Free Best Friends Forever by L.A. Thompson Page A

As
Cynthia and I stood, I had a terrible thought.   “Wait a minute.   What about the
broken window?   We can’t leave it like
that, someone might come in and do even more damage.”   Bobby grinned.   “We’ve already got it covered, Meri.   Maintenance is boarding it up as we speak.”
    “Wonderful.   Thank you, Bobby.   Now, we need to get busy cleaning the place
up and assessing the damage.”   Grant held
up his hand.   “Not tonight, babe.   There’ll be plenty of time to start
tomorrow.   Poor Cynthia’s dead on her
feet, so we need to get her home.”   “But
I want to help, Professor.   I need to help.”   I stood.   “Grant’s right, Cynthia.   You need
to get some rest.   We’ll come down
tomorrow afternoon...oops...this afternoon and take a look at what needs to be
done.   Okay?”   She gave us a shaky smile.   “Okay.   You’re the best, Ms. Mac.”   She threw
her arms around me in a hug.   Releasing
me, she hugged Grant briefly.   “Thank you
both so much, Professor Thomas.”   “You’re
welcome, Cynthia.   Now, if you two ladies
are ready, let’s go home.”
    As we walked out
through the mess in the front room of the library, I heard Cynthia gasp.   “Oh my gosh, I...I didn’t realize how bad it
was until just now.   I’m...oh gosh...I’m so sorry.”   I wrapped an arm around her and helped her
step over the broken glass.   “It’s
repairable.   I’m just glad you weren’t
hurt by those terrible girls.”   “Me,
too,” she whispered softly.   We reached
Grant’s car but Cynthia stopped before climbing in the back seat.   “Oh no, I forgot.   All my clothes and my books and laptop are in
my dorm room.”   My heart melted at the
look of dismay on her young face.   “I
have an idea.”   Looking around, I saw
Bobby supervising the workers who were boarding up the broken window.   “Bobby!”
    The young security
guard came jogging over.   “What’s
up?”   “What time do you come in to work
tomorrow?”   He grinned.   “I’m off tomorrow so I thought I’d come help
you clean up inside.”   “That’s very sweet
of you but...we have a big favor to ask of you.”   He looked carefully at Grant as if asking
permission.   Grant sighed and nodded.   What is
it with men and their territorial attitudes?   Bobby grinned.   “Sure, whatever you need, Meri.”   “Cynthia is staying with us for a few days
until the college can move her into another dorm room.   Would you mind escorting her to her dorm
tomorrow afternoon...I guess I should say this afternoon...so she can pick up her things?   It’s not safe for her to go alone.”
    Bobby’s grin got even
bigger as he met Cynthia’s eyes.   He bowed
gallantly.   “It would be a pleasure to
escort you, Cynthia.”   “Thank you,” she
murmured as her face turned bright pink.   Oh, they would make such a cute
couple.   Grant slid his arm around my
waist and murmured in my ear, “Matchmaking, babe?”   I grinned up at him.   “Maybe.”   Bobby and Cynthia agreed on a time to go to her dorm before he headed
back to the library to make sure it was secure.   Climbing in the car, the three of us headed home.
    Grant
    Meri reached across
the console of my car and held my hand all the way home.   She tried to put on a brave front but I could
tell that she was devastated at the vandalism in the library.   Feeling as if I was at least partially to
blame, I squeezed her hand and apologized.   “I’m so sorry, babe.”   She gave me
a tired smile before replying, “There’s no need for you to apologize,
Grant.   You had no control over those
girls.”   “No, but maybe if I’d gone to
the Dean or Brittany’s parents sooner, we could have prevented this from
happening.”   “I don’t know if Brit’s
parents would have believed you, Professor Thomas,” Cynthia spoke up from the
back seat.   I met her eyes in the
rearview mirror.   “What do you