Page 33 of The Playboy's Playbook

He looks at me intently, trying to see through me. “Not yet. Another day. But for now, let’s eat because I’m starving.”

“Ugh, fine,” I groan. “What do you want for breakfast?”

Matt looks at me cheekily and I immediately shake my head. “Nope. You had your chance and you said no. You get real food for breakfast.”

Matt runs a hand over his jaw, suppressing a laugh. “I wasn’t gonna say it out loud. But I could go for Frank’s hash at the diner. I’m gonna run home and shower and I’ll come back to get you.”

He steps forward and places a kiss on my cheek before leaving. I follow behind him, standing in the doorway, watching as he climbs into his truck and back out of the driveway. Nola’s tiny bark brings me back and I step back inside to let her out of her kennel.

“That boy is something else. I’ll tell you that, Nola.”

Chapter Fifteen

MATT

“You said no to sex with the one girl you’ve been crazy about for the past month? I don’t know if I should be proud of you or punch you in the face,” Luke says when I call him on my drive back to my apartment.

“You should be proud, asswipe,” I respond.

“I’m sitting over here night after night with the bluest of balls and you have a beautiful girl who wants you to blow her back out and you told her no. It’s the end of days, I swear,” Luke mumbles.

“Laila’s special to me. I don’t want to just screw her and then do what I do best.”

“And what do you do best, Matt?” Luke asks, his voice serious.

“Fuck shit up.”

“Stop it right there. You do not fuck shit up, you hear me. You won’t mess this up with Laila because if I can see that you really care about her, then I know she sees it. You’ve got to stop talking down on yourself like you’re a permanent screw up because newsflash dickwad, you’re not. Forget your past and think about your present, which involves Laila.”

“You’re a real asshole, you know that?” I say sarcastically.

He chuckles. “I aim to please.”

I sigh and consider Luke’s words. I’ve been hiding behind my past and quite frankly, I’m tired. I don’t want to live in the shadow of myself, constantly worrying about if I’m going to fuck up or hurt someone that I love.

Laila’s refreshing and it’s hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that she’s given me a chance to show her that I’m not Matthew Foster, the kid who breaks promises and doesn’t give a damn about anyone or anything. I’m Matthew Foster, the adult who is serious about life – serious about her.

“I can always count on you for good advice, Dad,” I joke, but Luke knows I’m serious.

He groans and I can imagine him rolling his eyes. “And here I thought I only had to raise two kids. I didn’t think I’d get your grown ass, too.”

As soon as I got home, I quickly showered and changed clothes before driving back to pick up Laila. I swear, I can’t stand being without her for more than two seconds now that we’ve taken the next step in our relationship. Or friendship? I’m not sure what to call us, but whatever it is, I know one thing’s for certain – I never want her to be out of my life again.

I knock on the front door and chuckle at Nola’s tiny bark behind the door. Laila swings the door open, holding the small puppy close to her side much to Nola’s dismay. I reach out to take her while Laila runs back to her room to get her purse and phone.

“Your mommy’s really pretty, Nola,” I whisper to the tiny dog. I think she agrees with me because she gives me a kiss with her cold and wet tongue.

“Alright, let’s go,” Laila breathes as she rushes out of her room. She’s typing away on her phone, giving me plenty of time to check her out unnoticed.

She’s wearing jean shorts and a pink graphic t-shirt with white Converse sneakers on her feet. Her hair is pulled into a ponytail and while it’s straight, I can see her natural curls forming.

“Okay. Uh, where does Nola go when you leave?” I ask, confused about where to set her down.

“Oh, just put her down. She knows where to go,” Laila answers. I do as she says and Nola immediately runs over to her kennel and lays down next to her toy.

“See? Told ya. Now come on, Matty. I’m starving.” Laila tugs on my hand and we leave her mom’s house, making the drive to Frank’s diner.

The last time I was here, I was sitting with Luke making my playbook to win over Laila. Being back three weeks later with her means that progress has been made. I think it’s time to finally start moving on to the next play.

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