Chapter 711

Maddie's POV

"Exactly. You don’t want him to think you’re just sitting around waiting for him to call, either. You don’t want to look desperate, Layla. You’ve got to play this smart.”

She frowned, clearly not convinced. “But… I don’t want to play games with him. I like him. Shouldn’t I just be honest about that?”

I shook my head, my eyes locking with hers. 

“There’s a difference between being honest and being naive. You can be honest without showing all your cards. If you pick up every time he calls, you’re giving him all the power. He’ll know you’re hooked, and that’s not a good thing.”

Her eyes widened, her lips parting as my words sank in. 

“But… I don’t want to play hard to get, either.”

I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. 

“It’s not about playing hard to get, Layla. It’s about setting the pace. If you let him think he’s got you wrapped around his finger, he’ll stop putting in the effort. He’ll