Page 46 of The Playboy's Playbook

“Oh, two?” She takes the cash and puts it in the register before shouting over her shoulder for two cups of ice. “You seeing someone? Y’all serious or are you just fucking her like you did me?”

I try my best not to grind my teeth and just when I’m about to snap, a worker brings the cups to the counter. I quickly snatch them and turn to walk away, but Rachel follows.

“It’s been such a long time, Matty. How about after the show, you and I go to our favorite spot like we did back in the day? Have a little fun? I’m sure your new bitch can wait.” She trails her fingers up my chest and I try not to visibly squirm in disgust.

“Don’t you dare –”

“Oh, it ain’t so fun having someone in your life called a bitch, ain’t it? You may have bulked up a bit, grown out your hair, and got that little job playing with building blocks, but you are still the same Matty Foster deep down. You don’t stick to one girl. No, no. You have to have options and I am one of your options.”

I look away from her, feeling the anger rise in my body. I haven’t felt like this in a long time and I’m really trying to remain calm. I worked hard to shed the version of me that she’s talking about.

“Anyway, my number ain’t changed, Matty. You know how to reach me and I’ll be waiting,” she says, her shrill voice ringing in my ears as she saunters back to the concession stand.

I quickly glance in Laila’s direction to make sure she isn’t looking at me. I’m thankful that she’s looking at her phone, more than likely checking in on Nola on the pet-cam. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before walking back to our spot. Luke and the boys must have arrived while I was held up by Rachel.

I pat Luke on the back and he nods in acknowledgement before I pass the cups of ice to Laila. Clay and Jen scoot over to sit in front of Luke on their blanket. I move over behind Laila and she leans back into me, resting her head on my shoulder. I try my best to remain calm, but that run-in with Rachel has me on edge.

“Matty, you okay?” Laila asks, looking back at me.

I smile down at her, trying my best to reassure her, but one thing about Laila is she can read anybody like a book. If she knows something’s wrong, she doesn’t push it.

“Yeah, all good.”

Laila smiles at me and grants me the gift of a kiss just as the fireworks show begins.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Matty? You seem…off,” Laila mumbles as she lets Nola out of her kennel to use the restroom in the backyard. Laila steps on the patio and I follow, closing the door behind us.

The secrets just keep piling on when it comes to my relationship with her and I fucking hate it. I shrug my shoulders, trying to keep my voice even. “I’m good, baby. I promise.”

Laila turns to face me and I can tell that she’s not buying what I’m telling her, but I keep my emotions calm so I don’t show how I’m really feeling – which is freaking the fuck out.

She lets out a heavy sigh that’s not just heavy in the way she releases it, but in the weight of the emotions it carries. “Matt, all I will ever ask of you is to be honest with me. That’s all I want. And if you can’t do that, then maybe we –”

“No!” I bellow with a quiver. “Laila, I promise you that there’s nothing wrong with me or us for that matter.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “I just…I saw someone from my past. I never meant for it to ruin your night, baby. I’m sorry.”

Laila folds her arms over her chest and examines me with a penetrating stare. “If an ex riles you up like that…”

“No, no, it wasn’t like that. She isn’t exactly someone I want any dealings with. I am sorry, baby.” I take the opportunity to step forward and pull Laila into my chest. I relax my shoulders a little when she moves to wrap her arms around my waist. I place a gentle kiss on the top of her head, feeling more at peace with her in my arms.

Laila rises on her tip-toes and kisses my lips softly, but being the greedy man I am, I pull her in for a deeper, longer kiss. Nola finally makes her way over to us and immediately paws at the door to be let back inside. When she lets out a little whine, Laila pulls away from me and walks over to open the sliding glass door. She turns to look at me and holds her hand out, which I happily take.

Once Nola’s secured in her kennel, we make our way to Laila’s room where I spend the rest of the night giving her a far better show than the fireworks.

Chapter Twenty-Two

LAILA

I’m probably not the best person to be trusted to cook dinner – or anything really. Why Matt requested to have a home cooked meal is beyond me, but I couldn’t tell him no.

After the excitement of our public appearance at the Fourth of July fireworks show, he thought that it’d be best to stay in for date night. No fancy meals, no dressing up to the nines – just us, our pajamas, Nola, and a home cooked meal made with heart and soul.

Unless I can’t decide what to cook – then this home cooked meal will turn into a takeout meal real quick.

My feelings have only grown stronger for Matt, but part of me still can’t shake this feeling that something is off. I can see it in his face when he looks at me – the conflict in his eyes and hesitation when he speaks. I could really tell something was bothering him after the show. He said it was an ex, but I think there’s more to that story.

I don’t want to press him because if there was something he wanted me to know, he’d tell me, right?

I make my way through the grocery store aisles, checking off my shopping list, when my phone buzzes with a notification from Erica.

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