Page 4 of Her Paramedic
“I’m fine.”
“You need some more water?” Ace then inquired.
Alivia seemed to be the tipsiest of the group, but Gram and Jax hadn’t been too far behind her. The other two had sobered up once they’d gotten some food and hadn’t drunk anymore. Alivia had a few drinks when they arrived and just recently transitioned to water.
“No, I’m fine,” she responded.
Slate wasn’t sure she was; she’d drunk quite a bit, and the water and food had not started doing their job, but it wasn’t his concern. She was a grown woman, and if she said she was okay because she wanted to be stubborn, then who was he to press her?
He turned his attention to Talia as he leaned back in his seat. She was sliding the water she’d gotten from their server a couple of minutes ago in front of Alivia and taking the almost empty glass the other woman had. It seemed she didn’t believe her friend’s words either.
The next hour was spent with him talking to Talia, and Alivia interrupted every chance she got. It didn’t last long, Ace redirecting her attention each time, and Slate would have to thank him for being a good wingman.
When they were outside and everyone got ready to go their separate ways, he gently grabbed Talia’s wrist to stop her. She looked up at him, and Slate found himself staring into those gorgeous eyes. He was sure they both knew what he wanted, but before he could open his mouth and ask, Alivia approached, pulling Talia.
“Tal, I think I’m going to be sick,” she stated.
Talia broke eye contact with him and turned her attention to Alivia. “You drank too much, and I told you about mixing liquors,” she sighed. “Come on, let’s get you home,” she stated as she ushered the other woman away. She looked over her shoulder at him. “I’ll get it from Axel.”
Slate nodded and watched as they went to join the other women. When they were all in the vehicle, he said goodbye to the other men and slid into his car. He could have stayed in the city for the night, but the drive home wouldn’t take him long, and even though he was off the following day, he needed to meet someone in the morning.
Leaving without Talia’s number wasn’t ideal, but she said she’d get his from Axel, and Slate had enough patience to wait for her to reach out to him.
1
Talia absentmindedly passed Courtney a napkin to wipe their eyes as she forked a bite of cake into her mouth. Kaydence and Axel were sharing their first dance, which seemed to be more kissing than dancing. She was sure Courtney had been crying since the wedding started, stopping long enough to enjoy the food before the waterworks began again with speeches and now the dance.
She couldn’t say that she blamed them. She’d also shed a tear when the newlyweds said I do. Talia was happy for her little sister. She’d found someone who made her happy, to spend the rest of her life with, and would treat her how she deserved to be treated.
Axel was a good man and had been a good guy in high school. It took a good one to deal with Alivia’s mood swings back then and deal with the toxicity of it all. Kaydence ending up with him as her husband seemed right after seeing them together. Talia didn’t believe there was a better fit for either of them. This would be a day they remembered forever, which was why Talia had not invited her best friend.
As much as she knew the other woman denied and wanted to believe herself when she said she wasn’t, Talia knew her sometimes better than herself. She knew that Alivia still had feelings for Axel. She would hazard to say that her friend may still love him after all these years.
A part of her could understand it. They’d dated throughout high school, some of the most formative years in their lives. The relationship had left an impression on Alivia in the same way Talia felt it would have on others. However, her friend had never let it go. She’d taken the breakup hard, even when she knew it was the best thing for both of them, even when she was doing dirt while he’d been away at basic training.
Talia was sure Alivia was still chasing after whatever feelings Axel had evoked in her during their relationship all these years later. From the casual flings she’d watched her have over the last ten years, Alivia had not found what she was looking for. Maybe she didn’t know what that was. Either way, Talia had kept her away from the day. To allow her sister and Axel to enjoy their wedding without dealing with anything that might have come out of Alivia’s mouth when she’d gotten tipsy.
When the first dance finished, others joined the couple on the floor as Talia finished her slice of cake. She pushed her plate to the side, reaching over with her fork to steal some of Courtney’s since it still sat untouched. She got two forkfuls before they swatted her hand.
“Keep your fork out of my plate, little girl.”
“You weren’t eating it. I thought all that crying you were doing would cause you to lose your appetite,” she teased.
“You are such a brat,” Courtney responded.
“I wonder where she gets that from?” her dad asked, turning his head to look at Courtney.
“Dad has a point, Courtney. This apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
“Please do not make me whoop you at your sister’s wedding,” they shot back with narrowed eyes before turning them to their husband. “And you don’t end up getting well acquainted with your hand.”
Talia dropped her fork onto her plate. “On that note, I’m going to go mingle.”
She headed to the dance floor, grabbing Nova’s hand and pulling her along as she walked past her. Talia spun her carefully, since she was holding a pink drink. She placed her hands on Nova’s waist as her friend’s free hand settled on her shoulder.
“Since your usual dance partner isn’t here, I get to be your lucky victim, I see,” Nova stated with an amused smile.
Talia scoffed in mock offense. “This is a privilege that anyone would be lucky to get.”
