Fragile Hearts

11: Training Begins

Tyce arrives with our dinner. He sets the monster pizza on my small dinette and opens the box. He glances at me and then closes the box.

"Hey, I'm hungry," I complain.

"You're not eating until you tell me what's going on. You've got a weird look on your face."

"Tyce, open the box."

"Morgan, no." He grins and his sexy blues twinkle. He truly has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. I can't hold his gaze so I look at the table. He says low, "Come on. What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

I bite my lip. So far, Tyce has called me beautiful and pretty, and I treasure those complements from him. I tilt my head to the side and glance up from beneath my lashes. "I called my mom and asked if she and my dad would front the expenses for me to train for the Paralympics."

It takes Tyce a second to process what I've just revealed, but then he grins and his mouth is just as gorgeous as his eyes. I find myself holding my breath.

He thrusts his fist upward. "Yes! That's my girl!" Before I know it, he's turned my chair away from the table and leaning over me. He says, "I'm so proud of you!"

I can't help beaming a smile back at him. "Hey, it's not that big of a deal–"

My sentence is stopped when he places his lips on mine and whispers, "Yes, it is."

Now I seriously can't breath.

He moves his mouth to my scarred cheek and kisses it before stepping away. He sits back in his chair and makes a show of opening the pizza box. I don't want to meet his gaze. I'm afraid he'll see too much. To him, we're just friends and the kiss didn't mean anything.

I grab my pizza and make small talk. Finally, I look at him. He's talking about my training with his mouth full. I'm glad we're talking shop. I say, "I guess the first thing to do is let Mrs. Metcalf know I want to sign up, and then schedule training times."

"Well, if you need help with anything, just let me know, and if you want me to be there, I'll change my schedule."

The last thing I want is Tyce distracting me while I'm in training. I just smile like I'm considering it so he doesn't get his feelings hurt.

The next day, I inform my teacher that I want to train for the Paralympics and give her my application. She's as happy as Tyce was. Because there are three other students wanting to train also, it's decided that we'll all practice at the same time, not only to encourage one another, but to compete against each other. Some of the students need to rearrange their schedules and Mrs. Metcalf says she'll help with that. Finally, we agree that Monday through Friday at four in the afternoon works best.

The first two weeks are grueling and I think I've probably made a mistake. Tyce shows up at my dorm almost every evening cheering me on. Now I can't quit because I don't want to disappoint him.

During the third week Tyce knocks on my door. He's rolling a large suitcase behind him. Inside my room, he opens it and says, "I'm going to help you increase your upper body strength," and pulls out dumbbells of various weights.

I laugh and point to the DVD I was just about to put in my TV. "I've been waiting all week to watch that movie. The last thing I want is to work out with weights."

He glances at the DVD, rolls his eyes at the chick-flick, and grabs it off the table.

"You put that back," I order.

He places the movie inside the suitcase. "You can have it after we work out."

"So you're going to work out, too?"

"Of course." He gets a cocky expression. "I've got to show you how it's done."

"You are so full of yourself. Suppose I refuse. What will you do then?"

He steps until he's standing above me and then leans over. Next to my ear, he whispers, "Tickle you."

I gasp. "No. You better not."

Too late. He's tickling my sides and I try not to give him the satisfaction of a giggle. I can't hold out for long. "Okay. Okay. You can be my personal trainer."

He gives me one last poke and reaches for the DVD, setting it back on the table. Pulling out two dumbbells, he says, "Let's start with two pounds."

"What! I can lift more than two pounds."

"Of course you can. But how many side lifts can you do with them?" He demonstrates and I shake my head, thinking he's crazy. I hold my hands out for the dumbbells, but he shakes his head. "Warm-ups first, hot shot."

I sigh, but follow all his instructions. Before long, I'm being challenged by my new personal trainer and loving every minute of it.

By my fourth week at the pool, I'm feeling much stronger and enjoying the comradery of my fellow Paralympics' swimmers.

Because of my training routine, I haven't been able to accompany Tyce when he tutors Kaylee. He said she keeps asking about me. I also haven't been able to spend as much time with Lucy as I'd like.

On Sunday, Tyce and Lucy both show up at my dorm and Tyce says they're kidnapping me. I jokingly protest, but really I'm thrilled to hang out with them. We load into Tyce's truck and he drives the short distance to Kaylee's. Lucy's never met Kaylee.

As soon as we reach the gate, Tyce makes faces at the monitor and it buzzes open. Kaylee meets us on the portico and Julie is with her pushing an empty wheelchair. Although Kaylee is standing and smiling, she looks pale and sickly. I introduce Lucy to Julie and Kaylee, and while she tells Kaylee about her name being Lucy Arnez and the reason why, I watch Tyce talking to Julie.

When we start inside the house, Tyce lifts Kaylee and puts her in the wheelchair. She protests, but he tickles her into laughter. Julie pushes her through the big door and I drop back, pulling on Tyce's sleeve. I whisper, "What's going on?"

He looks grim. "She had to start dialysis."

I place my hand over my mouth. "So they still haven't found a donor?"

"No."

Kaylee wants to show Lucy her bedroom, so we all take the elevator to the third floor. She's added more stars to her ceiling, decorated her wall with more princess pictures, and purchased more pink clothing. When she asks if we can take her to the park if she stays in her wheelchair, Tyce shakes his head no, and says, "Maybe next time, sweetie."

My heart breaks for the little girl. I know how it feels to be bound to a chair, and for the first time, I have a real appreciation for what my parents have gone through for me.

We don't stay longer than an hour because Kaylee is very weak.