Page 81 of Her Paramedic
“I know I can’t expect you not to do something that’s ingrained in you, and that’s part of your job. Just promise me you will always be careful and that you’ll tell me about it as soon as you can.”
Slate kissed her. “I promise. The last thing I’m going to do is allow something to happen when I have you waiting for me.”
“Hold this.” She gestured to the ice pack. “I’ll be back.”
He watched her go before tilting his head back against the couch. He was alone for a few minutes until he heard Talia coming down the hall and entering the kitchen. She returned to the living room with a bottle of water and medicine.
Slate thanked her and took the medicine before she pulled him up and led him down the hall to his bedroom and en suite, where she’d run him a bath. Talia helped him finish undressing and left him to relax.
The hot water felt good on his sore side. He propped his arm up to ensure that his bandage didn’t get wet. He stayed in until the water cooled and pulled the plug before starting the shower. He bathed, careful with his arm, before getting out and wrapping a towel around his waist. When Talia entered, he was pulling a pair of boxers out of the dresser.
“I was coming to check on you. I’m making dinner. It’s almost done, and then I’ll ice your side again,” she said.
“Thank you, baby.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” she replied before heading back to the kitchen.
Slate dressed in a pair of boxers and sweatpants, then went into the kitchen, making a mental note to call his parents after dinner and let them know what happened. He sat at the island and watched Talia move around the kitchen. She was familiar with his entire home, moving around it easily as if she was always meant to be there, as if it had been made exclusively for her. He realized at that moment that regardless of the circumstances; he enjoyed coming home and seeing her there.
24
Slate pulled up to Talia’s house at a quarter past eight in the morning. Their destination was three hours away, and he wanted them to arrive before lunchtime. He knocked on the door and only had to wait momentarily before it opened.
“Hey, baby,” she greeted, rising on her toes to kiss him.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
She stepped aside to let him in. “I’m almost ready. I’m double-checking that I have everything.”
Slate didn’t mind. He’d told her they would leave at eight-thirty, so she still had time. He followed her down the hall to the bedroom, where her suitcase lay open on the bed. Leaning against the wall, he watched her finish checking that she had everything. She zipped her suitcase before grabbing her phone charger and placing it into her purse.
“You have your EpiPen?” he asked.
“Yes. Pen and vial.”
Slate grabbed the suitcase off the bed. As long as she had that, he didn’t care if she forgot anything else. He could buy whatever it was.
They exited the house, Talia pausing to lock the door behind them. Slate loaded her suitcase into the trunk with his own before getting into the car. He’d just backed out of her driveway when Talia turned to put her purse in the backseat and paused.
“You brought your med kit?”
“I did. I wanted to have it just in case.”
She hummed, turning back around in her seat. “You don’t think you’re being a little paranoid. I told you I’d be more careful.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t matter how careful you are, baby. Accidents can happen, and I’ll be as paranoid as I need to if it means I can take care of you if something occurs.”
“Remind me to show my appreciation for you being so sweet when we get to…” she trailed off, and Slate chuckled.
“Nice try.”
“You know the signs will give it away.”
“Then when they do, you’ll know.”
Talia sighed. “Fine. What’s in the shopping bags back there?”
“Just a few things for the trip,” he responded. “You want to stop and grab breakfast before we get out of town, or wait?”
