Page 18 of The Playboy's Playbook

Slowly, his breathing evens out and the storm in his eyes calms down. He looks boyish, like he just wants to cuddle under a blanket and escape the world.

I take a deep breath and ask in a much calmer tone. “Why did you want me here?”

“I-I really do want to get to know you, Laila. We were friends in school and you’ve grown so much and I just –”

“Matthew,” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Please. Let me get to know you,” he begs.

I study him for a moment and see nothing but tension in his body language. I nod slightly before asking, “What do you want to know?”

His answer is simple. “Anything. Everything.”

Chapter Nine

MATT

I’ve never been so nervous before, but when I’m in front of Laila, she rattles me like I’ve never been rattled before. Trying to speak to Laila is a learning curve because I don’t want to say something and royally fuck up my chances.

“Well, I need you to be a bit more specific,” Laila says softly.

I shift in my seat and think about the playbook. The first play is meant for me to get to know Laila. Hopefully, we can find something in common. I doubt it, but a guy can dream.

“What did you do after high school?” I start.

Good question, Matty. Short and simple.

“I went to college in D.C. and studied political theory. Now I work at the Capitol for a Senator,” she answers.

Yeah, her guard is so high up, it could rival the Great Wall of China.

Keep going, Matty.

“That’s great, Laila. Why political theory?”

Follow up questions are good. Follow up questions let her know that I’m listening to what she’s saying and care.

She shrugs her shoulders before answering. “It was interesting to me. I changed my major at least four times before I settled on it.”

She’s not bucking at all, so I know that I have an uphill battle on my hands.

Don’t give up now.

“Are you thinking about moving back home?” I ask, needing to know if I’m on a timeline.

“I’m just here for the summer. I’ll be leaving at the start of September,” she answers.

Okay, it’s good to know that I have three months to impress Laila and hopefully figure out what I did to make her hate me.

I smile and nod. “I’m sure your mom is happy for you. How is Ms. Gina?”

Laila smiles and a little spark comes to her eyes. I see a few bricks fall from her wall and she relaxes a little.

“She’s great. We traveled a lot during the summer breaks while I was in school. Our favorite place was Pennsylvania, which a lot of people write off as a vacation destination.”

“That’s cool. Where’s the next adventure?” I lean forward. Luke said that body language is key in situations like this. I don’t want to come off uninterested, so by leaning forward, I hope that shows her I’m very into her and our conversation.

I’m also taking advice from a grumpy man who refuses to date, so if this goes to shit, I’m blaming him.

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