The past never lies

Chapter 10

-Present day-

Matt quietly unlocked the front door, hoping that everyone was asleep. Matt quickly put in the code to the house alarm and tiptoed out of the foyer.

"Well well well, out past curfew I see." Justin jokingly voice echoed.

" s**t!" Matt jumped a little.

"Sorry I was trying to be quiet." Matt whispered.

"And were where you young man?" Justin continued this joke segment.

" Shut it, you people are the only ones I know who's in bed by 10:30pm." Matt laughed. "your so old Justin."

Justin laughed. "Dare I ask but did you meet a man?"

Matt got quiet he wondered if Justin would approve him seeing Ryder again.

"Actually I did, it was Ryder." Matt waited for Justin's reaction.

"Oh, I was not expecting that." Justin voice became serious.

"I ran into him at a bar and we got to talking." Matt keep his voice nonchalant.

" And..?" Justin's eyebrows went up.

" And nothing happened, we talked and then went back to his and ate dinner and talked with Lily." Matt said keeping out the near hook-up that almost happened.

"Wow, I kinda don't know what to say." Justin said, rubbing his face.

" Nothing to say, I'm gonna staying in town permanent and I know not to get to serious." Matt shrugged knowing full well everything about Ryder was serious.

"Matt." Justin voice was sympathetic. "This is Ryder were talking about."

" I know Justin I just...I can't stay away." Matt sat on the sofa putting his head in his lap.

Justin got up and grabbed out two beers handing Matt one.

"It's ok bud," Justin patted his friends back.

Matt tried sleeping that night but just keep tossing and turning. Thinking about Ryder and how he knows starting something up again with him is a bad idea. Matr thought back to leaving the first time it nearly killed him he had to pick up all the broken pieces of his life after that, and he can't put himself through that again.

Matt got ready the next morning, still tired from a terrible night's sleep, he poured coffee in a thermos and headed out to finish the remodeling job.

Matt drove with his music on high and the windows rolled down. He needed to just drive and escape reality for a little bit.

When Matt got the house, he felt his phone vibrate. It was a text from Ryder.

- Hey meet for drinks same bar same time?-

Matt heart skipped a beat it was all he wanted to do but he knew he should decline the offer it wasn't a good idea putting his heart in jeopardy again.

Matt put his phone in his back pocket leaving the question unanswered and got right to work instead.

Matt finished earlier then he expected and stood next to John while the man let a whistle.

" You do exceptional work." John finished paying Matt what he owed him.

" Hey if it's not to weird my sister is new in town just moved here from Florida and I thought you two would make a good match maybe drinks." John asked Matt hopefully.

"Well I'd accept if it was one of your brothers instead." Matt smiled.

The man tilted his head confused then it clicked an the man let a laughing roar.

"Did I just make myself look like a complete ass?"

" No, it really fine." Matt said.

"All my brother are married unfortunately." John said slapping Matt on the shoulder.

"That's alright I think I may be meeting someone for drinks after this." Matt said surprising himself.

"Then I won't keep you."

Matt pulled into the bar, and immediately spotted Ryder's car parked out front. Matt wasn't sure Ryder would even be here since he never wrote him back to agree to drinks. He knew he should probably just leave but instead got out of the truck an went inside.

Matt slid into the stool next to Ryder.

"I knew you'd come." Ryder tone was a little cocky.

Matt snickered, "At your ego has never strayed."

Ryder turned to face him, "I'm glad you came Mattie." Ryder said sincerely.

" I almost didn't." Matt said truthfully.

" Then why did you?"

Matt looked into Ryder's dark eyes.

" Your under my skin too Ryder."

Matt and Ryder finished off drinks and food talking about everything from work to there family. Hours started flying by before Ryder alarm started going off.

"I have to get back, Denise will be dropping Lily off soon." Ryder said.

" Do you want to come over?" Ryder asked hopefully.

"Sure, we can take Lily out for ice cream." Matt smiled, he wasn't ready to leave Ryder's company.

Matt pulled into Ryder's driveway. " So have you heard from your mom recently?" Matt asked.

Ryder let out a sigh, " No for the last couple years, she doesn't even make the effort to pretend she cares anymore." Ryder unlocked the front door.

Denise was sitting there with sitting playing cards with Lily.

"Rdr!" Lily exclaimed.

"Hey how's my girl." Ryder asked.

" She had a good day today." Denise started collecting her things giving Lily a hug before leaving.

" Hey Lily, so about a game of cards." Matt took Denise's spot and shuffled the cards.

Lily patted her lap clearly excited. Matt started passing out go fish to him and Lily while Ryder spoke with Denise.

Ryder came plopping down on the couch next to Matt.

" I call winner." Ryder said.

Matt left before dinner, listening to the voice mail his mom left him earlier.

"Matthew your father is back in the hospital, there saying he doesn't have much time left I thought maybe you would like to come up and say your goodbyes."

Matt pulled into the hospital and took in a deep breath, he wasn't what to say, how are you suppose to say goodbye to basically a stranger.

"Hi I'm looking for William Alder." Matt told the lady at the front desk.

" Are you family?" She asked.

Matt thought to himself -I use to be I think a long time ago-.

" He's my father." Matt said.

" He's in room 202." Handing Matt a visitor pass.

Matt put his sticker on and headed toward his dad's room. He spotted his mom asleep on the small couch against the window, a little table next to her with a coffee, and half eaten muffin.

Matt eyes went to his father, he didn't even recognize him. He looked weak and frail. Matt walked over to him, his dad's eyes were closed.

"I'm not sure exactly what I'm suppose to say." Matt voice broke in that moment.

" You never accepted me..and I think I really needed a dad that did."

"I.." Matt slammed his fist lightly against the rail of the bed.

His dad stirred awake and looked confused seeing Matt standing there.

"Matt?" His voice was weak.

"Dad, um yeah I'm here. "Do you need water?"

"No, no I'm good." He tried sitting up.

" I'm surprised your here." William said looking at his son.

" Well, I had too." Matt knew that sounded more he was there out of duty then because he cared.

William nodded. " I'm glad your here."

Matt looked at his dad surprised.

"Really?"

" I um, I know I wasn't a good dad to you not the way I was to Tim and I know its to late..." William started coughing.

Matt grabbed his water and brought it to his dad.

"Das just relax, its okay." Matt felt hot tears sting his eyes he was completely shocked his father was saying all this.

"Well nothing like dying making a man face his own demons." William grumbled.

Celine eyes fluttered opened, and a surprise look to hold of her face spotting Matt standing with his dad.

"Matt?" Celine standing up waking up beside her husband and son.

"I got your voicemail and came over." Matt explained.

" Tim will be here soon." Celine said worried looking up at the clock.

" I won't stay much longer." Matr replied.

" I can come back up tomorrow if that's alright?" Matt asked.

" I'd like that." William said.

Matt nodded and said his goodbyes and held his head up and left he got into his truck and he hit his steering wheel hard, he let out a scream and the tears flooded down his face.