Fragile Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page A

people in wheelchairs?"
    I
feel emotions long suppressed bubble to the surface. "I was talking about
the real Olympics. I'll not participate in a mockery of that and have
everyone feeling sorry for me."
    Nonchalantly,
Kaylee pushes a curl away from her face and shakes her head. "Boy, are you
screwed up."
    Her
words are unexpected. Impatient now, I say, "I've seen your room and
upheld my end of the bargain. Now it's time for you to uphold yours." I
roll my chair around and start toward the door.
    Kaylee
sighs, "Okay, I'm coming." In the elevator she says, "I think people
who swim but can't walk are better than the ones who can walk. Seems to me they
have to work harder."
    I
glare at her.
    She
shrugs. "Just sayin'."

6: Reporting Back
     
    By noon, on the Saturday after tutoring Kaylee, my
homework is done and I wheel my chair to the small fridge to find something to
eat. Grabbing a frozen dinner, I pop it in the microwave—cheese enchilada. The
picture on the package looks delicious, but the food never tastes like the
picture.
    I punch six minutes and then wait, thinking about
Kaylee. She's a strange girl. True to her word, after showing me her room, we
returned to the library and she appeared to give her best effort to understanding
the process of determining "X" in an equation. To me she seems to be
the quintessential "poor little rich girl."
    The microwave dings followed by a knock on my
door. Since Lucy said she'd stop by, and she's my only friend, I figure it's
her.
    Rolling to the door, I open it to a grinning
Tyce. "So," he says, "how did it go with Kaylee?"
    The man always flusters me. "She's an
interesting girl."
    "That's all you have to say?"
    I frown. "She doesn't like math. She showed
me her very pink bedroom. And I guess my impression is that she's
lonely. How's that?"
    "Much better. Are you going to invite me
in? Something smells good."
    "Microwave enchiladas. But, believe me,
they're not very tasty."
    "Well, pop another one in for me."
    Tyce gently edges the door open, leans forward, and
places his hands on the arms of my wheelchair. Reaching for the controller, he steers
the chair backwards. His face is inches from mine. My eyes widen and I put my
hands on his chest to push him away. The contact with his body robs me of my
ability to breathe. I turn scarlet and shove him backwards. He barely budges,
but it's enough for me to gain control of my chair and scoot across the room.
    Angrily, I ask, "Why are you here?"
    "I came to find out how things went with Kaylee."
    "They went fine. She's exceptionally smart
and has a better understanding of algebra. Now you can leave."
    The microwave dings and Tyce walks over to open
it. With his back to me, he asks, "Why do you dislike me so much?" He
reaches for the enchilada in its plastic container and gingerly sets it on the
stovetop. He turns and studies my face.
    I don't know how to answer his question. "I–I
don't dislike you."
    He raises an eyebrow.
    "I just don't understand why you keep
showing up." I forge on. "Look, I'm not exactly your kind of
girl."
    Now he frowns. "Please tell me what my kind of girl is. Obviously, you seem to know me better than I know myself."
    I'm so flustered I speak without thinking.
"You're a hot guy. You date beautiful women. My looks are just passable.
And since I'm in a wheelchair, you obviously don't want sex. So just tell me
what's going on."
    Tyce frowns. "You've got some weird values,
Morgan. And I sure as hell don't like your impression of me. Do I come across
as being that shallow?"
    I only glare at him.
    His blue gaze sparks with emotion. "You
know, I thought we could be friends. I don't give a shit whether you're in a
wheelchair, whether you're beautiful, or if you're an alien from another
planet. What I saw in you was a woman of character, someone I could hang out
with. I've dated a lot of women, and frankly, I don't give a fuck about the
latest fashion fad, movie star, or hit song."
    I can't find words to respond.
    His eyes