Fast & Hard (The Fast 1)

I squint at Cody and spend the rest of our time catching up with that seed planted in my brain now. Am I being argumentative for the sake of it?

When I get home, Aria’s out with a client. I throw my keys on the kitchen counter and notice a box on top of the pile of mail. I recognize Lennox’s handwriting immediately but the return address verifies it. It was post-marked the day I left.

Is he sending me my shit back?

I take the box to the couch and pause for a moment before tearing it open. If it contains something I left at his house, I guess I’ll have my answer if there’s any hope for us.

There’s a folded note and a big metal tin of Twinings tea. What the hell is this? I open the note.

My Dear NILM (that’s Nanny I’d like to Marry),

I know you said no calling, but you did not say no writing. Negotiate better.

The first time I met you was in Britain so I’m sending you a reminder of that time. The queen buys her tea at this shop, so while that’s still not good enough for you, I hope you’ll enjoy it.

You are my queen.

I love you.

L xoxoxo

My hand covers my mouth which is hiding a huge grin. Negotiate better, oh that smart ass. This is sweet, I don’t remember the last time anyone sent me an actual gift in the mail. I only get bills and jury duty summons. But I’m not ready to talk to him and a box of tea doesn’t change what he did. I haven’t processed what Cody said and I’ve just dedicated this week to figuring out what I’m going to do with my life.

But, I also want to talk to him. I’ll text him. That’s not as dangerous. I won’t be able to hear that accent that makes me wobbly in the knees.

Mallory: The first time I met you, you started dirty talking to me about being put on a leash…

Lennox: Please come home and put me on a leash. I’ll go buy one right now.

Lennox: Also since you initiated, I am assuming it is ok to text you.

Mallory: Yes, as you’ve pointed out, I need to negotiate better.

Lennox: I love you.

Aria comes home and walks in on me smiling like a doofus with my package. She brought the mail in earlier so she must have known about it and has probably been waiting all day to find out

what was inside.

I hand her the note and she clutches her heart. “So, I’m not supposed to tell you, but chicks before dicks, right?”

“Tell me what, Aria?” My voice drops as I imagine the possibilities of what she’s been scheming now. After seeing her detective work and get-away driving, I’m a little frightened now of what she’s capable of.

“He’s kind of been texting me, a little bit,” she bites her lip and moves out of striking distance.

“What? About what?”

“Well, at first he just wanted to thank me for helping you and keeping you safe during Operation Destroy Digby. He said he heard I was a hell of a driver,” she giggles.

“And then what?” I yell, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this, Aria.”

“Umm, well, he’s sent gift cards to spas and restaurants and I’m supposed to take you out and help you relax, I think he used the word ‘pamper’ which is freaking adorable.”

“Oh my god, just give me your phone!”

“Ok, but I am sworn to secrecy,” Aria pulls her phone out of her purse and hands it to me after making me promise I won’t rat on her.

There aren’t many messages but they started the day I left London, again. He thanks her. He says he’s emailed her gift cards to all the places I ever talked about loving in New York. He says not to tell me because it’s about me taking care of myself and not about him getting credit for it. And one message saying he wants to get to know her better because getting to know my friends is important to him.