~Matthew~

Hangovers sucked ass. 

Thankfully, someone in the Shepherd household had already blended the cure all in their Ninja earlier in the morning and placed it in the refrigerator.  

Before the blended green miracle that sloshed around in my cup, I had walked out of my apartment like a zombie, absentmindedly calling an Uber to drive me over to Eli's place just as snippets of the night before slammed into me like an eighteen wheeler on the interstate. 

Flashes of beautiful blonde hair swaying on the dance floor under kaleidoscope technicolor lights swam in my vision and for a moment I could pretend like she hadn't run away from me after one of the best kisses of my life. 

Maybe it was the novelty of kissing a stranger in a crowded club, the adrenaline from standing up to the guy she'd been dancing with just minutes prior, or maybe I was just plain idiotic for wanting someone who clearly didn't want me...but I couldn't help the rush of blood in my veins contributing to the itch that I just couldn't scratch, not without the vision of her dancing behind my eyelids. 

"You're here late bro.  I thought we said noon?"

"Sorry, late night.  Where is everyone?"

I faced Eli and noticed the dark circles under his eyes, shadowed and thick, like he hadn't been able to get much sleep last night, either.  

"Yeah same here.  V is at the studio and Elodie cut out early.  I'm not sure where she went, though.  I've got Evie for the day, though, so we can't go to the courts today, but I thought we could watch some tapes if that's cool with you?"

"Works for me.  Offseason is almost over and I'm trying to get in as much lazy time as I can get."

"I feel that.  Okay, I'll order a pizza-"

"Pizza!"

Evie's adorable squeaky high voice exclaimed her love for all things pizza in the doorway to her playroom, hair disheveled and wearing a hot pink t shirt with red leggings.  

"Bro, really?  What is she wearing?"

I couldn't stop laughing at the embarrassed look on my best friend's face.  

"V usually does this, or Elodie.  I'm not good at matching clothes or doing hair.  But give me a doll house to build or a swings and I'm there.  I can't wait until she picks a sport or hobby she wants to do so I can be more helpful.  Being a girl dad has more challenges than I thought," he said while dialing the number for the pizza place. 

Just before he put the phone to his ear, however, his phone began chirping a loud ringtone that had Evie jumping up and down. 

"Mommy!  Mommy!"

"No baby it's not mommy.  Hold on a sec man."

"Yeah, sure," I murmured while he answered the phone and spoke to someone named Phoebe. 

"She's where?!  I told her that was too dangerous.  What happened?"

Eli's face turned a sheen of pale white as he listened to the other person on the phone. 

"Ah, okay.  Can you go and get her?  I'm at home with the baby and she can't handle long car rides.  Oh, shit.  Okay, well I'll figure something out.  Thanks for telling me.  Bye Phoebe."

"What's wrong?"

Eli flipped his head up to me like I had just answered his prayers. 

"Elodie is up near Albany at Phoebe's uncle's dirt bike ranch.  Apparently Ben just broke up with her last night and she's back to doing her reckless bullshit."

Fuck.  First it was the rock climbing, which was fine, until she tried to go and do it alone, free climbing. Then it was the white water rafting, alone.   I didn't even want to get into the illegal fights she'd entered when she had been all about Krav Maga.  Talk about awkward when I had to bust in with Eli and break all that shit up. 

I still remembered the split lip and black eye she'd been sporting when we finally broke the fight up, the anger nearly rolling off of her for me and her brother, but what could we do but break it up?  She'd been fighting a man twice her size, for god's sake. 

Dirt bikes weren't nearly as dangerous as the other shit she'd gotten mixed up in over the years, but it had definitely been toned down once she'd gotten together with her boyfriend, the one who'd apparently dumped her last night. 

I cringed, wishing I hadn't teased her about it and the dinner.  In more ways than one, Elodie was my family, and I'd do anything for that girl, just like I'd do anything for Eli and V and Evie.  They were my family, considering my own flesh and blood hardly gave a damn about me besides the money I could get them. 

"Is there any way that you can-"

"Man, say less.  She's family and she's putting herself in trouble.  You know I'm there."

I grabbed my hangover killer smoothie, slammed back two Tylenol and gave Eli a shit eating grin while Evie dawdled over to her father and tugged on his leg, staring up at him with pleading eyes, but Eli noticed my 'trouble' face before he noticed his daughter's look. 

"What is that look for?"

"I wan pizza Daddy!"

Evie's high pitched voice interrupted our conversation. 

"Pizza in a minute baby.  Matthew, what do you want?"

"Since I ubered here I don't have my car...you know, I'm really good with that Tesla of yours in the parking garage-"

"Ugh, fine.  Just bring it back in once piece, along with my little sister."

"Aye aye captain."

Two and a half hours of open road before me and I was finally nearing the address that Eli had given me, though given the beautiful way the Tesla handled beneath me, I was almost sad for the ride to end. 

With the windows rolled down, the telltale sounds of dirt bikes filled the air and my gut twisted in my stomach. 

What if she was already hurt, trying to do some kind of crazy stunt that could likely get her killed?  I couldn't lose yet another person in my life.  Death was a bitch, and I'd be damned if Elodie tried to speed the process along by being reckless and immature, not knowing the consequences of her actions. 

I raced out of the car once parked and strode towards the giant circular track where all of the dirt bikes were congregated, zipping out and around other riders while shooting off of the giant dirt hills meant for tricks. 

I scoured the track for the tell tale long blonde hair that belonged to Elodie, but I couldn't make anything out, the riders clad in green, yellow, red, blue and orange while being protected by their body armor, helmets and goggles. 

I could only hope that she'd spot me and come to me, so I ascended the bleachers and sat and waited. 

Across the way, I noticed a rider come to a stop below the bleachers, yanking their helmet off to stoop down and grab a water bottle. 

Elodie's long honey hair was swept up in a low ponytail and for some reason the helmet hair that she had been given from the bike ride didn't make her look unflattering in the slightest. 

Actually...in this light, with a carefree smile on her face and sun brighting off of her skin in lightning bursts, she was beautiful. 

Beautiful?  When did I stop viewing my best friend's little sister as 'cute' or 'adorable' and she graduated to 'beautiful'?  Worse still, I wasn't even sure 'beautiful' even covered it, especially when she shook those long tresses out and replaced her helmet on her head and kicked the gas on the bike and took off without ever once glancing up at me. 

No, there was a more fitting description for her, something badass and gorgeous all rolled up into one as she turned a corner on the side of her dirt bike, picking up speed and flinging herself up into the air off of one of the hills, striking a pose midair while a few guys threw catcalls and whistles her way. 

An unfounded anger boiled in my veins from the amount of male attention she was garnering, but I remembered to school myself quickly.  She had just been broken up with; she needed the support of her loved ones and I couldn't go all protective older brother on her, especially considering I wasn't even her brother. 

I never really ever saw her as my little sister in the first place, more like a family  by extension, someone to protect and take care of, but also as an extension of my friendship with Eli.  

And there in the peak afternoon sunshine tearing up the dirt under her bike and leaving the guys trailing her in the dust, I realized something startling, something I never would've thought before sitting here watching her, and that was the fact that Elodie Shepherd was no longer a girl, nor little, but a woman.  

Someone must've noticed me watching in the stands as a commotion rang through the air, the sounds of a pile-up ricocheting through the giant dirt track that must've turned into a mess when it rained, the clink of metal hitting metal and shouts of an injury reached my ears. 

I didn't waste a second rushing to my feet and out to the track, around a few of the taller hills for jumps where I came upon Elodie's bike a wrangled mess and the woman in question nowhere to be found. 

"Elodie!"

"Matthew?"

I looked to my right where Elodie slumped upwards onto her elbows, shucking off her helmet in one swift move and I noticed a trail of blood from her eyebrow dripping towards her mouth and further down. 

I didn't hesitate as I crouched down towards her, brushing away the annoying boys who had rode up quickly and watched on in amazement. 

"Why is Matthew Thornberry here?!  Holy shit, I need to take a picture of this.  What the hell-"

"Shut the fuck up, Zeke.  El, you okay?  What's going on?"

"I'm fine Dorian.  That jackass Miller cut the corner too sharp and swerved into me so I ditched out and flung my bike to the side.  No big deal."

The boy more concerned with her than my status crept closer, noticing in awe as Elodie swatted my hand away like I was a pest instead of someone trying to take care of her. 

"Uh, okay...so what's this guy doing here?"

"This guy is her brother's best friend, and Elodie is clearly in danger.  I came to take her back home."

Elodie rolled her eyes, clearly ready to get going again, until she saw the state of her bike, that is. 

"Oh, no.  Miller better be paying for that."

I reached my hand forward and wiped some of the blood off her head, noticing her awestruck glance too soon for her to school it.  I hoped I didn't have the same look on my face, too. 

"What?" I asked when she wouldn't stop staring at me. 

"Nothing...this is just weirdly exactly like that one scene in New Moon.  Well, it would be if you had your shirt off.  Not--not like I want you to be shirtless right now or...um, I think I have a concussion.  Just ignore me."

Her cheeks flushed pink, but not from the heat in the air.  

I chuckled at her rambling, a quality she'd hardly ever indulged in around me, most of the time hiding behind her brother or V and being quiet as a mouse.  In all honesty, all I knew about Elodie was the fact that she had such a terrible childhood that her brother had had to gain custody of her and ever since she'd been a thrill seeker and had a boyfriend named Ben.  Well, had a boyfriend. 

"I would ignore you, if you didn't do shit like this.  You know your bother is worried about you.  Why didn't you tell him, or anyone for that matter, where you were going?"

"So I could avoid interrogations like this.  I'm perfectly fine."

"The cut on your head says otherwise."

"Jesus.  If I wanted the third degree I could just get from Eli, you know, my actual brother."

Ouch.  Her attitude definitely stung, but I could tell that I was cramping her style, and clearly no one around here had known who her brother was and the company he keeps.  The dudes around us huddled in a tight circle, some of the guys with their cellphones taking pictures and asking for autographs on their helmets. 

"Who is this guy again?" One of them whispered not so subtly behind me. 

"Dude that's Matthew Thornberry, he's point guard for the Knicks."

"Ooooh, okay.  I don't watch basketball."

I ignored the countless conversations going on around us and attempted to help Elodie to her feet. 

"You sure you're all good, Elephant?"

I snorted despite the heavy atmosphere, knowing that Elodie was hurt. 

"Ew.  Okay that one is definitely better than Elevator, Dory.  But yes, I'm fine.  My brother sent his reinforcements and I doubt I'll get home without being looked over at least at the urgent care."

"Okay.  Let me help you back to your car.  Lan already went to grab my dad, he'll deal with the bike and anything else you need."

"Okay, thank you Dory," Elodie said as she struggled to her feet with my hands under her arms, and for some unknown reason, I did not want the boy desperate for her attention to help her back to her car. 

"I've got her from here, but thanks."

Elodie cut her eyes to me in question but didn't say anything to the contrary of what I'd supplied, but she was right, we weren't going anywhere besides the hospital to get that cut looked at and to make sure she didn't have a concussion, whether she was joking earlier or not. 

When she stumbled in my arms I didn't hesitate to sweep her up in my arms, the small squeal of surprise coming from her only furthering my need to have her close to my chest, a small grin tugging up my lips at the fact that she probably would've preferred to walk but didn't protest in my arms. 

I didn't know where these thoughts were coming from about Elodie, Eli's little sister, younger than me by at least six years....

I convinced myself that it wasn't anything to overthink, I was just helping out Elodie because I loved her like family, and that was it. 

Why, then, was it so hard to swallow when I helped her into her brother's Tesla and I didn't want to let her out of my arms?

***

A/N:

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THANK YOU to everyone who has made it this far, you guys make it all worth it!

Until next time my lovely readers,

Kristen :)