Page 48 of The Playboy's Playbook

I glance at my reflection in the mirror and debate wiping my face with a tissue. But I decide against it. I want him to see me like this — hurt, raw, and heartbroken by his lack of trust to share his secret.

I swing the door open and my heart immediately aches when I see Matthew. He’s still in his work clothes, his hard hat in his hand, his face stained with dirt. His blond hair is a wild mess, sticking up in every direction, while his blue eyes scan me intently.

“I got here as soon as I could – traffic was shit. Baby, please tell me what’s wrong.” Matthew steps closer to me, but I step further back into the house, clutching Nola closer to my chest protectively. He looks at me as if I just punched him in the gut.

“Laila,” he begins. “What did I do?”

I laugh at the irony of his question. “It’s not what you did. It’s what you didn’t do.”

“Okay, what didn’t I do?” He tries to step closer again, but I take another step back. He lifts his hands and steps back, giving me the space I want.

“Why didn’t you tell me you have a criminal record?” I ask outright, cutting to the chase. I see no reason in prolonging this conversation since he’s held it off long enough.

Matthew’s eyes immediately flood with every emotion possible. “Baby,” he begins, his voice soft and soothing. I instantly feel rage beginning to boil over in my body.

“Answer the damn question! Why didn’t you tell me you have a criminal record?!” I scream at him. I don’t care that the neighbors can hear me, I don’t care if the whole world could hear me. I’d be more surprised if they didn’t hear my heart break into a billion pieces at this moment.

I place Nola down and command her to get in her kennel before crossing my arms over my chest and looking at the man who once again broke my heart. Looking at him is like looking in a shattered mirror.

He steps forward, dropping his hard hat to the porch. “I…I was ashamed. If you’d known I was in jail, you would’ve never gone out with me.”

“You don’t know that,” I retort.

“Baby…”

“No,” I say, shaking my head ferociously. “Don’t call me that. I’m not your baby. Not anymore.”

This time when Matthew steps closer and when he reaches out for me, I selfishly let him touch me. “Laila, please,” he begs.

“I get that prison and jail are not the same, but did you not think I needed to know? You were arrested forassault, Matthew,” I sob, slapping his hands off of me. I hear Nola’s little growl from her kennel, so I turn to look at her to let her know I’m okay. She sits back down and continues looking at me in the doorway.

“Can we please sit down and just talk this out? You ask me anything and I swear to you that I will be truthful,” Matthew says, tears welling up in his eyes.

“I never want to see you again,” I whisper, my gaze focused at my feet.

“No. Laila. Please just give me a chance to explain.”

“You had the chance! You hadmultiplechances to tell me everything! I can understand you not telling me outright, but we’re in July now, Matthew. It’s been two fucking months! I asked you if there was anything I needed to know. Just the other night, I told you that I just wanted honesty from you!

“I-I trusted you. I let you take me to bed and fuck me time and time again. But you couldn’t trust me to tell me that you racked up two fucking charges and served time in jail! An assault charge at that! That’s a big deal Matthew! That’s something your girlfriend would have needed to know. But I guess since we never became official, that didn’t matter to you.Ididn’t matter to you,” I say in one breath.

“I fucked up, Laila! I was going to tell you everything,” Matthew pleads.

“Really? Were you going to tell me after you finally got bored of fucking the same girl for too long? Is that all that you care about? Getting your dick wet? I read the posts from your other ‘friends’ and let’s just say they were very open and honest about what they’d miss the most while you were away.” Voicing that fear out loud hurts because fuck, I feel so used.

“You know that is not what I wanted from you,” he growls, his skin flushing with heat. His tanned skin turns a deep shade of red, a tell-tale sign that he’s mad.

“No! You don’t get to talk to me with that tone. I’m the only one here who can be pissed!” I shout as I storm onto the porch, getting in his face.

Matthew crashes his lips onto mine, full of longing. My body betrays me and I melt into his kiss. He pulls me closer to him, not breaking contact until we both need to take a breath of air. Our breaths mingle together, his hands still on my face. I take a step back and immediately miss his touch.

I sigh, “Leave.”

“Laila, please,” he whispers as a single tear rolls down his cheek.

I step back into the house and place my hand on the door, prepared to shut it on him and our relationship when he places his hand on mine.

“Don’t let this be the end of us. I’m begging you to give me another chance.”

---