Blind Read Free Page B

still had trouble digging out the perfect word. “I have you to take care of me.”
    â€œOh, yeah. Sir Limp-a-Lot.” Ed knew he wasn’t theworld’s most likely protector, even if it did feel good to have a pretty girl say that she was counting on him. And Tatiana was extremely pretty. Ed held up one crutch and waved it through the rain. “Bad guys beware.”
    Tatiana put her hand on Ed’s shoulder and let it rest there for the space of several heartbeats. “I can’t think of anyone else I would rather have looking out for me.”
    Ed stared at her hand. Buzzers went off in his head. Warning. Warning. Physical contact. What was Tatiana doing? This wasn’t supposed to be an official date. Friends only. Strictly casual.
    â€œUh, Tatiana…”
    She took her hand away and gave him a soft smile. “Are you ready?”
    Ed looked into her wide eyes. There was an expression on her face that he couldn’t quite read. “That depends. Ready for what?”
    â€œFor a walk around the park, of course.”
    â€œOne cold, dark walk coming up.” Ed could still feel the spot where she had rested her hand on his arm. It probably didn’t mean anything. Tatiana was from Russia. People in Russia probably did a lot more touching. It was just a friendly thing.
    He looked up at the drizzle falling down around the nearest streetlight. “We’re going to get wet.”
    â€œIt’s only water,” said Tatiana. “I don’t think I will drip.”
    â€œYou won’t what?”
    â€œDrip. Like an ice-cream cone when it gets hot.”
    â€œMelt.” Ed couldn’t help but grin. “You won’t melt. You’re way too…” He was going to finish with “sweet,” but then he realized how pathetic and cornball that sounded. Like something from a really awful black-and-white movie on the Family Channel. Like something from a guy who was desperate to be in love. Only this wasn’t the right girl.
    He cleared an irritating lump from his throat. “You sure you won’t be cold?”
    â€œCold? Here?” It was Tatiana’s turn to smile. “It’s practically summer here compared to back home.” She held out a blue umbrella and pressed a button on the shaft, and the canopy opened into a wide dome. “Besides, I have this to keep the rain away.”
    â€œOkay,” said Ed. “We’ll just make a quick lap now and then come back when the weather’s better, okay? It’ll be more entertaining then.”
    She nodded, her blue eyes bright. “Yes, that sounds perfect.”
    Ed started up the sidewalk with Tatiana close at his side. The wet sidewalk limited how fast he could move, but Tatiana didn’t seem to mind. She paced along beside him, holding the blue umbrella above them both.
    Some NYU students shouldered past Ed and ran on into the rain. Most of them weren’t wearing coats.It wasn’t that cold. Or that wet. Ed knew that New York was capable of infinitely worse weather. So why did today seem like such an
über-
suck?
    They crossed the street and turned toward the park. How many times had Ed walked this way with Gaia? Fifty? A hundred? However many it was, it wasn’t nearly enough. He liked Tatiana, he really did, but no one could take the place of Gaia. Even if lately she had been using his heart for a hacky sack.
    Halfway down the block they slowed to get around a crowd waiting near the door of a small restaurant. Tatiana peered through the tall windows as they passed. “Do they have very good food there? Is that why everyone is waiting?”
    â€œThat’s Jimmy’s Burrito. The food is…” Ed shrugged. “It’s cheap. I guess it’s good. Not exactly your five-star place. It’s one of Gaia’s… I mean…”
    â€œGaia likes to eat there?”
    Ed nodded. “Yeah, sometimes.”
    Tatiana stepped away