Page 76 of Her Paramedic
“You’re not, but if saying it makes you feel better, then cool.” She could almost hear the smirk in his voice.
“You get on my nerves sometimes,” she countered.
Her boyfriend chuckled before shifting the conversation to talk about car parts, and Talia knew it was because he knew he’d been right about her being asleep soon. He always talked about random things when she was on the verge of sleep, and it wasn’t long before she was drifting off to something about engines and timing belts.
22
Slate sat in the waiting room, scrolling on his phone while waiting for Talia. There were a few other people in the waiting area. Among them was an older woman; he would put her in her late fifties, and from the moment Talia had been taken to the back, she started winking at him. At first, he thought it might have been a tick until she’d blown him a kiss and tried to gesture him over. It was amusing, and it took everything he had not to laugh because he knew she’d think he was laughing at her when, in reality, he was laughing at the situation.
Their group liked to joke that Matteo was a magnet for older women, and recently, Slate felt it had rubbed off on him. Just yesterday, a woman at the call they’d been dispatched to tried flirting with him while she was having a hard time breathing with an oxygen mask on her face. She’d been almost seventy. Jonah had a field day with it, pointing out that older women needed love, too.
“You’re here with Ms. Adams?”
The voice pulled Slate from his thoughts, and he turned his attention to the dental assistant who had approached him.
“I am.”
“She’s almost finished. Here’s a care packet of everything she’ll need. There’s extra gauze in there in case she needs it. The anesthesia is going to make her tired for a bit, so it’s best if she sleeps when she gets home, and she should eat before taking anypain medication. You can pull around to the side of the building to the pickup area, and we’ll walk her out in a few minutes.”
“Thank you,” Slate responded, taking the bag from her.
He stood, slipping his phone into his pocket and heading out of the building. He pulled the car around, and they walked Talia out several minutes later. Slate got out of the car, opening the passenger door. He thanked the assistant before helping Talia into the car and fastening her seat belt. They’d barely left the parking lot before her soft, even breathing filled the car.
When they reached her house, he unlocked the front door before getting her out of the car. He’d just stepped over the threshold when her eyes opened. They sat heavy, glazed over.
“Hey, put me down,” she stated.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Slate responded.
“S’okay. I can walk.” She wiggled in his arms, and he set her on her feet, steadying her before closing the door. She took a step and swayed, almost stumbling, and he grabbed her, chuckling. It was adorable.
“Hey, buddy. Whatcha laughing at?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he responded, leaning down to kiss her. She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away.
“No, no, no. You can’t kiss me. I have a boyfriend.”
Slate raised an amused eyebrow at her. “Baby, I am your boyfriend.”
Talia scrunched her nose momentarily. “Well damn. I did good.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle again. “I think that was me, baby, but sure. Come on. Let’s get you in the bed.”
He helped her down the hall and sat her on the bed when they entered her bedroom. Slate squatted and began untying her shoes.
“Since you’re my boyfriend, do you want to know a secret?” she asked, and he glanced up to find her with her eyes closed and swaying slightly.
“Sure, baby.”
“You love me; you just don’t know it yet.”
Slate paused for a second before continuing to take her shoes off. He then helped her lie down and pulled the blanket at the bottom of the bed over her.
“Do you want to know a secret?” he asked.
“Mhm,” she replied softly.
He stroked her cheek before placing a soft kiss on her lips. “I do know it.” And he did. He’d realized it when he’d seen her collapse, when he’d wanted to snap his cousin’s neck for being stupid.
