Page 23 of The Playboy's Playbook

“You have a beautiful home, Luke,” I comment.

“Thank you. I built it myself,” he replies proudly.

I turn to him, eyes wide. “Really?”

“Well, dipshit over there helped.” Luke nods at Matthew who is currently setting Nola’s food and water bowls down.

“I heard that, asshole,” Matthew gripes, bringing smiles to mine and Luke’s faces.

Matthew pours Nola’s food into her bowl and at the sound of the rattle, she stops playing with the boys and runs over to Matthew. She sits down and looks up at him patiently waiting for him to tell her to eat. Matthew gives her the go ahead and Nola immediately dives into her food, almost falling into the bowl.

“Boys, come on! Time to pig out!” Matthew shouts, clapping his hands.

Clay and Jen get up from their swing set and run to their kids’ table. Luke begins fixing their plates and Matthew makes his way to me.

Even though I’m not a hundred percent set on Matthew or his intentions, I don’t mind the way he’s looking at me right now. I’m so glad I let Erica talk me into wearing a sundress today.

He steps forward and grabs my hand, leading me to a small table with two place settings covered by an umbrella.

“The last time I checked, there were three adults here.” I turn and see Luke sitting at the other table with his sons, smiling and laughing at something Jen said.

“Why is –” I begin, looking at Matthew confused.

“He offered to sit with the boys. I didn’t make him,” Matthew says, holding his hands up defensively.

I turn back to Luke and see that he is still smiling at his sons. It makes me wonder where their mom is, but I don’t want to seem insensitive, so I don’t ask.

Matthew pulls my chair out for me and I thank him. He sits across from me, his hair blowing in the gentle breeze. Even though we’re sitting under an umbrella, the sun’s reflection casts a beam onto Matthew, making his eyes appear an even brighter shade of blue.

“Thank you for inviting me today,” I say, pulling my sunglasses out of my purse and setting them on my face.

“Of course. I’m glad you could make it.” He shifts in his seat and pulls his sunglasses down over his eyes.

We smile at each other and for a moment it feels like we’re kids again, excited to go to school because we’ll see each other. It feels nice, almost normal.

I break the ice first. “How did you meet Luke? He seems like a good friend.”

Matthew smiles, running his hands through his hair. “He’s the greatest friend I’ve ever had. Please don’t tell Isaac I said that.”

We both laugh and Matthew continues. “He played football at Snider.”

“Ah, so this friendship began because of the hometown rivalry?”

Matthew chuckles. “I wish. We met at a party after one of the games our junior year. I was having some issues going on and he gave me the toughest pep talk that I needed to hear. We’ve been locked in ever since.”

“How is the project going that y’all are working on?” I follow up, cutting into the chicken on my plate.

“I’ll be happy to never see Meadowbrook, Alabama ever again. It doesn’t help that the university is pushing for us to be done ahead of the deadline, so Luke’s stressed out by it. Plus, a lot of the guys aren’t from around here, so they’re away from their families a majority of the year,” he explains as he cuts into his food.

As soon as Clay and Jen finish eating, they waste no time walking over to me, cutting mine and Matthew’s conversation short.

“Where are you from, ma’am?” Clay asks, causing Matthew and I to snicker. He’s so polite, but his delivery is very blunt and straight to the point.

“I’m from Oakridge like your dad and uncle. Uncle Matty and I actually grew up together,” I answer.

Clay’s eyes go wide with surprise as Jen taps on my knee to get my attention. He studies me for a moment before asking, “When are you having Uncle Matty’s baby?”

“JENSEN!” Matthew and Luke shout, startling Nola from her nap. I push my lips together to keep from laughing.

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