Page 58 of Her Paramedic
“I’m not hungry,” she said.
“You need to eat,” Ace responded.
“I’m not hungry,” Journee repeated. Slate wasn’t about to let her go another day without eating anything of substance.
“When Killian wakes up, I won’t be the one to explain to him you didn’t take care of yourself, nor am I going to listen to his mouth about it,” Slate told her. He also would not explain to his girlfriend why someone she considered her little sister was neglecting herself. “Drink the smoothie, eat the wrap,” he commanded, because it was not a suggestion.
“That wasn’t a request, Journee,” Axel cut in when she opened her mouth. They all knew she’d try to protest. “Because I’m not getting lectured by Kaydence or Courtney because you want to be stubborn.”
She finally took the bag from him. “No one told me having big brothers would be annoying, but thank you,” she joked.
“It gets worse,” Ace responded with a smirk.
He wasn’t kidding. Slate witnessed the way Killian looked at Journee and the things he did for her. He’d be willing to bet that she’d become the other man’s world, and he would make sure she was okay until his cousin could take up that mantle again.
He took the empty seat beside Ace as Axel exited the room after informing them he’d return shortly. The room was quiet apart from the background noise of the television before Ace sparked a conversation. That was usually how it was, themtalking and letting Journee have her space. At least while she kept her mind occupied with something else. However, when Slate caught her staring off into space or at Killian, and it was clear she was thinking the worst, he quickly started a conversation to distract her. It also helped keep him away from any negative thoughts.
He’d hoped Killian would wake up within hours of his arrival or the following day, but his hopes had been dashed. Now, he wanted him to wake up before he had to leave.
Slate had four days left. Carie, the PRN covering his shifts, was already scheduled to work her normal hours and cover someone else after that, and the other PRNs were not available. There was also nothing he could physically do in their current situation except wait. He’d say screw it and stay so as not to leave Journee alone, but she’d have not only Gena, Thomas, and Ziggy, but Ace would be there. Carie could pick up his shifts again after a week, and he would likely take her up on it.
His phone rang, cutting off their conversation, and he looked at the screen to find Maximus calling.
“Hey,” Slate greeted.
“Hey, how is he?” Maximus inquired.
Slate gave him a rundown on how Killian was since he’d spoken to the other man last night, which was to say there had been no change, but he’d chosen not to use those words. Saying it aloud made it too real, and he didn’t want any of them getting upset.
“How’s Journee?” Maximus asked.
“Hanging in there,” Slate responded.
He spoke to Maximus for a few more minutes before his friend had to return to work. Slate and Ace resumed their conversation until Axel walked in some time later. A few bags in his hand and a box on his shoulder. A fold-out cot for Journee.
They stayed several more hours, Slate texting Talia throughout to give her updates, even though he knew she was getting the same ones from Journee. It was her way of checking on him, but not smothering him by asking how he was feeling every few minutes. She kept his mind on other things when they spoke, and every night since he’d been there, she’d stayed on the phone with him, awake with him until the early hours of the morning.
Slate could admit he felt selfish for keeping her up, but if he wasn’t looking after Journee or talking to Talia, his mind tried to drift to the worst scenarios. Unlike everyone else in their friend group, he didn’t have any siblings, and while he was close with the other men and considered them brothers, Killian had been his first. They were blood, and as much as he tried to put on a brave face, he was taking it hard.
When he slid into bed at almost midnight after his shower, his thoughts veering towards the worst what-ifs, two words cleared his mind of all thoughts as the phone ceased ringing against his ear.
“Hey, baby.”
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“How’s Slate doing?” Nova asked as Talia finished up her silk press.
“As expected. He doesn’t talk about it aside from giving me updates, but I can hear it,” Talia responded.
She’d spoken with him for a few hours last night and into the morning, and while they hadn’t spoken about Killian’s condition, since she’d gotten an update from him and Journee earlier that day, she could tell when he was thinking about it.
When there was a brief lull in their conversation, Talia got the feeling he was thinking the worst, and she would quickly fill the quiet. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume Slate could talk someone through doing highlights or several other services since she’d ramble about what she’d done during the day to keep him distracted.
They also played a lot of games: Two Truths and a Lie, Would You Rather, Never Have I Ever, This or That, and plenty more. Talia was positive someone could quiz her on her boyfriend, and she would pass with flying colors.
She understood why he felt the way he did. She knew they’d either all been hurt at some point or witnessed one another hurt, but this was the worst any of them had ever been. It was likely taking a toll on their entire friend group because she knew they were close, and Talia felt for all of them.
When she spoke to Slate, she did her best not to hover or ask him how he felt because she knew his feelings wouldn’t change until Killian woke up. She took the same approach with Journee. She’d text her each morning to let her know she was checking in and to tell her she was there, that she loved her, and left the ball in the other woman’s court to reach out when she felt up to it. Which she eventually did in the middle of the day.
