The past never lies

Chapter 9

-10 years ago-

Matt looked over at Ryder who was riding shot-gun in his car. He couldn't believe they were actually gonna start hanging out. Ryder left his truck back up at Point Creek so they could go get lunch together.

"So where you taking me?" Ryder asked.

" Taco Shack, ever been?" Matt said looking over at Ryder watching his expression change.

" What's wrong?" Matt worried.

"That place is in the West side of town, I just don't go over there much." Ryder explained, avoiding Matt's eyes

Matt sighed, he knew they were both from very different sides of the town and probably life too. But Matt didn't care he liked Ryder alot and wanted this to work out.

" You'll love, they have the best tacos." Matt keep his voice upbeat.

"I don't know about that, I mean you haven't had mine yet." Ryder sly smile spread across his face.

Matt glanced over at Ryder, he noticed a little bit of ink showing under his tee-shirt on his arm. He couldn't make out exactly what it was but he damn sure what to find out.

Matt also wondered if Ryder had more tattoos hidden elsewhere on his body maybe in places that only the person he's intimate with would find.

"So Mattie any brothers or sister?" Ryder asked genuinely curious.

"Oh just one brother." Matt knew his voice held spite.

"I sense not a very good sibling relationship?" Ryder's eyebrows went up.

Matt sighed his life was a complicated ball of crazy, he wasn't sure he was ready to upload all of his family drama on Ryder at the beginning of whatever this was they were starting.

"His name is Tim, and he's...not the best brother." Matt settled for the truth just not all of it.

Ryder made a noise of disgust, "My guess, he's missing out on getting to know you."

Matt looked over surprised, Ryder didn't even know him that well and he's already made the impression that Matt was worth getting to know, and spending his time on him.

"How about you?" Matt returned the question.

Ryder got quiet and looked out the window. Matt instantly got worried was he not suppose to ask that question too.

"Yeah my younger sister, her name is Lily and she's my best friend." Ryder voice held so much love talking about Lily.

" I'd love to meet her someday." Matt pushed a little.

Ryder gave Matt a look that clearly meant that it will probably not happen. Matt nodded he had to respect Ryder's privacy especially after asking him to keep them on the down-low for now.

Matt pulled into the Taco Shack, it wasn't very busy at all which made Matt happy and anxious at the same time.

" Alright let's test this best tacos theory." Ryder laughed getting out of the car.

"Grab us a table." Matt said heading up the counter.

"Matt, hi." Daisy greeted him with a big smile.

" Hey Daisy, I'm gonna get the usual buy double." Matt said casually hoping she wouldn't question the order.

Daisy head immediately popped up from writing down the order.

"Double, is Justin or Jenny her?" Daisy asked looking around.

" Oh no just here with a friend." Matt tried to act like it no big deal.

"Matthew Alder are you on a date?" Daisy voice lowered.

" No!" Matt knew his reaction was to alarmingly due to the smile that grew on Daisy's face.

"I wish your grandpa was here to see you on a date." Daisy teased.

"Seriously it's not a date, I'm just hanging out with a friend." Matt rushed through the sentence.

" Oh sure, so what's her name?" Daisy asked, giving Matt his change back.

Matt closed his eyes, " I'm here with Ryder Cruz."

Daisy dropped the soda she was reaching out to give Matt.

" Oh my.." Daisy face said it all the shock spread across.

"So we will be down at the end table." Matt quickly walked away.

Matt spotted Ryder, and slid in the seat across from him.

" Food is ordered." Matt said still flushed.

" You okay?" Ryder asked noticing Matt expression.

" Oh yeah of course." Matt waved his hand in the air.

"So, Mattie tell me more about you?" Ryder's dark eyes narrowed.

Matt shrugged, "I'm not really that interesting."

Ryder laughed, "If I didn't think you were interesting then I wouldn't be wasting my time and hanging out on the West side of town."

Matt must of looked shocked, "I.."

" You know I really like it when you get all nervous." Ryder flirted.

"Tell me any plans after high-school your parents must have big dreams for the blue-collar boy."

It was Matt's turn to laugh, which made Ryder's eyebrows go up.

"My parents dreams and mine are so separated that they mine as well be on different planets." Matt said.

" Let me guess they want a lawyer, or doctor." Ryder's voice held some judgement behind it.

" They do yes," Matt told truthfully.

" And you don't, you want a free spirt, maybe college football?" Ryder tried guessing.

" No, actually I want to go to Welding school, Underwater Welding that's my dream." Matt said proudly.

Ryder let out a small whistle. "Big goals."

" Yes they are but it's been my dream since middle school." Matt remembered talking grandpa when he was 12 and told him that's what he was gonna do and nothing would stop him.

Matt wanted to ask Ryder if being mechanic was what he wanted to do forever but he didn't want to somehow offend him

" So, tell me about your parents." Ryder asked staring into Matt's eyes.

Matt again wasn't sure how much to share he was afraid of scaring Ryder away.

" They love there jobs alot." That was the only nice thing he could think of.

Ryder snickered, "They sound like lovely people."

"So what about you? Tell me more about the mysterious Ryder Cruz." Matt smiled.

" You know you have a killer smile." Ryder said avoiding the question.

Matt opened his mouth to object to his evasion of the question but Daisy arrived with a tray of food.

"Ok steak tacos, and chips and salsa." Her voice was very formal.

" Thanks Daisy." Matt said, as she quickly walked away.

"I take it you come here often just not with anyone?" Ryder guessed.

"No I come here all the time just never anyone different then three people." Matt said dipping a chip in the spicy salsa.

"Oh?" Ryder asked curiously.

"My best friend's Justin and Jenny and..." Matt's voice trailed off.

"My grandpa before he passed away." Matt looked down at his food.

Matt head instantly went up when he felt Ryder's hand softly lay over his.

" I'm sorry man that's rough." Ryder voice was sincere.

"Thank you." Matt eyes meeting Ryder's.

"Tell me about your sister." Matt hoping to change the conversation to something less sad.

Ryder hand went back to his own lap. " Shes 15, and loves horses."

Matt waited for Ryder to tell him more but he just went back to eating. Matt didn't want to push to much.

The ate the rest of there food and headed back to Point Creek to pick up Ryder's truck. Matt sat in silence as they drove back up the mountain, he wanted to say something but Ryder seemed so tight about his personal life he was afraid Ryder would never let him in.

Matt parked his car and got out with Ryder.

"I hope we can hang out again." Matt said really hoping Ryder felt the same way.

Ryder ran his hands threw his hair." I like Mattie I just have a really hard time letting people know me."

Matt got close to Ryder and pulled him into him, "Let me in." Matt whispered I'm Ryder's ear.

Ryder immediately grabbed pulled Matt into him and pressed his lips hard against Matt's. Matt pushed him into the pickup truck and let him mouth travel down Ryders neck. Matt ran his hand thew Ryder's hair it was as soft as it looked.

"Ok Mattie." Ryder was breathless." I'll let you in my life." Ryder had a look in his eyes that told Matt he's never done that before.

Matt pulled into his driveway and laid his head back going over the day he just had. A smile crossed his lips thinking about Ryder. He was already looking forward to seeing him again and kissing his lips, touching his body.

Matt sent Justin a message telling him depending on how things go tonight with his parents he may be sleeping over there tonight.

Matt took a deep breath and took into account that not only his parents vehicles were in the drive way so was his Tim's car.