Book of Love - David Horne Page 0,4
some light gray sweatpants and a closed package of what must be newly bought underwear.
Shrugging at the oddness of having packaged underwear ready, Matt got dressed and stepped out of the bathroom. The smell of pizza was what lured him into the living room. Alfred seemed to have had a change in clothes as well, very much the same as what he wore. Only the shirt he wore was a deep maroon color and his sweats were black.
He was sitting on an old yet comfy looking leather couch, with his legs curled under him as he leaned on the high armrest. He looked comfortable. It was then that Matt saw that his hair was let down, it all fell to the left side of his head.
Alfred looked up and smiled.
His heart clenched with guilt again.
"I really am sorry,." Matt blurted out. Alfred's smile turned into a rather adorable confused look as he tilted his head to the side much like a dog would. Matt had to bite his cheek again.
"What are you apologizing for?" Alfred asked, and he patted the other side of the couch. Matt swallowed and sat down. He leaned elbows on his thighs as he looked down at his clasped hands.
"I should have said something. Anything to get my friends to stop what they were doing. I knew it was wrong, but I just stood there and watched as they bullied you mercilessly." His hands shook as he squeezed them as tightly as he could. He wanted to say these words to every victim his once “friends” have ever harmed.
Gentle hands covered his own. Matt’s gaze snapped up to meet green eyes that held only a look of understanding. "You would have been shunned by your own teammates. You would have left the team. Even I went to the games and could see how much you loved football. I was even there when you got injured. It was like seeing a fine bred stallion get injured. You were always so agile and full of life when you were on the field. That is the Matthew Ward I remember from high school. I was merely overwhelmed when I saw you that I spoke in haste and buried anger. Anger, by the way, that was never really aimed at you. So, I should be apologizing for my own harsh words."
Matt scoffed with a small smile on his lips. "You of all people have nothing to apologize for. Let's just say that the past is now buried. We can start a new chapter," Matt suggested and gave an open hand in an offer of a handshake.
Alfred smiled and clasped Matt’s hand and gave it a hearty shake.
"That sounds like a fine idea. Now, let’s eat. Then you can tell me what happened in the last six years," Alfred said and leaned over to grab a piece of pizza. Matt followed suit and bit into the slice of pepperoni pizza. He had to bite back a moan of pure ecstasy. He hadn't had food that good in a while. He planned on savoring it for as long as possible before he spilled his guts out to one of the sweetest people he knew.
Alfred watched, slightly startled at the speed with which Matt devoured pretty much an entire pizza. It was a good thing he ordered two. It did show Alfred that whatever Matt had been through had left a mark on the man.
Leaning back, Matt groaned and looked at Alfred, who was still taking smaller, more normal-sized bites of his pizza. Alfred still somehow managed to remain poised while sitting curled up on a worn-out leather couch. Matt was looking at him while he ate and took an occasional sip of his soda that Alfie had gotten for them both.
"I'm… How much of my father do you know?" Matt asked when he saw that Alfred had finished his slice of pizza and wasn't reaching for another slice.
Alfred tilted his head again to the side, only this time in thought. "Well, from what I heard, he can be a tough man to get along with. I've also heard that he seemed like a rather money-driven man." Alfred looked at Matt with an expectant eyebrow raise.
Matt huffed and shook his head. "That’s putting it lightly." Rubbing the back of his head, Matt looked out of the window. It was nearing winter, and the cold weather would soon start to show itself.
"My dad is a real bastard. He’s not only money hungry but power-hungry.