Tears Read Online Free

with Heather. It seemed like he was
always
trying not to think about his deal with Heather. He’d promised her that he wouldn’t tell a soul, not even Brian, his physical therapist, about any potential progress he made with his legs. That way he could still cash in on the settlement. That way he could still help Heather, whose family was fast going broke. Twenty-six million dollars would solve everyone’s problems—
    So why did he feel like shit?
    Actually, he knew the answer. He knew the answer because he was making progress. The physical therapy was working. He’d been busting his ass like an Olympic athlete in training, and it was starting to pay off. Pins and needles in his left quad. A twitch in four of his toes. All he wanted to do was tell Gaia. But he’d sworn himself to secrecy. To Heather.
    Ed felt wrong about it on so many levels, but he’d agreed. Stupid? Probably. But he hadn’t been able to say no to Heather. Not after everything they’d been through—not when he could save her entire familyfrom their financial crisis. He knew it was for a good cause, but all the secrets and lies were just closing him off from everyone. And that was the last thing he needed.
    â€œYou find me fascinating, don’t you, Fargo?” Gaia came to a sudden halt in the hallway, crossed her arms, and stared Ed down, missing nothing, as per usual.
    And also, as per usual, Ed once again found himself amazed at how stunningly gorgeous she was.
Of course, she was checking him out as if he’d just offered her a turd sandwich.
Not that he could blame her. She’d been talking up a storm, and he’d given exactly one grunt the entire time.
    â€œWhat’s with you?” she asked.
    Ed opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn’t trust himself, knowing only too well that the secret might just fly out of him if he wasn’t damned careful. He hated keeping things from Gaia. Especially after they’d recently gone through a bad hump and only just revived their friendship.
    â€œSeriously, Fargo, have you found the Lord or what? Your eyes are all glinty, and your lip is zipped. Give it up.”
    â€œIt’s, well. . .” Ed swallowed. “It’s...things are good with Heather is all. And I know you don’t want to hear about that.” A sinking feeling swept over him as annoyance flitted across Gaia’s face. He was lying, for one thing. Things were not good with Heather. Butmore important, the
H
word was best not passed between him and Gaia. It was an unspoken agreement. An invisible Band-Aid necessary to hold their friendship together. And now he’d gone and verbalized them into awkwardness.
    On the other hand, what else could he have said?
You could tell the truth,
he hollered at himself, dying to get it out of his system.
    But that would only make it worse. Then he’d have to explain how it needed to be a secret. How Heather needed the insurance money to help get her family out of debt. Thereby giving Gaia yet another reason to hate Heather.
It was an extraordinarily vicious circle. And Ed was right in the middle of it, swirling like toilet water.
    â€œWe better get in there,” Gaia said evenly, looking toward the classroom as Mr. MacGregor walked through the door. “Or maybe I’ll go ahead by myself,” she amended coolly, turning to look over Ed’s shoulder.
    Ed spun and followed her gaze. Heather. Of course. Ed watched as Heather came closer, materializing out of the shadowy corridor like a walking Maybelline commercial.
My girlfriend,
he thought. She was beautiful, no doubt: that long brown hair, that perfect figure. But as she walked toward him, her smile broadening even in spite of Gaia’s presence, Ed felt his spirits sink. Why did the two best things in his life—Heather andthe fact that he might be able to walk again—feel more like curses than blessings?
    Actually, it was best not to think too hard about