Aiden Harper

You have friends; I have Diego

Aiden

Most people have friends they hang out with. I have my cousin, Diego Harper. Why? Beats the hell out of me.

It doesn't help we share the same damn birthday and are roommates. We moved into an apartment together after high school. Diego works at the cafe. I work at the auto shop. Our dads are twin brothers, aka Roman and Ryden Harper. Sam is my mother, while Daria is Diego's mom. Our grandfathers are Nate and Gabe Williams-Harper, and our great-grandfather is Matthew Harper.

That's the gist of our relationship.

Diego and I have always been close, getting into trouble while growing up. Then, everything changed for me. I haven't told anyone what happened except for Diego, and I promised to beat the hell out of him if he said anything. Luckily, he hasn't since he has a big fucking mouth.

It's nobody's business about what happened to me. Diego only knows because he was there when it happened.

Between my folks, uncle, and aunt, they tried to get me to spill my guts. It's not happening. I refused to talk about it. What's the point? It won't change a damn thing.

This brings me to my current situation at the auto shop.

"Aiden," Dad said.

"Yeah?" I was working on a car that had a knocking in the engine.

"We need your certification."

"I'm taking the test next week."

"Make sure you do before your grandpa breathes down my neck."

"Yeah, sure."

Dad walked away while I checked the engine to determine what was wrong with it. It's better than carrying on a conversation with people. Anything was better than talking to others. People ask too many questions, wanting to know about your life. I prefer if they didn't know anything about me. It was better that way.

I tore apart the engine before figuring out the problem. It didn't take long before I fixed the issue and put the engine back together. I started the car, and it roared to life. Then I shut it off and dropped the hood.

"Aiden!" Grandpa Nate yelled.

I wiped my hands and glanced at him.

"I need to pick up lunch at the cafe."

I gave my grandpa a nod before heading to my Charger and climbing inside. Nothing beats a muscle car, especially one you rebuilt. My car was my baby.

I arrived at the cafe and approached the counter.

Diego spotted me and brought the order to me. "Lunch run again?"

"I think Grandpa Nate is hoping I'll make friends." I gave Diego an unamused expression.

"Does Grandpa Nate realize what he's asking? You barely say a few words to the family. How the hell would you make friends?"

"That's the point. I don't need friends." I grabbed the bag and left before Diego threw in his two cents, which he would do.

*******
Diego

I shook my head at Aiden's refusal to make friends. My cousin hasn't had friends in years. He barely speaks to the family and refuses to say much to people. Dad asked me what happened. I couldn't tell him. Aiden would kill me if I did. Luckily, Ma didn't push the topic.

I returned to the kitchen to find Ma eating a sandwich. "Why are you eating at the cafe and not the restaurant?"

"Your dad is prepping for the dinner rush. You know how he gets when that happens." Ma took a bite of her sandwich and chewed before swallowing. "I see tall, dark, and quiet picked up a lunch order."

"Grandpa sent Aiden to get lunch for everyone."

"The same guy who says little, unlike your dad and uncle who always have something to say."

"Well, they talk enough for everyone."

Ma snickered.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Does it involve getting a fake ID?"

"Nooo." I gave Ma a sideways glance.

"Well, there goes that idea." Ma shrugged.

I raised my brow. Only my mother would ask if I needed a fake ID. Dad would yell at her if he found out she offered to get one for me.

"What is it you want to ask me before your dad hunts me down and invades my bubble?"

I leaned against the counter while Ma sat on the counter because she was fun-sized. "Would you ever break a promise to someone?"

"It depends on what it is. If it were me, the answer is no."

"What if it isn't you?"

"Is it about Aiden?"

"Maybe." I shrugged with my arms folded.

"Diego, not everyone relishes talking about something that happened to them. The worst thing you can do is push them to talk. Trust me. It doesn't work."

I let Ma's words sink in while she hopped off the counter and snuck into the restaurant before Dad found her missing.

*******
Aiden

I walked into the auto shop office, dropped the paper sack on the desk, and left before my family could talk to me. I pulled in another car and got to work on it.

"Aiden," a deep voice said.

I glanced underneath the hood at Grandpa Matt but continued working on the car.

"Take a break."

"I need to get this car done."

"It's not a request." Grandpa tapped the car twice before walking away.

I pulled my head out, wiped my hands, and walked to where Grandpa was. He was sitting on a picnic table away from the auto shop. I climbed up and sat beside him.

"I won't force you to talk to me because it won't work. But I was once like you."

I glanced at my grandpa.

"I was this talkative kid before my life imploded. Then, I closed myself off from everyone. You don't realize it. But it eventually eats at you."

"Can I get back to work?"

"Yeah."

I climbed down and returned to the car I was working on. My thoughts drifted while I worked. How do you tell your family you're the reason someone died? You don't because it's all your fault.

Did you think I wouldn't throw everyone a curve ball with the Harpers? Have you met me?

A reader made a comment in Generations about Aiden. I caught it when I checked my notifications. The gears were turning as an idea brewed.

While Elias's family has their own demons to deal with, I figure we could check in with Nate's family. Expect Deacon's family to show up in Aiden's book. While Aiden's book is part of the Harper universe, he'll have his own story aside from Generations.