Page 14 of The Playboy's Playbook

May, 2009

It’s the end of the school year, which means I’m not a second grader! I’m so ready for third grade. I’m also ready to spend the summer at home, but I’m sad that I won’t see Matty for two months. He made second grade fun.

Matty and I are sitting on the swing set, waiting for our parents to pick us up from school. At the beginning of the school year, we made this swing set our spot.

During recess when the rest of the class would be running off, fighting over the slides, monkey bars, and see-saw, Matty and I walked over to the swings near the big shade tree. We enjoyed this corner of the playground because it was ours.

“I’m sad school is over,” I tell him, my voice just above a whisper.

“Me, too, Lala. But it’s okay. We’ll see each other next year,” Matty reassures me.

“But what if we aren’t in the same class?”

“It doesn’t matter, Lala. Listen.” He turns to me, his bright blue eyes shining in the sunlight. “Let’s make a promise right now before our moms get here.”

He extends his pinky to me and I link mine with his. “Okay, what kind of promise?”

“A promise that no matter what, we’ll always be best friends.”

I smile at him. “Even when we grow up and start driving?”

“Even when we grow up and start driving.”

We shake our interlocked pinkies and smile at each other when the sound of a horn gets our attention. We walk hand-in-hand to where our moms are parked and they get out of their cars.

“Too cute! Before we go, let’s take a picture of you two!” Ms. Maren says. She and my mom take out their cameras and point them at us. We wrap our arms around each other and smile as big as we can for the camera.

“Oh, that’s going in the yearbook when they graduate high school!” my mom says.

“Oh, I plan on showing it at their wedding when they get married,” Ms. Maren says, smiling down at us.

“Have a good summer!” my mom says to Ms. Maren and Matty.

“You, too! Come on, Matty. We have to go get Hannah.”

Matty starts walking towards his mom’s car and I walk with my mom to hers. Just when I’m about to get in, Matty calls out to me, running over to me. He wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into a deep hug. I wrap my arms around him, returning the hug.

“Best friends forever, Lala,” he whispers.

“Best friends forever, Matty.”

Chapter Seven

MATT

I’ve been wracking my brain for a week now wondering what the hell I did to Laila. I know I wasn’t always the nicest guy. In fact, I was a dick to most people. But I didn’t speak to her at all, so I’m not sure why she hates me so much.

The only place I feel peace is at the gym where it’s just me, a good playlist, and some heavy lifting.

I’m about to start my workout when I feel a light tap on my shoulder. I turn on the bench and see a petite girl with hazel eyes and brown hair behind me. She’s in a light blue workout set that shows off her abs. She’s pretty fit for being on the shorter side.

I pull my headphones down before speaking. “Hey. Did you need to use this machine? I can go to another one and come back.”

She places her hand on my shoulder to stop me. “No, you’re good, Matty. I just wanted to say hey. It’s been a while.”

I smile and nod, trying my best to hide the fact that I don’t know her. Every time I leave my apartment, my past shows up and bites me in the ass. For all I know, I could’ve fucked this girl one day and her best friend the next.

Just when I’m about to be honest and tell this girl I don’t know who she is, the doors open and in walks an angel on Earth.

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