanted to keep an eye on me.

I started spending more time with my mom and Hannah. We meet for dinner at Hannah’s at least twice a week. I introduced Clay and Jen to Hunter one weekend and they love their new “cousin.”

They also asked if Laila was going to give them a cousin to play with. That was a fun conversation I had to try to wiggle my way out of.

I’ve made progress in maintaining my sobriety and doing better. When I’m not at work, I spend my days in the gym and I started going to see a therapist to work through my past and accept it. But I can’t accept a life without Laila.

I know that it’s a longshot, but one day I’ll get my girl back.

“Matty, I need you to watch Clay and Jen for a few days. I’m flying out to see about this contract for a new project,” Luke says when I sit down in his office.

He got tired of the stuffy trailer and driving to and from conference centers to meet with potential clients. So he built an off-site office building not too far from his house. Of course, he dragged me into the project and paid me in pizza and a weekend with Clay and Jen.

When he’s not on site, he’s holed up in here, going over potential contracts and holding meetings. He even hired an assistant – her name is Sabrina and she tries to flirt with him, but he just brushes her off.

I try to offer her smiles of reassurance because I know Luke doesn’t mean any harm, but he has two modes: dad mode and business-man mode. The relationship mode has long since been turned off – hell, I’m sure he broke the knob to that mode all together.

“Sure,” I say without hesitation.

“I’ll make sure everything is stocked, so all you have to do is go to work and pick them up from summer school,” Luke says, taking in the look on my face.

“Work and school. You got it, Dad.” I move to stand and make my way out of his office. “When do you leave?”

“Tonight.”

I throw my hands in the air. “Dude, a little notice would’ve been nice.”

Luke rolls his eyes. “Did you have any big plans for tonight, Foster?”

I blink at him. “Fuck you.”

“Oh, I think Sherry is on car line duty today, so consider yourself warned.”

We both shudder at the mention of the elderly car line watcher that loves to flirt with Luke and I whenever we pick up the boys. She likes to lean against our trucks and pucker her overly painted pink lips at us.

“Alright. Have a safe flight, man. See you when you get back.” I exit the office and hop into my truck, starting the drive to the boys’ school. I wasn’t the first in line, but I’m about the sixth in line, which is an improvement.

Normally, I’d be fifteenth or twentieth in line. Being this close to the front is new territory for me. Luke will be jealous when I tell him. He’s typically at the back of the line, no matter how early he gets here.

I pull up closer and thankfully, Sherry is speaking to another student. Clay and Jen spot my truck and run over. I get out quickly and help them into their seats, moving fast so Sherry won’t have time to spot me.

Once I have them safely secured, I hop back into the driver’s seat, put the truck in drive, and pull off. I wave at Sherry and it’s impossible to miss the pout that’s evident on her face that she missed me.

“How was summer school today, boys?” I ask once we’re on the interstate to head to Luke’s house.

“Fine,” they say in unison. I chuckle and shake my head. I remember being the same way when my mom would ask me how school was at their age. It was always “fine” or “good.”

“Well, tell me what was fine about today. Jen, you first. What did you learn, bud?”

Jen starts elementary school this year and it’s already been a rough time for Luke. When he turned five and Luke enrolled him in school, I swear he cried for weeks.

“We learned how to count and how to say the acrabet,” Jen says confidently.

“The what?” I ask, making sure I’m understanding what he says.

“You know, ABCDEFH,” Jen says with even more confidence.

“You forgot G again, Jensen. It’s ABCDEF G H,” Clay jumps in. Jen pouts in his seat and mumbles the alphabet to himself, making sure to enunciate the letter G.

“Alright, Clay. Your turn. What did you learn today?” I ask, turning my attention to him. Clay shrugs his shoulders, like he always does.

“We did group reading and played at the indoor playground. Nothing too exciting,” Clay says.

“What? The indoor playground is very exciting!” I say, trying to liven up the car. Jen perks up at the mention of the playground.

“Can we go to the playground before we go home, Uncle Matty?” Jen asks.

“Do you boys have any homework?” I ask. They get silent and I look at them in the rearview mirror. They both cut their eyes to each other and look down in shame.

Luke has a strict rule about them doing their homework as soon as they get home before they have any free time to play. Too bad Luke isn’t here right now.

“If you promise not to tell your dad, I’ll take you to the park for an hour. Only one hour though,” I say, sternly. Clay and Jen perk up and nod their heads vehemently.

“We promise!”

I smile and turn off the interstate to exit to their neighborhood. I park my truck at Luke’s house and help the boys out. I make sure they put their things in their room and we walk to the neighborhood playground.

As soon as the playground comes into view, I’m taken back to when Laila and I would go to the park with Nola. I haven’t been back to a park since we split, so the memories hit me all at once.

As soon as we step foot into the wood-chipped area, the boys immediately take off toward the swingset while I sit on the bench in the corner under the shade.

I watch Clay help Jen onto the swing and instruct him on how to push himself before he starts swinging next to him. I can’t help the smile that’s plastered itself on my face. Clay takes his role as big brother seriously and loves to teach Jen new things.

A tiny bark pulls me from my thoughts and I spring to action to get to the boys before the dog does. Who the hell just lets their dog loose in a park, especially where children frequent?

I rush over to the boys, but they jump off the swing set and run toward the dog.

“Clay! Jen!” I shout, sprinting after them. When I finally catch up to them, I see that the dog they ran to is all too familiar. It’s hard to miss the floppy ears, and brown and white shiny coat of fur.

“Nola?” I say out loud, furrowing my brows.

As soon as she hears my voice, she sprints toward me as fast as her tiny legs will carry her. I bend down and pick her up and she immediately attacks my face with kisses.

“If Nola’s here…” Jen begins.

“Then Auntie Lala is here, too!” Clay finishes and they turn and sprint off.

“Boys, wait!” I cradle Nola closer to me as I chase after the boys. “We don’t know if she’s here! Nola could be lost!”

The boys stop once they reach the entrance to the dog park and I look up to see what they’re staring at.

Laila.

She’s frantically looking around the dog park and calling for Nola. Nola scrambles to get out of my arms and I set her down. The minute her paws hit the ground, she takes off toward Laila. Clay and Jen run behind her shouting out for her. “Auntie Lala!”

Laila turns quickly and she smiles with relief when she sees Nola. When she notices the boys running toward her, she bends down and stretches her arms out. The boys immediately run into her embrace and I can see her shoulders relax as she holds them close to her.

She envelopes them in a tight hug, mumbling to them, while Nola runs in circles around them. She pulls back and studies them, confusion on her face. Laila looks around, more than likely searching for Luke.

Her eyes finally land on me as I slowly walk over to her. She stands to her full height and I take in her appearance and notice that her pictures haven’t done her justice.