Page 80 of Her Paramedic
“I didn’t go to the hospital. There was no need, but I’m patched up. I should be home in an hour, and you can check me over when I get there.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
Talia released a relieved sigh as they hung up. She was glad to know that it wasn’t that bad, but she wouldn’t be completely at ease until she saw for herself. She’d learned from him that he had a penchant for playing things down. He hadn’t told her that in so many words, but she’d inferred it after Killian had come out of a coma, and Talia suspected he was playing down his pain levels for Journee. Her boyfriend had told her he couldn’t blame him; it was only natural for him not to want her to worry.
With that thought in mind, she sent Alivia another text asking if she was available for dinner the following evening. She decided to stay with Slate another night and leave the following morning to make it to her first appointment.
Feeling better and not as if she was on pins and needles after talking to him, Talia sank into the couch cushions, some of the invisible weight lifting off her shoulders.
«-•-•-•-•-•-•-»
“She saw the news?” Jonah asked when Slate hung up.
“Yeah, she did.” He placed his phone in the cup holder. “I wish she hadn’t because it probably looked worse to her than it was. Telling her when I got home would have allowed me to ease her into it. Now, she’s going to worry until I get there.”
Even though she hadn’t pressed when he said she could look him over when he got home, he knew she would worry until she could see him. That was the last thing Slate wanted, but he knew it couldn’t be helped. On the plus side, all they had to do was finish a few forms, and they’d be able to call it a day.
The faster they finished, the quicker he could get home, put his girlfriend at ease, and take something for the oncoming pain in his side.
Slate had barely walked through the front door when Talia exited the living room and fell into his chest, arms wrapping around him. He suppressed a groan as she squeezed him, not wanting her to worry as he wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m okay, baby,” he assured.
She continued to hold on to him, and Slate walked her backward, taking them back into the living room. He sat down, pulling her down onto his lap. As she shifted to straddle him, her knee knocked into his side, and he released a small grunt.
“I’m sorry,” she responded, pulling back immediately.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Talia ran her thumb gently over the bandaged cut under his eye. It wasn’t serious. It had bled a bit, but he knew it would heal in no time. Her eyes shifted to where his forearm was bandaged before she slowly unbuttoned his uniform shirt. She lifted the t-shirt he wore and took in the bruising on his side. She ran soft fingers along it. When she tried to get off him, Slate grabbed her waist, stopping her.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to get you some ice,” she responded.
He could tell her she didn’t need to, but Slate knew doing something, tending to him, would make her feel better, and he wouldn’t stop her. So he let her go. He removed his uniform shirt and pulled the t-shirt off. When Talia returned, she went to sit beside him, but Slate pulled her to straddle him again.
“Baby,” she protested.
“You won’t hurt me,” he replied, not giving her a chance to continue.
“I just did a couple of minutes ago,” she countered, placing the wrapped ice against his side, but she didn’t move off him. “I decided to stay another night to make sure you were fine, if that’s okay.”
“Always,” he replied, giving her a soft kiss.
“Tell me what happened, please.”
“Part of the building caved in, and I heard two kids scream. Most of the firefighters were in the other building or on the other side of the building. Before I knew it, my body was moving. I wasn’t willing to wait on them in hopes that they’d get there before a collapse happened.”
“How did your injuries happen?” Talia asked.
“I cut my arm, moving some debris out of the way to get to the kids. A beam swung toward them when I moved it, and I got in front of it. My side took the brunt of it. I’m not sure how I got the cut on my face.”
“And nothing’s broken? No internal bleeding?”
“No, and no,” he replied.
“I was so worried when I saw you run into that building. I couldn’t understand what you were doing, thinking, but then I saw you come out with those kids, and I’m glad they’re okay, but…” she trailed off.
Slate took her face in his hands. “I’m right here, baby. I’m fine. I know it was reckless, but it was instinct.”
