It’s a slow, silent walk back to the housing unit with Lennox beside me in the dark, his arm occasionally brushing mine as we wind down the narrow pathways. He holds the front door open for me at our building and we march up the flight of old wooden stairs together, the hallways dimly lit by wall lanterns.
“You still never said ‘thank you’” I mumble when we’ve reached our respective flat doors opposite each other.
“You wanna invite me in then, love?” He nods to my flat door.
“I can’t,” I shake my head. My knees are weak and my body feels like goo but I don’t think it was the treadmill sprinting.
“Ok, then. G’night,” he says and turns to open his door while I still stare at him like a stupid lovestruck schoolgirl until I realize I need to also get my key out and open my door. “See you in Bahrain, unless you’re ready to quit now,” he adds as I fumble with my key in the lock.
“Wait, what?” I don’t even register his comment about me quitting. We have over a week until Bahrain, what does he mean I won’t see him again?
“I’m going home, I’ll see you in Bahrain,” he clarifies as his door opens.
“Home to your flat?” I point at his apartment.
“Home to Scotland.” He must think I’m a total idiot. I am a total idiot.
“Oh, yeah, of course. Umm, no media, you’ll behave?”
“Very unlikely,” he grins and then his door closes shut behind him and I’m alone in the hallway.
Shit shit shit, I curse myself under my breath as my door finally opens and I rush inside, closing it behind me and slinking down to the floor.
Oh Mallory, you stupid, stupid girl. What were you thinking?
Ten
Photo: Gibbes Returns Home to Scotland, Fans Mob Ashaig Airstrip
angela.mickel99: is that his mom and dad with him?
nocarbsinlettuce: Aye, and his brother Bram.
maxpropulsion: Kick ass race in Australia, Lennox!
derbyhats4sale: swoon…
Headline: Driver Power Rankings: Gibbes Leads DuPont Ahead of Bahrain
Headline: F1 Arrives in Bahrain, Schedule of Events
Lennox
“Ha! That’s fifty pounds, pay up!” Jack holds his open palm out in front of Matty as Mallory comes barreling into my garage bay at the Bahrain track, dragging her rolling suitcase with her and swearing up a storm. It’s late and she looks a delightful wreck.
“Damn,” Matty shakes his head and reaches into his pocket for his wallet to make good on the Nanny Longevity Bet he’s just lost.
She’s officially made it to race two now, looks like Mallory may be in this nanny gig for the long haul. After she showed up in the gym and sent me home with a raging case of blue balls, I wondered how this would play out. If she’s not going to go home, she and I have unfinished business.
I didn’t even get into trouble, that I know of, back home this past week. Not that there is too much trouble on the Isle of Skye, but sometimes trouble finds me regardless of where I am or whether I’m looking for it or not. Truth be told, I’m finding myself with more respect for this nanny because she fights back instead of shrinking like a violet, like her predecessors. Not that I’m going to admit it to her.
“Did you just get in, it’s nearly midnight?” I check my watch and question why her suitcase is with. Her hair is pulled up again revealing her sweet little neck I almost had the opportunity to bite, and leggings, or yoga pants, or whatever they’re called trace every curve of her hips. God bless whoever invented those things.
“Yep, my plane was delayed so I missed my connecting flight. Some pervert on the first flight kept running his hand up my thigh and then got drunk and drooled on me. Then no one from the team was at the airport to pick me up because my flight was so delayed and I had to wait for an Uber since cabs stopped running for the night. I couldn’t even go to the hotel because Jack here, “she points and scowls at him, “apparently has my reservation and key. Total. Shitshow.”
“Why didn’t you call m… Jack? Jack would have picked you up,” I wave at Jack who is giggling at Mallory trying to drag the suitcase around which is half her size. I don’t think I care for someone manhandling her on Lecherous Pervert Airlines, either. If anyone’s going to manhandle her and touch her thighs, it’ll be me. She is my nanny, after all.
“I did call Jack! He won’t answer his phone!” She roars at him.