Page 48 of Her Paramedic
“I’ll cover it. Leave her share of the tip,” Journee replied, pulling her card from her purse.
“I’ll leave KD’s,” Aariah volunteered.
Once the bills were paid and everyone had their cards back, they exited the restaurant and headed to Talia’s house.
“It’s a pretty bracelet,” Alivia stated in the early morning hours as they sat on Talia’s bed.
After dinner, they played a few games once everyone arrived at her house and then watched a movie before deciding to all turn in a little after one in the morning. Journee and Kaydence occupied her guestroom, while the twins and Zuri took residence on her pull-out sofa. She, Alivia, and Nova were sleeping in her room. The latter-mentioned woman was currently in the shower.
“It was…nice of him,” Alivia said, leaning over Talia to put the bracelet on the nightstand.
Talia refrained from sighing. She’d thought that their original conversation about her dating Slate would be the end, but with what her friend had said at dinner, she realized that wasn’t the case.
“Why do you dislike him so much?”
“I don’t dislike him.”
“You do,” Talia countered.
“No, I don’t, because I don’t care about him one way or another.” Alivia paused. “I told you when we spoke before. I’m trying to look out for you. The way this relationshipstarted is how the others did. Fast, whirlwind, you think you’ve found someone who wants the same things as you, a genuine relationship, a commitment, and you end up disappointed and hurt when it crumbles a few months later. I have the right to be worried about my friend.” She paused, gesturing to both bracelets. “And this, all these gifts. It’s very reminiscent of what Chris used to do to keep you pacified so he could continue to get what he wanted.”
“I understand that you’re worried, and I appreciate you for that, for wanting me to be happy, but Slate isn’t like that.”
“None of them were in the beginning, and I’m not saying every person you’ve dated has been a bad choice because there were a few that you probably could have built with if the timing had been different. I’m not trying to upset you or devalue what you feel you have with him. I only want you to be careful.”
“But that’s what you’re doing each time you make a comment that lends to him not being the right person, or you doubting his intentions. It upsets me because my best friend has an unfounded issue with my boyfriend, and he has done none of the things you’re worried about. And it not only devalues my relationship with him, it devalues me, my ability to make my own choices and determine whether the person I’m dating is right for me.” Granted, she knew in the past shehadn’tchosen the right people.
Alivia was quiet for a moment. “You’re right. I’m sorry for doing that, and I will try to be more positive and supportive until he gives me a reason not to.”
“That,” Talia stated, pointing at her. “Is what I’m talking about. You’re so sure that he’ll mess up somehow.”
“I apologize. That was the wrong choice of words,” Alivia replied. “Unlesshe gives me a reason not to.”
Talia didn’t respond as her en suite door opened, and Nova walked out dressed for bed. Instead, she slid off the bed andheaded for the hall. “I’m going to check the front door.” She knew it was locked, but wanted a second to herself.
When she passed the living room, she found Zuri and Aariah watching something on the latter’s phone while Aryah lay there. Talia couldn’t tell if she was already asleep or not.
“You okay, Tal?”
“Yeah, Riah. I’m good. Goodnight,” she told them.
“Goodnight,” all three responded simultaneously. As she approached her bedroom, she heard Nova talking to Alivia and paused.
“Stop this,” Nova demanded.
“Stop what?”
“You know what I mean. She likes him. He likes her. He treats her well. That’s all that matters. You throwing your constant negativity in her face, bringing up the past and pointing out any similarities tothatman is going to put a cloud over their relationship, and it isn’t fair.
I get you want her to be happy, and she is. That’s what you need to focus on. Not shit from the past. I know that you’re worried. There’s nothing wrong with that, but Talia’s supposed to be your best friend. Act like it, and cut it out. I mean it, Alivia.”
“Why are you lecturing me when I have done nothing wrong?” Alivia asked. “I just want her to be careful.”
“You do a lot of things wrong, and no one is faulting you for trying to be a good friend. I’m faulting you for your delivery, for injecting your opinion when it wasn’t requested, and for whatever issue you have against that man, regardless of what you said, because someone would have to be blind not to see this differs from several past relationships.”
“It was me there every day after the situation with Chris. Not you.Isaw everything she tried to hide. I know how much that hurt her, and right now it feels like I’m watching a rerun ofhow that started. So maybe you’re the one who’s blind,” Alivia countered.
They fell quiet, and Talia took that moment to enter the bedroom. She turned off the light and climbed into her side of the bed, bidding them goodnight. Alivia grumbled for a couple of minutes because she didn’t want to sleep in the middle, but with it being Talia’s room, she would not. Nova pulled the age card, stating that, as the youngest of the three, Alivia didn’t have a choice.
