Page 69 of Her Paramedic
Talia placed her hand over his mouth, silencing him. “Would you stop it? Don’t get me worked up,” she chastised playfully.
Slate removed her hand from his mouth. “But it’s so much fun, baby.” He kissed her, pulled her flush against him, away from the counter, and smacked her on the ass. Talia released a soft moan into the kiss, and when he massaged her ass, she pinched him.
“Your parents are in the next room. Behave, babe.”
He chuckled and released her as she glared playfully at him. They put the strawberries into the fridge before entering the living room, where Corrin set up Jenga. Talia sat on the couch, Slate beside her, and he draped his arm over the back of it.
“I thought this would be fun, and I could give you the rundown on the family members that will be in attendance tomorrow,” Corrin informed as she ensured the tower was secure. “For the most part, everyone is laid back and will give you space, but there are a few who are overly nosy and will try to be as deep into your business as you allow them to be.”
“Are you counting yourself in the latter?” Solomon asked. “Because if not, you might want to consider it.”
Talia giggled while Slate chuckled, and Corrin cut her eyes at her husband. “You remember that.”
Solomon shrugged. “I don’t mind that you’re nosy, honey. It’s one of your endearing qualities.”
“I’m going to endear my foot up your butt in a second,” Corrin countered, and Solomon held his hands up in surrender. “Talia, why don’t you go first?”
They played Jenga while Corrin gave her the rundown on a few family members, and Solomon continuously teased his wife.
«-•-•-•-•-•-•-»
The following afternoon, Talia nodded along to what Jana, Corrin’s cousin, said as she did her best not to glance at the latter-mentioned woman over Jana’s shoulder. She’d been talking to her for the past twenty minutes, and Talia was sure Jana had asked her a thousand and one questions. She’d been prepared for it since Jana was someone Corrin had mentioned the previous evening. Talia also didn’t mind, because she knew how meeting someone’s family went. There were always questions abound, and she knew her parents would be the same way when meeting Slate officially as her boyfriend, and not as they had as Axel’s friend.
Corrin had taken it upon herself to make faces and hand gestures behind Jana from a distance. A few people around Corrin laughed softly, seemingly used to the antics and Jana’s constant talking. Talia had learned the previous day what a character Corrin was, and she wasn’t even sure the older woman was trying to be. She seemed like one of those people who were naturally funny.
“What about you?” Jana asked, drawing Talia’s full attention back to her. Talia quickly racked her brain for the last thing Jana said, but she couldn’t recall. Initially, she’d done a good job of not getting distracted by Corrin, but it seemed she hadn’t done such a great job that time.
“We’ll be going in the near future,” Slate stated, coming to the rescue as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
Talia hadn’t even known he’d approached them. The last time she’d seen him, he’d been refilling the drinks in the cooler.
“Any idea where?” Jana asked.
“Not yet,” he responded. “If you’ll excuse us, Jana. I need to borrow Talia for a moment.”
Jana smiled at them. “Of course. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“I thought you could use rescuing,” Slate said once they’d walked away from Jana.
Talia laughed. “She wasn’t that bad. At least she could keep the conversation going. What was she talking about at the end? Your mom distracted me.”
Slate chuckled. “She asked how often you vacationed because she found it hard to take time off.”
“And you want to go soon?” she inquired.
“I do because it means I get to be selfish and not share you with the world if I don’t want to,” he responded. “Come on. I want to introduce you to Carie.”
When they stopped in front of a woman and Slate introduced the two, Talia could admit that Carie was not what she’d imagined. Talia thought she would be at least her height or taller, mainly because of the profession that she was in. However, if she had to guess, Carie stood maybe five foot one.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Talia said with a smile, holding her hand out.
“You too. I told Slate I wasn’t missing this gathering for anything,” Carie responded.
“I said the same,” Jonah added, joining them. She’d met him earlier when everything began. “I needed to set my eyes on the woman that Slate doesn’t shut up about and has him putting on his bedroom voice when we’re in the van together.”
“Whoever said you were funny lied to you, kid,” Slate responded, and Talia and Carie laughed.
“I’m hilarious, old man.”
