“I will make you love me, Mallory. I will never give up. Trust that.” I will chase this woman across the earth if I need to. All the resolve and fight I used to have is back and every ounce it will be directed to this mission. This is the only race that matters anymore.
Thirty Two
Mallory
The first week I was back in New York I didn’t get to enjoy it much because everything was blowing up back in London. My phone never knew a moment of peace.
After we left the orchard outside Silverstone, I filled Lennox in on the whole story, from Sandra’s original request to stop outshining Digby, all the way through the stolen Hummer and how Max helped us. He laughed when I talked about Aria speeding us away like a total badass, calling us Thelma and Louise.
He held my hand the entire time and kissed the inside of my wrist every so often. I felt weak for letting him, but I couldn’t deny his comfort and strength putting me at ease. I felt his body tense up during certain parts of the saga, but he was silently supportive the entire time. The only thing he’d feed me was that it was over now and we would be ok, no matter what happens.
Aria and Jack called to update us as we drove and everyone agreed it would be best to avoid the track so we went straight to London. Digby had gone AWOL, the FIA launched a formal investigation into Celeritas and barred them from participation in any events until the matter was resolved. Lennox was subjected to a battery of drug tests as part of the immediate investigation but was cleared. He was hung up in London dealing with attorneys and fallout but went home to Scotland as soon as he could.
Saying goodbye to him in London was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Every cell in my body wanted to take him up on his offer and run away to the isolated coastline of the Isle of Skye. Move into that half-finished home and hide away with him forever. But my head was in no condition to make rational decisions and I wouldn’t be able to think clearly if I was around him. I wasn’t strong enough to resist him begging and telling me he loved me. And I know I will not survive him breaking my heart again.
He asked if he could call me and I asked him not to. I said that I would call if and when I want to talk to him. I need to figure out what I want.
Today, the start of my second week home, it’s the first day I’m moving on from everything. I’ve decided it’s time. As I walk into Angelo’s Pizza to meet Cody, I feel my appetite return at the smell of New York thin crust.
Cody jumps from his seat when he sees me and gives me a big bear hug. “My sister the felon,” he jokes. We didn’t get charged with stealing Digby’s car after all. I guess he had enough sense to not involve the police at the time. It’ll be a fun story to tell one day, I suppose.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I beam at my brother as I take my seat. Cody already has my favorite slice and a Diet Coke waiting at the table for me, though I’m considering switching to Diet Pepsi these days.
As I fold my slice up and relish the gooey greasy pizza, Cody fills me in on the Mitchell Dysfunctional Family Saga. The board at Mitchell Media is in the process of replacing dad, which Dad’s blaming me for. Cody says it’s been a long time coming and I’m just the handy scapegoat. My parents have not contacted me and I’ve made no attempt to contact them. I won’t say it’s been easy and I have guilt that may never go away, no matter how misguided it is. But I need to focus on me, not let my decisions be influenced by trying to live up to their expectations, nor trying to spite them. I’ve been guilty of both.
“So, you going to take the job at Cooper?” Cody asks as he wipes cheese off his chin.
“I haven’t decided yet. I have some cushion in the bank again and I want to be sure of what I do next. Max said the door is open and to take as long as I want.”
“No more firm?”
I sigh and think about my answer when I finish chewing. “I don’t know Cody. I don’t think I want to work with athletes in trouble anymore. My track record has not been so hot. And who would hire me after I ratted out an athlete with a drug problem? No one.”
“You loved it, though.”
“I loved sports and liked telling the athletes’ stories, but if I’m honest, when I got my journalism degree and went into social media, there was a big part of me that did it to defy mom and dad. Now, the thought of logging into my own social media accounts turns my stomach, much less someone else’s.”
Cody squints his eye at me and motions his hands that I should continue since his mouth is currently otherwise engaged with pepperoni.
“It’s all… bullshit. All of it. None of it is real. It’s like Mom with her snooty friends from the club. The only reason they go is to show off how wonderful their lives are. I don’t want to lie about people’s shitty lives so they feel less shitty and make other people feel more shitty in the process.”
“That’s a lot of shit,” he laughs.
I almost say the word ‘aye’ but catch myself.
“And Speed Racer?” Cody asks, lifting an eyebrow in question, using his nickname for Lennox. We should have been twins the creepy way he always knows what I’m thinking.
“I haven’t talked to him since I’ve been home.”
“He hasn’t called you?”
“I asked him not to,” I defend Lennox and realize I’m defending Lennox and now I’m confusing myself. “I just asked for some time.”
“How much time?”
“Now you sound like him, Cody. I don’t know how much time. Why?” I’m inexplicably frustrated with his question. I don’t want to be pressured into anything, one way or the other.
He shrugs, “Argumentative as always, I see. Just saying.”