Sweet Pain (Amatucci Family #3) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,119
leaned forward, input another number. “I need to start remembering to carry my phone. Three weeks without one, and I got out of the habit.”
I nodded. “Yes, you do. Even if you just carry your phone, your license, and a credit card, I would feel better about you out of my sight if I could contact you.” I was willing to attach it to her body so I could call her whenever I wanted.
She smiled, nodded. “I’ll get one of those phone clutch thingies. Tali has tons of them.”
“Penn?” Turo asked.
“And Willow,” the woman herself said.
“Hey, what’s up?” the oldest Amatucci brother’s voice warmed considerably. What was I, chopped liver?
“I had a panic attack. We need to use your hot tub. Is that okay?” Willow said. No fuss, no muss. Just a pure statement of fact.
“Sure, sorella. You good? Do I need to kick someone’s ass?”
I laughed. “Oh, we’re going to. On Friday night. Bring your shit kickers. You don’t want to hurt a toe or touch their filth.”
Turo snarled. “You went to the Chases’.”
Willow nodded. “Yeah, and only one little freak out, so I think that’s moving in the right direction.”
Turo chuckled. “Good for you, Willow. I always knew you had it in you. What’s the story you gave them?”
“Nothing but the truth. Although the announcement they’re allowing us to make is not the one they’re expecting.” Her giggle was slightly evil. “So there’s that.”
“And a little salve for the freak out. Excellent. I’ll tell the others. I’m not at home, but you know how to get in. Extra suits are in the same place as always. Just lock up when you leave.”
“Thanks, Turo. Amo tuo, fratello.”
“Ti amo anch’io.” He hung up.
“Turn left at the next light. He lives in Bakers Dozen.”
I laughed. “Seriously?”
She turned to me. Smiled. “Yup. I helped him pick it out before I left for culinary school. I thought it was fitting.”
Chapter 36 – Willow
As we turned into the eclectic part of New Trenadie, I sucked on my soda. Grimaced at all the sugar. But I did have to admit that my brain wasn’t as foggy and my body wasn’t super angry at me yet. I would toss back this whole thing if it meant I didn’t get the body aches and headaches I usually did with my panic attacks.
I smiled as we drove down the street. Bakers Dozen was so named because it was literally a small neighborhood of thirteen homes. Each one was different like getting a baker’s dozen premium cookies, cupcakes, or donuts. No cookie cutter homes here. Which would have been even punnier, but much less visually interesting.
Luckily each home was as unique as a fingerprint. There was a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house. One that looked like a gingerbread house with some of the most elaborate molding I’d ever seen. If there was a kind of house that stood out from the others in style and design, there was one of them here.
As for Turo’s house, it was severely modern. Huge boxes, sharp lines, open concept. It looked slightly science fiction, but it fit like a hand in a glove in this neighborhood.
I pointed it out and watched Ryker’s expression as he drove us up the polished concrete driveway. According to Turo, the driveway was just as important as the house. And since he had the same kinds of trees lining his driveway as his neighbors, he wanted something that made him stand out.
Ryker blinked a few times. “Turo lives here?”
I chuckled. “Yup. Has for almost seven years now.”
He shook his head as he pulled to a stop. “This is wild. I’ve never been up here before.”
“Wait until you see the inside.” I waited for him to come get me from the car. It was kinda nice being treated like a lady instead of an object.
He took my hand and let me lead him into the garage after I punched in the code. While only two spots could be seen from the driveaway, once you got in the space, you realized that it held at least five cars. Three vintage, one SUV. He was probably driving his everyday car, a black Cadillac CTS.
Ryker gave a low whistle. “Turo’s a car guy.”
I shrugged. What I knew about a car was like comparing the Flintstone’s vehicles to a rocket ship. I didn’t even bother to act like I knew what Turo’s cars were.
I led Ryker out between the extended garage and the pergola at the back of the house. Turo’s lap pool was