Technical Threat (Westin Force #4) - Julie Trettel Page 0,73
my money. I want to do this. I need to earn my keep, as Nonna puts it. It’ll be good for me.”
“Who are you and what did you do with my sister?”
She laughed. “Want to see my room?”
“Yeah sure.”
“Sage?” Nonna called out as we walked in.
“Susan’s here. I’m going to show her my room. Be down in a sec.”
She led me upstairs with a quick tour of the place. Unlike Tarron’s room at the Lodge Nonna’s house was decorated everywhere. There were pictures of Tarron throughout the house. One on a doily lined table at the top of the stairs, and a few of the two of them together on the walls. One of him and some guys I hadn’t met before but assumed were his Force brothers. There were signs of my mate everywhere.
When I walked into Sage’s room my jaw dropped open. The place was done in browns and greens and felt very earthy. There was a warm soothing feel to it. And a big ficus in the corner.
“Isn’t it awesome?”
“I love it,” I told her.
“Me too. My fox is at such peace here. I honestly wasn’t expecting that, living with a wolf and all.”
“They aren’t so different from us really.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“We were going to go over and get you registered for school today, but I think I may have blown too much of the afternoon exploring the area. Are you okay if we wait until tomorrow?”
“Pfft. Yeah.”
I chuckled. “I thought so.”
We walked back downstairs and found Nonna flitting around the kitchen. She stopped long enough to hug me and then looked behind me with a frown.
“Where’s that grandson of mine? I thought for sure he’d be with you.”
“Nope. Working. I think I missed him when I ran out to the store. He had nothing to eat in that place.”
“He never does. Always eats out or over here. Or he lives on those granola bars and protein shake things. Nasty if you ask me.”
I snorted. “Yeah, that’s about all he had there.”
“Are you staying for dinner and will he be joining us?”
“Uh, sure, if it’s not a problem. I’d love the company. I was going stir crazy in that room. It’s so, impersonal. Did you know that?”
She frowned. “I’ve been there only twice, but I agree. He says he has no reason to decorate it because he’s not there much.”
“So I’m learning,” I mumbled.
“Is everything okay?”
I sighed. “Yeah. When I got back from the store there was a note saying he’ll be back in a day or two.”
“They sent him back out on a mission already?” she asked angrily.
“Sounds like it.”
“I’m going to give Patrick O’Connell a piece of my mind. This is ridiculous.”
I shrugged. I didn’t know what I’d been expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this. I wasn’t about to admit that though.
“Hey, what took you so long?” Sapphire walked in and asked.
“Sorry. I went sight seeing and stopped by the grocery store. I might have made a new friend though. She invited me to some ladies’ night thing tonight.”
“Yes ma’am. I’m not sure she was going to let me say no. I think it’s too late to go to the school today though. Let’s plan on it for tomorrow morning, okay?”
“Sapphire, can I take your car?” asked Sage.
“No, I’m going over to The Crate to check it out some more tonight. I’ll drop you off though.”
Nonna frowned. “Are you having dinner there?”
“I thought I might. Is that okay?”
“Of course, child. Go. Have fun.”
“Thanks.” She grabbed her keys and practically skipped out.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so happy,” I muttered.
Nonna wrapped an arm around me. “I hope you will be just as happy here when you get settled.”
I leaned into her embrace. There was something so comfortable about her. I had never met my mother’s parents, but I had to endure my dad’s on occasion. They were cold and formal, nothing like Nonna.
I cringed and made a mental note to call my father.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking of my grandparents. They aren’t like you. They’re stiff and intolerable people. It also reminded me that I should probably call my dad and let him know what happened and that I moved here.”
“I know your mother wasn’t the best but tell me about your father.”
I sat down at her kitchen table while she continued running around making dinner. Nonna always seemed to be moving. She was one busy little lady.