Page 103 of Her Paramedic
“I’m sure someone will enjoy it,” she replied. Not them, but someone.
She put the insert aside and looked at the main menu. It didn’t take her long to decide what she wanted before placing the menu back on the table to look around the restaurant. Itwas her first time there, and Slate informed her he’d only been once or twice, so she’d wanted to try it. The decor felt like a mix between modern and eccentric. Like there had been two separate decorators, with opposing styles. It was sort of cute, and the atmosphere was friendly.
“What time are you leaving tomorrow?” Slate asked after their server had brought their drinks and taken their orders.
“When you leave for work.”
Talia knew he’d be up all night and then asleep when she woke up. She didn’t want to leave before he got up, and she wanted to spend more than a couple of hours with him once he did. She didn’t have any plans tomorrow evening, so Talia wanted to spend it with him before he went to work.
Slate nodded. “I found the last part I needed for the car. It should be in next week, and once I get it put on, I’ll take you for a ride.”
Talia smiled at him. “I can’t wait.” She knew the part he’d been looking for had something to do with making the car run. The starter or a gear. He’d told her a few weeks ago, but she’d been ovulating and too focused on him getting undressed.
Once their food came, Talia asked him about some of the less hectic calls he’d taken last night. She told him about the deal she was hoping to work out with the owner of the shopping center to knock down the wall between her space and the one beside her so she could expand.
“Are you ready to lose?” Talia asked when they were in the car, headed to a sports bar after dinner.
“You seem so confident, gorgeous.”
“Because I am, but don’t worry. I won’t beat you too badly,” she teased.
He kissed her hand. “We’ll see about that baby.”
«-•-•-•-•-•-•-»
“Yes!” Talia exclaimed after sinking the eight ball.
Slate watched her do her little happy dance and rolled his eyes playfully. He’d long ago accepted that she could beat him in pool, but he found it cute that she still got so excited about it. The last game had been a tiebreaker. He placed his stick on the table and stepped behind Talia, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Don’t worry, baby. I won’t tell anyone I wiped the floor with you,” she teased, leaning against him.
“I wouldn’t go that far, gorgeous,” he replied, kissing her neck.
She put her stick down, turning in his arms. “It was pretty close.”
“If you say so. Are you ready to leave?”
“Yes. Can we stop by the store on the way home? I want to get some ice cream.”
“Sure, baby.”
Slate took her hand, and they exited the building. Once in the car, he headed towards the nearest grocery store. It was after ten, so none of the ice cream parlors were open, and stopping at a gas station ran the risk that they didn’t have her favorite flavor.
Forty-five minutes later, they pulled into his driveway after their stop, ice cream secured. When they stepped into the house, Slate went into the kitchen to make bowls of ice cream while Talia went to the bedroom to choose a movie to watch.
He carried both bowls into the bedroom a few minutes later and found Talia in one of his T-shirts, scrolling through movie options. Slate handed her a bowl, placed the other one on the nightstand and undressed down to his boxers. He turned off the light before joining her.
“What are you in the mood for? Horror or comedy?” Talia asked.
Slate thought about it. “Horror,” he replied.
After another minute of scrolling, she chose a movie and leaned against the headboard, taking a spoonful of her ice cream.
They were halfway through the movie, bowls set aside and Talia leaning back against his chest, where she’d moved after their dessert. The character was walking silently through the house, ominous music playing softly, and Slate knew the scene was setting up a jump scare, which meant his girlfriend would start talking. She liked horror movies, but detested the jump scares, and he’d learned that she’d talk when she thought one would happen to keep from being caught by it. He was proven correct a few seconds later.
“You know Kaydence and Axel made an offer on a house Monday,” she started as she played with his fingers. Slate hummed in acknowledgment to let her know he was listening. “They got a call Friday that their offer was accepted.”
“Killian, Ace, and I will have to step into our free labor moving roles soon, then,” he joked.
