Harper s Vector

Harper

����Matt

������Is anyone home?�� I heard Markus ask through the screen door as I worked on a water heater.

������Yeah, I��m in here.�� I finished and packed up my toolbox.

������Look at you, Mr. Fix it.��

����I lifted the toolbox and carried it to the porch.

����I didn��t need his jokes or comments. I had work to do. When I finished, I walked up the steps, letting my boots thump against the boards as I walked into the kitchen.

������Are you planning on living like a hermit? Or will you join the land of the living?�� Markus leaned against the counter.

������Why do I need to do anything? I��m content with what I��m doing.�� I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water from it.

������Matt, it��s been a few years.��

������So?�� I swigged my water.

������How long will you punish yourself for being happy?��

������I��m not punishing myself. I��m better off alone. Mason and I patched things up, and he��s happy. Now excuse me, I have a house to repair.�� I walked away.

����I was better off alone. I learned if you develop feelings for someone, it kicks you in the teeth. It did with Sadie and Nora. I refused to fall into that trap again.

����As I was busy putzing around the house, Markus had plans of his own with Mason. Let me explain about my cousins, who are a pain in the asses. Markus belongs to Larkin and Maverick, while Mason belongs to Luna and Major. My parents are Lyric and Michael.

����We grew up together, along with the Grays. Then our parents ventured out, coming home when we went off to college. I dropped out in the middle of my junior year. Yeah, Ma and Dad weren��t happy, but I needed to leave.

����I got a job in Beau��s auto repair shop, working on vehicles like my Grampa Nate. I enjoyed working on cars, so it didn��t matter. I made a decent living and set some money aside, buying a fixer upper. I had the gift for auto mechanics. For the last two years, I worked at the auto repair shop and renovated my current house.

����Markus and Mason graduated college and moved closer to me. Lucky me. They��re always trying to set me up with someone. I decline every time. I��m not the person who needs someone in my life to make it complete. After what happened at school with Mason and Nora, it was best to keep my distance, except that didn��t happen. I thought I would have a chance with Nora but didn��t.

����When you��re family, there��s no keeping a distance. The family follows you wherever you go. I should have moved to Siberia.

����Markus left as I focused on the house. Then I heard someone ask. ��Matthew?��

������In the living room!�� I said, working on a light switch. I swapped out the lousy switch for a good one before putting it back together.

������How��s it going?�� Dad asked, walk into the living room.

������It��s going. Markus stopped by before you did.��

������What did he want?��

������Oh, you know, the same thing. Will I live like a hermit or enter the world?��