Page 61 of Her Paramedic
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Talia hung up with Journee and sighed in relief. She hadn’t realized how much she’d been holding in. How nervous she’d been for her and Slate until after hearing Killian had woken up and speaking to them both. She could hear the difference in their voices, almost feel the weight that had been on both of them lift. She was happy for them. She’d been worried about Killian also, but she wasn’t as close to him as Slate was, so while she’d been worried, she knew it paled in comparison to her boyfriend and Journee.
She got out of her car and went into the supermarket. She needed to pick up a few things on her way home. Talia grabbed a cart, her goal being to get in and out. The supermarket was one of her least favorite places to go because she often ended up staying longer than she wanted to and getting far more than she needed or set out to get. Today would not be one of those days.
She made a beeline for each of the aisles she needed to get something from, acting like a horse with blinders to anything else. She was almost home free until she saw a display for yoga mats. Talia had been meaning to get a new one for a couple of months, so it wasn’t like it was something she didn’t need. A new mat also meant that she would make time to return to Aryah’s classes.
After browsing the selection for a few minutes, she grabbed a purple one with white flowers and headed to check out. With her purchases secured, she headed home.
When Talia arrived home, she put away her items and went into the kitchen to start dinner. She’d been craving tortilla soup for the past day and decided to have it for dinner. Music filtered through the kitchen as she started cooking. She truly felt lighter after finding out Killian was okay and that Slate and Journee could breathe easily.
From her conversation with both of them, she knew nothing seemed out of place or had changed in his vitals from the time he’d woken up to her conversation with Journee, which was a five-hour time frame. However, the doctor had not told them when he could go home or if it would be soon. They wanted to monitor him for a few more hours before making that decision.
Talia had finished cooking and had dinner. A couple of hours later, she was halfway through a movie when her phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she found Slate calling. It was earlier than he normally would during the evening, but she supposed that with his cousin awake, he no longer needed her to distract him at night before bed.
She’d known that it was what he needed, what she was doing, and she hadn’t minded one bit. It had given him peace; that was all she cared about.
“Hey, baby,” she greeted, turning the television down.
“Hey, gorgeous. How was work?” he asked.
“It was good. I’m enjoying it before it gets hectic in a couple of weeks. The high schools will start having prom then, and I already have so many clients on the books, but I always enjoy seeing everyone’s looks afterward.” She paused briefly. “Did you decide what you wanted to get Carie for covering for you?”
“Not yet, but I’ll think of something. She rarely works this many days. As a PRN, she’s required to work at least two shifts a month to keep her spot, and she’ll pick up shifts and cover for people now and then, but I don’t think she’s worked this much consecutively in a year.”
Talia hummed. “What type of person is she? I can be on the lookout for something or make a few suggestions if you need help.”
“She’s pretty laid back, but yeah. We can go together to find her something.” She heard shifting from his end. “The doctorcame in half an hour ago and said that if everything continues the way it is, Killian can go home in three days. I’ll be headed back that morning since he’ll have his parents, Ziggy and Journee, to look after him. Besides, if I know my cousin, he’s going to ignore everyone for a while and trap himself in a little bubble with Journee.”
“That’s good news.” Talia laughed because she was sure he was right. She also knew it worked for Slate’s schedule. He’d been gone three days, and Carie was covering three more shifts for him before she needed to cover for someone else for their birthday. “I’m happy he isn’t having any complications after waking up.”
She spoke to Slate for the next couple of hours before getting up, checking that her doors were locked, and heading into her en suite. She started the shower, placed him on speaker, and raised the volume. At some point, she heard the shower start on his end.
When she was settling into bed forty minutes later, Talia told him about going to a yoga class sometime next week. While they continued speaking, she pulled up the website on her tablet to find an available class that would work well with her schedule.
She knew she could ask Aryah to come over and give her a private class or conduct one for all of them, but they only did that occasionally, and when the younger woman did, she was a stubborn little something and refused to let Talia pay her. She didn’t have a choice if she attended a class at the spa and health center. Well, she did, but she knew Aryah wouldn’t argue with her once she’d already paid.
Talia wasn’t sure what time it was when she drifted off. She remembered Slate asking her something, but she wasn’t sure what. Whatever she responded with had drawn a chuckle from him before she was out like a light.
19
Talia turned Jean, the older woman in her chair, towards the mirror after finishing her hair. She was a regular who came in every two weeks for a wash, blowout, and style. Talia enjoyed doing the other woman’s hair and listening to stories of what her grandchildren had gotten up to since the last time she’d been in. She always brought them a bag of cinnamon candies. Each visit with Jean brought up a sense of nostalgia.
“You get this old lady together every time,” Jean said as she looked herself over in the mirror with a smile. “I always feel ten years younger when I leave.”
“You make it easy,” Talia replied.
“You look good, Ms. Jean,” Nesha said. “If you’re interested, my daddy is single, and I need him to mingle so he’ll stay out of my business.”
That drew a laugh from those in the shop and a blush tinted Jean’s caramel cheeks. “I’m too old to be out here dating.”
“Says who?” Maya asked, adding rollers to her client’s hair. “Dating has no expiration age, and you’re only as old as you feel.”
“She’s right,” Talia agreed.
Jean waved them off with a laugh. “You girls always know how to make me feel young.”
Talia removed the cape and took her to the front to pay. With her next appointment set, Jean exited the salon, and Talia returned to her station to clean up and prepare for her nextclient. She was setting up her hot comb when Monique returned from lunch, making a beeline for her.
