Page 61 of The Playboy's Playbook

Now, her head is turned to the side and she smiles at objects or looking up at the sky. It’s like she’s hiding her smile from the world.

Or saving it for someone else.

The past year hasn’t been easy, but Luke got me back on a routine and made me move back in with him. He said it was because he didn’t want me to be alone, but I knew he wanted to keep an eye on me.

I started spending more time with my mom and Hannah. We meet for dinner at Hannah’s at least twice a week. I introduced Clay and Jen to Hunter one weekend and they love their new “cousin.”

They also asked if Laila was going to give them a cousin to play with. That was a fun conversation I had to try to wiggle my way out of.

I’ve made progress in maintaining my sobriety and doing better. When I’m not at work, I spend my days in the gym and I started going to see a therapist to work through my past and accept it. But I can’t accept a life without Laila.

I know that it’s a longshot, but one day I’ll get my girl back.

“Matty, I need you to watch Clay and Jen for a few days. I’m flying out to see about this contract for a new project,” Luke says when I sit down in his office.

He got tired of the stuffy trailer and driving to and from conference centers to meet with potential clients. So he built an off-site office building not too far from his house. Of course, he dragged me into the project and paid me in pizza and a weekend with Clay and Jen.

When he’s not on site, he’s holed up in here, going over potential contracts and holding meetings. He even hired an assistant – her name is Sabrina and she tries to flirt with him, but he just brushes her off.

I try to offer her smiles of reassurance because I know Luke doesn’t mean any harm, but he has two modes: dad mode and business-man mode. The relationship mode has long since been turned off – hell, I’m sure he broke the knob to that mode all together.

“Sure,” I say without hesitation.

“I’ll make sure everything is stocked, so all you have to do is go to work and pick them up from summer school,” Luke says, taking in the look on my face.

“Work and school. You got it, Dad.” I move to stand and make my way out of his office. “When do you leave?”

“Tonight.”

I throw my hands in the air. “Dude, a little notice would’ve been nice.”

Luke rolls his eyes. “Did you have any big plans for tonight, Foster?”

I blink at him. “Fuck you.”

“Oh, I think Sherry is on car line duty today, so consider yourself warned.”

We both shudder at the mention of the elderly car line watcher that loves to flirt with Luke and I whenever we pick up the boys. She likes to lean against our trucks and pucker her overly painted pink lips at us.

“Alright. Have a safe flight, man. See you when you get back.” I exit the office and hop into my truck, starting the drive to the boys’ school. I wasn’t the first in line, but I’m about the sixth in line, which is an improvement.

Normally, I’d be fifteenth or twentieth in line. Being this close to the front is new territory for me. Luke will be jealous when I tell him. He’s typically at the back of the line, no matter how early he gets here.

I pull up closer and thankfully, Sherry is speaking to another student. Clay and Jen spot my truck and run over. I get out quickly and help them into their seats, moving fast so Sherry won’t have time to spot me.

Once I have them safely secured, I hop back into the driver’s seat, put the truck in drive, and pull off. I wave at Sherry and it’s impossible to miss the pout that’s evident on her face that she missed me.

“How was summer school today, boys?” I ask once we’re on the interstate to head to Luke’s house.

“Fine,” they say in unison. I chuckle and shake my head. I remember being the same way when my mom would ask me how school was at their age. It was always “fine” or “good.”

“Well, tell me what was fine about today. Jen, you first. What did you learn, bud?”

Jen starts elementary school this year and it’s already been a rough time for Luke. When he turned five and Luke enrolled him in school, I swear he cried for weeks.

“We learned how to count and how to say the acrabet,” Jen says confidently.

“The what?” I ask, making sure I’m understanding what he says.

---