Page 72 of Her Paramedic
“I didn’t need to. I already knew,” Slate responded.
“Did you put your hands on him? Did you hurt him?” Corrin asked with a raised brow.
“He’s still conscious if that’s what you’re asking, but it wasn’t from my lack of trying.”
He could tell his mother wanted to scold him, but given the situation thought against it. His actions were justified, and even if they weren’t, he didn’t give a damn. She patted him on the back as she exited, leaving him and Talia alone. Slate sat on the bed behind her.
“It’s not his fault,” she started. “I asked him what was in the punch. When he said vodka, I should have asked if it was flavored.”
“It is his fault because I sent a text to everyone bringing something and told them no kiwis. I told him twice because I know he likes to make that damn punch and then told him not to bring it.”
Slate wouldn’t let Brent off the hook just because she hadn’t asked him another question. He’d told him not to bring the punch and had let everyone know, aside from his parents, since they would prepare their dishes at his house when Talia agreed to come, that under no circumstances were they to bring anything containing kiwi.
His cousin had said fuck it and done so anyway. Whether he genuinely thought there were no remnants of kiwi in a vodka flavored with it or just wanted to do what the hell he wanted to, Slate wasn’t sure. But he wouldn’t put it past Brent to be that damn stupid.
Sure, he could have told everyone the reason they couldn’t bring something with it was because Talia was allergic, but it was his house, his rules, and everyone should have respected that. Even if he had told them, the idiot seemed to genuinely think there was no kiwi in the liquor. Thinking about it, he was tempted to go back outside and stick his foot far enough up Brent’s ass that his cousin could taste the rubber.
Talia must have read his mind, because she grabbed his arm and pulled. “Lie down with me. I promised Corrin I’d lie down for a couple of hours.
Slate slipped his shoes off, went to the other side of the bed, and got in. She moved over to him, bringing the throw blanket with her, and laid her head on his chest. He’d wait half an hour before rechecking her blood pressure.
21
“What day is the hair show?” Slate asked as he brought up the calendar on his phone. “I want to make sure I put in for the time off.”
“It isn’t until August first, but you don’t have to take off work to come. I know being off while Killian was injured drained most of your PTO,” Talia responded.
“I want to. I want to see you in action. Besides, I’ll have enough by then, and if I don’t, I know I can get Carie to cover for me.” He put it in his calendar.
“Even with us taking a long weekend away at the end of the month?”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“Are you sure?” Talia inquired.
“I’m positive, gorgeous.” Slate placed his phone back on the table and returned to folding laundry. “Did you pick up your replacement vial?”
“Yes, I got it yesterday. I’ll replace it in my pouch when I use the last dose in my current one.”
“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” Slate responded, jaw ticking.
Every time he thought of what happened during his Memorial Day gathering, he wanted to strangle his cousin all over again. The other man’s blatant disrespect for his house rules was irritating enough, but triggering Talia's allergic reaction pushed his anger to another level. Brent had even called attempting toapologize, but Slate hadn’t let him get much of a word in, cursing him out as soon as he’d answered the phone before hanging up on him.
An apology would not cut it. Nothing his cousin could say would make what happened any better. Especially after he’d acted so blasé about it. He could go to hell, and maybe then Slate would consider allowing him to apologize, but not before then.
His cursing Brent out had gotten back to his mother. Slate wasn’t surprised by it. He was sure Brent had told his mom, and his aunt had called Slate’s mother to vent to her sister about his behavior. It was better that she’d called his mother and not him directly because he likely would have told her to go to hell, too.
“You still haven’t told me where we were going,” Talia stated, and Slate could hear her shifting on her end of the phone.
“I know, and I’m not going to. That’s what makes it a surprise.”
His girlfriend groaned. “How am I supposed to know what to pack if I don’t know where we’re going?”
“You don’t have to pack anything. I’m fine with you being naked the entire time. Actually, I might prefer it,” he joked.
Talia laughed. “You’re impossible sometimes, you know that?”
“Maybe, but you like it.”
