Page 25 of Her Paramedic
Seeing the aftermath of that and being there through how you felt was devastating, because there was nothing I could do or say to make you feel better. And that whole situation with him started this trend of you jumping into relationships where the two of you want vastly different things, and them ending with you in disappointment. Regardless of how often you try to build on something other than attraction.”
Talia was quiet as she allowed Alivia’s words to sink in. Her friend was right, but the connection she’d felt with Chris a few years ago and the one she now felt with Slate were vastly different. She knew that.
“I don’t want that for you again,” Alivia said after the silence hung for a bit too long.
“I know, and I appreciate that you’re always there when things go south, but Iknowthis is different.”
Alivia studied her over the rim of her glass in quiet contemplation. “Okay. I hope it works out.”
She knew that was the best she would get for now. Just like she’d seen Alivia through all of her flings, her friend had been there to see Talia in lust-filled, whirlwind relationships that didn’t last and didn’t give her what she wanted. But she hadn’t been lying. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something different in her attraction to Slate, in what she saw in him, and she wanted to see where they went.
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Slate finished filling out the encounter form for the patient they dropped off. He double-checked it before pulling out the middle copy and giving it to the intake desk. He walked outside to find Jonah flirting awkwardly with a nurse. It was a recurring event whenever they brought a patient, and she was there. He wasn’t sure why Jonah hadn’t asked her out yet. It was obvious she liked him, too. She flirted as awkwardly as he did, and maybe that was why neither of them realized their interest was reciprocated.
He gave them a few more minutes and unlocked the door, getting back into the van. He pulled his phone out to send Talia a message when he saw he had one from her.
Talia:Do you work this weekend?
Slate:I’m off Thursday and Friday.
Talia:Do you work Saturday morning or night?
Slate:Night. What’s up, baby?
Talia:I wanted to see you. But I don’t want to come down and keep you awake on Friday.
He was on nights until March, and he didn’t mind her keeping him up, but she’d come to him last time.
Slate:You came to me last time. I’ll come to you. How many appointments do you have on Friday?
Jonah got in, and Slate didn’t miss how red his ears were. He would not pass up the opportunity to pick on his partner.
“What did she say that made you blush like a bride?”
“I am not,” Jonah denied.
“Sure. Did you at least finally ask her out?”
He pulled out of the hospital drop-off area and headed towards their usual place to park.
“She doesn’t like me that way.”
Slate shook his head. “This younger generation is so clueless. If you ask her, she’ll say yes. She blushes when you talk to her, too.”
His phone vibrated, and he knew it was Talia texting him back. He listened to Jonah converse with himself about whether the nurse liked him and what signs she might or might not have been giving off. He was talking himself in a circle when he only needed to bite the bullet and ask her.
When they pulled into the parking lot fifteen minutes later, he backed into their usual spot and picked up his phone.
Talia:Six. And you came to me last time.
Slate:I picked you up for the party. That doesn’t count.
Talia:True. If you don’t mind me working, you could come on Thursday evening and stay.
Slate:I can do that, baby.
Talia: Okay. Let me know when you make it home.
