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Blind Ambition - Chapter Three

"Oh, God," Edward groaned. "Is it going to be like that every time?"

Leah laughed breathlessly. "If you're lucky," she said, taking his arm and handing him a towel.

"Worse or better?"

"Honey, that was just a warm-up," she teased as she took a seat at his feet and pulled his right leg toward her. They'd both been broken in the accident, but the bones had healed well. It was the literal getting back on his feet that was the hard part.

"No sympathy for the blind…" he muttered with a small smile.

"I'm heartless, what can I say," Leah told him, massaging his calf. "These muscles are pretty tight; you're going to need to make sure you're working them when we don't meet."

"I tell my students the same thing," Edward said with a laugh. "I'll try to listen better than they do."

"Students?" she asked, switching to his other leg.

"Music students. Mostly piano and guitar. I own a music shop downtown and do lessons out of it."

"You…teach music?"

Edward laughed louder. "Yeah. I studied music at NYU. That's where I met Bella, and we moved to Seattle together."

"But you're-"

"Yeah, I'm blind," he said with a laugh. "But, like I said before, it's kind of a recent development." Leah felt her cheeks burn, afraid she'd embarrassed him. It usually took her more than one session to get so much out of a patient, but Edward seemed to be an open book.

"What happened?"

"It's a side effect...from diabetes," Edward answered simply. "I know. I have a ton of shit wrong with me. I don't know how I can still function, to be honest," he said, though he was smiling.

"You seem to be coping well," Leah snorted quietly, and then turned serious. "I've seen studies on that. Was it gradual?"

"It's been deteriorating for about five years. I can see shadows and things, but that's about it. Eventually..." he trailed off, and she knew what he was going to say. He'd already mentioned it during their first meeting.

She asked, "Have all your other spidey-senses come alive?", moving her hands to his thigh.

"Well…you do smell very nice," Edward whispered, faux-seductively, and made her pull her hands away quickly.

Leah rolled her eyes and stood up. "All right, Casanova." She took both of Edward's hands in her and pulled him off the bench. He winced as she steadied him. "Your ride is here."

"Oh, hey, Jas," Edward called over his shoulder, smirking at what he knew was Leah's bewildered face. "Jasper shuffles his feet when he walks," he whispered while tugging on his ear.

Leah shoved his shoulder, and smiled at his friend.

"He did great. Make sure he walks a little tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'll get his leash all ready for the park," Jasper teased with an evil grin.

"Dick," Edward muttered, taking his friend's arm and settling himself in his chair. "See you Wednesday, Dr. Clearwater."

"Goodbye, Edward." Leah smiled as she watched the two of them leave, and then began to prepare for her next patient. She couldn't help but think that working with Edward would be easier than some of her patients. He already seemed so eager to start on his recovery, despite the other obstacles he was facing. Leah also found it intriguing that he still managed to run a business and teach in his condition. But, then again, he didn't seem like the type to let things get him down.

Maybe she could learn something from him, too.

"Hey, where'd your cutie go?" Jessica, one of the physical therapists appeared beside her.

Leah shook her head and gave Jess a wry smile. Her boy-craziness got to be a little much sometimes.

"Home. He'll be back Wednesday, maybe you'll catch a glimpse of him them."

"God, I hope so," Jess gave a sad sigh and walked away, just as Leah's next patient arrived. She forced a smile and greeted the elderly man that approached her, wishing that more of her patients looked like Edward Cullen.