Page 35 of Her Paramedic (Men in Uniforms #3)

S late thanked the cashier as he took his order and left the food truck.

Four days had passed since he’d gotten the call about his cousin.

His vitals were good; he was healing fine, but he was still in a coma.

Journee hadn’t left the room since arriving.

Not even when he’d tried to coax her into taking a short walk to get some air.

Slate also knew she wasn’t eating much. He couldn’t say that he blamed her.

It was a stressful situation, but it didn’t mean she could neglect herself.

He thought getting her something that wasn’t hospital food would help with that.

Several food trucks were parked in the far lot of the hospital, but he knew she wouldn’t visit one because it required her to leave the room. He met Ace at the hospital’s entrance and took the smoothie the other man had gotten Journee from a different truck.

The elevator ride was quick, and one of the nurses at the station waved at Ace as they passed, and Slate refrained from shaking his head.

It was the same nurse they’d lied to when Ace arrived the morning after Slate.

She’d looked skeptical when they told her Ace was their brother too, and Slate wondered if she would be so closed-minded as to ask the question evident in her eyes.

He assumed that since Ziggy was Killian’s sister and she was biracial, the nurse eventually chalked it up to Ace being a stepbrother.

He’d seen the nurse come into the room a few times over the last several days to check in, and he was sure they all knew why she was there.

Or at least he, Axel, and Ace did. Journee paid little attention to the regular checks unless they were giving an update.

The nurse’s intentions were made even easier to see since she wasn’t one of his cousin’s nurses.

He and Ace entered the hospital room to find Journee reading a book and Axel hovering nearby. Slate handed her the smoothie and held out the bag for her. She eyed it for a moment before shaking her head.

“I’m not hungry,” she said.

“You need to eat,” Ace responded.

“I’m not hungry,” Journee repeated. Slate wasn’t about to let her go another day without eating anything of substance.

“When Killian wakes up, I won’t be the one to explain to him you didn’t take care of yourself, nor am I going to listen to his mouth about it,” Slate told her.

He also would not explain to his girlfriend why someone she considered her little sister was neglecting herself.

“Drink the smoothie, eat the wrap,” he commanded, because it was not a suggestion.

“That wasn’t a request, Journee,” Axel cut in when she opened her mouth. They all knew she’d try to protest. “Because I’m not getting lectured by Kaydence or Courtney because you want to be stubborn.”

She finally took the bag from him. “No one told me having big brothers would be annoying, but thank you,” she joked.

“It gets worse,” Ace responded with a smirk.

He wasn’t kidding. Slate witnessed the way Killian looked at Journee and the things he did for her. He’d be willing to bet that she’d become the other man’s world, and he would make sure she was okay until his cousin could take up that mantle again.

He took the empty seat beside Ace as Axel exited the room after informing them he’d return shortly.

The room was quiet apart from the background noise of the television before Ace sparked a conversation.

That was usually how it was, them talking and letting Journee have her space.

At least while she kept her mind occupied with something else.

However, when Slate caught her staring off into space or at Killian, and it was clear she was thinking the worst, he quickly started a conversation to distract her.

It also helped keep him away from any negative thoughts.

He’d hoped Killian would wake up within hours of his arrival or the following day, but his hopes had been dashed. Now, he wanted him to wake up before he had to leave.

Slate had four days left. Carie, the PRN covering his shifts, was already scheduled to work her normal hours and cover someone else after that, and the other PRNs were not available.

There was also nothing he could physically do in their current situation except wait.

He’d say screw it and stay so as not to leave Journee alone, but she’d have not only Gena, Thomas, and Ziggy, but Ace would be there.

Carie could pick up his shifts again after a week, and he would likely take her up on it.

His phone rang, cutting off their conversation, and he looked at the screen to find Maximus calling.

“Hey,” Slate greeted.

“Hey, how is he?” Maximus inquired.

Slate gave him a rundown on how Killian was since he’d spoken to the other man last night, which was to say there had been no change, but he’d chosen not to use those words. Saying it aloud made it too real, and he didn’t want any of them getting upset.

“How’s Journee?” Maximus asked.

“Hanging in there,” Slate responded.

He spoke to Maximus for a few more minutes before his friend had to return to work. Slate and Ace resumed their conversation until Axel walked in some time later. A few bags in his hand and a box on his shoulder. A fold-out cot for Journee.

They stayed several more hours, Slate texting Talia throughout to give her updates, even though he knew she was getting the same ones from Journee.

It was her way of checking on him, but not smothering him by asking how he was feeling every few minutes.

She kept his mind on other things when they spoke, and every night since he’d been there, she’d stayed on the phone with him, awake with him until the early hours of the morning.

Slate could admit he felt selfish for keeping her up, but if he wasn’t looking after Journee or talking to Talia, his mind tried to drift to the worst scenarios.

Unlike everyone else in their friend group, he didn’t have any siblings, and while he was close with the other men and considered them brothers, Killian had been his first. They were blood, and as much as he tried to put on a brave face, he was taking it hard.

When he slid into bed at almost midnight after his shower, his thoughts veering towards the worst what-ifs, two words cleared his mind of all thoughts as the phone ceased ringing against his ear.

“Hey, baby.”

? ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ · ─ ?

“H ow’s Slate doing?” Nova asked as Talia finished up her silk press.

“As expected. He doesn’t talk about it aside from giving me updates, but I can hear it,” Talia responded.

She’d spoken with him for a few hours last night and into the morning, and while they hadn’t spoken about Killian’s condition, since she’d gotten an update from him and Journee earlier that day, she could tell when he was thinking about it.

When there was a brief lull in their conversation, Talia got the feeling he was thinking the worst, and she would quickly fill the quiet.

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume Slate could talk someone through doing highlights or several other services since she’d ramble about what she’d done during the day to keep him distracted.

They also played a lot of games: Two Truths and a Lie, Would You Rather, Never Have I Ever, This or That, and plenty more. Talia was positive someone could quiz her on her boyfriend, and she would pass with flying colors.

She understood why he felt the way he did. She knew they’d either all been hurt at some point or witnessed one another hurt, but this was the worst any of them had ever been. It was likely taking a toll on their entire friend group because she knew they were close, and Talia felt for all of them.

When she spoke to Slate, she did her best not to hover or ask him how he felt because she knew his feelings wouldn’t change until Killian woke up.

She took the same approach with Journee.

She’d text her each morning to let her know she was checking in and to tell her she was there, that she loved her, and left the ball in the other woman’s court to reach out when she felt up to it.

Which she eventually did in the middle of the day.

“I hope he wakes up soon,” Nova stated. “For all of their sakes. I can only imagine if it were Zuri or one of you. I’d be out of my mind. I hope knowing we’re here for them gives them some comfort. I’ve texted Journee, and she’s responded a few times. I don’t want to overwhelm her.”

Talia nodded. “Yeah, if things get too tough, I know she’ll reach out.

Kaydence and I were going to fly in over the weekend, but she asked us not to come.

I think being alone with him helps her deal with it better, and I don’t want to upset any balance she’s found for herself.

But I think the twins are still going tonight or tomorrow. ”

“Does Slate plan on staying the entire time?”

“I know he’d like to, but the person covering for him committed to other shifts for the coming week. He’ll be back Sunday night, and he works six days next week, and then he might head back since she’ll be able to cover for him again.”

“Are you going to see him?” Nova asked.

“I plan on it. Even if it’s just me driving down to spend a few hours with him before he leaves again.”

Talia finished Nova’s hair and led her to the register.

She always gave her sister and friends a discount, which they seldom took.

Nova never took it and always insisted on tipping her.

The one time Talia brought it up, the other woman told her she was paying her what she was worth.

As a friend, she was supporting her fully and didn’t need a discount.

It was ironic, considering Nova was currently trying to discount her commission rate on Kaydence and Axel’s houses.

Once Nova was gone, Talia returned to her station and cleaned it up, preparing for her last client of the day.

“H ey, sorry I’m late. I got stuck behind a truck whose load fell off,” Talia stated, sitting down.

“It’s fine. They only seated me a few minutes ago,” Alivia responded. “I ordered you a drink.”

“Thanks,” Talia replied, placing her purse behind her in the seat.

She and Alivia looked over their menus in relative silence. When their server delivered their drinks, they placed their orders and fell into small talk about their days for a few minutes.

“How is Journee?” Alivia asked, taking a drink from her glass. “I would text her, but I doubt she’ll respond.”

Talia was sure that if Alivia reached out, Journee would answer her.

It might be a short answer, but she’d get one.

A part of Talia was also glad her friend had not because even when she wasn’t trying to, she could say the wrong thing, and she didn’t want Journee upset even more than she already was.

It was no secret in their friend group that the two women did not get along, but they were cordial enough in group settings.

“She’s dealing with it. It’s hard. I can only imagine how she feels, but she has support there and here to help her through it,” Talia responded.

“And Slate? Have you talked to him?”

“Yes, I have. He’s taking it in stride.” Talia left it at that. She didn’t want to give Alivia too much information because it wasn’t her business to tell, and she wanted to respect both his and Journee’s privacy.

Alivia nodded. “I wouldn’t wish what they’re going through on my worst enemy. I hope Killian pulls through. Sooner rather than later.”

“You and me both,” Talia replied.

They spent the rest of dinner on different topics, and Alivia told Talia where she wanted to take her mom and grandma for Mother’s Day.

It was one of the few times she saw them in a year, and she always went all out for the two, planning it well in advance and being excited about their reactions. Talia found it cute.

When she arrived home later that evening, she made a beeline for her bedroom.

It was already after nine, and if her boyfriend held true, he’d be calling her in about an hour.

She was glad he was taking her up on her offer to call whenever he wanted to talk.

She wanted to be settled in bed so she could give him her undivided attention.

Talia showered, put on her bonnet, and moisturized before slipping into bed. She forwent turning on the television. She placed her phone on the charger and put her earbuds in. Like clockwork, her phone rang a few minutes later, and she got comfortable in bed as she answered.

“Hey, baby.”