“No.”She laughed.“Austin, the guy who helped me.After he warned off my stalker, he asked me out, and we’ve been dating for a year.Austin is on the football team, and it seems he was shy about asking me out at first.But once I asked him to help me, he got the courage to ask… and I said yes.”She smiled brightly.“I liked him too.”
Derek snickered.“So you killed two birds with one stone.Smart.”
“And it worked.I got Austin, who is wonderful, and Harvey left me alone from then on.Why don’t you have the guy you’re dating have a talk with this guy.I bet he’d mess himself.”
“Well, first thing, Harm isn’t able to speak, and William is way more determined than your Harvey.But thank you for running some interference.It’s appreciated.”
“Any time,” Vivian said with a smile as she grabbed a cart of returns and headed out to the stacks.
Chapter 15
HARM DROVEby Derek’s house and through the alley, checking it out the same way he had every day after work.After making sure it was okay, he headed to the library to pick up Derek, who waited out front.
“The board meeting is in two weeks, and I’ve heard that they’ve completed interviewing the outside candidates and they will be making a decision at that meeting.”He climbed into the truck.“I swear I’d be a shoo-in if all this drama with William wasn’t happening.The nasty notes have influenced some of the board members, and I know they’re thinking that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.I don’t want the library to become a target for whatever he might pull either.”He sighed as he pulled the truck door closed.“What am I supposed to do?”
Harm couldn’t answer as he drove, and he really didn’t think Derek was looking for an actual answer anyway.He continued driving through town.
“Where are we going?”Harm shrugged and then flashed Derek a smile.“I take it we’re going out for dinner.Did something happen?”Harm nodded and continued driving.“Are you going to tell me when we get there?”He nodded once more and kept his gaze on the road.“I take it this is a good thing.”
Harm was so excited that he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel until they reached the Italian restaurant near the campus.He pulled in and parked, leading Derek inside and to a table.
“I sent in my applications for college,” he told Derek.“I finished them yesterday and got them all sent out today.”It was a huge step for him.“I stayed up late to get them done.”
“That’s great.Where did you apply?”Derek asked.
Harm pulled out his phone.“Shippensburg, here at Dickinson, and I also applied to Pitt, but that was my last choice.I wanted to apply to three schools.The GI bill will help pay for part of the cost, and from there I’ll have to figure it out or I can hope for some financial aid.And I’ve decided that I want to study psychology so I can help people like myself through major life changes.”
Derek kept grinning.“Have you told Joe and Larry?”
He shook his head.“I’ll call them tonight.How long do you think it will be before I hear anything?”Harm was so excited.He knew Joe and Larry were going to be thrilled, but it was a waiting game at the moment.
“Probably three months or so.That’s the hardest part.You spend all that time and effort to get everything in, and then you wait.Have you filled out the GI bill paperwork?”
Harm shook his head.That was next.He had everything that he needed; it was just a matter of completing the paperwork.
“Do you need anything?”Derek asked.
Harm sighed.“I don’t think so.I’ve really wanted to do this on my own, and I think I’m almost there.I know you would help me, but this is part of me taking my life on a new path, and I felt I needed to do this myself.For myself.Do you understand?”
Derek took his hand.“I really do.And I’m proud of you.If you need anything else, let me know, but I think you’ve got this.”
The server approached the table, and Harm ordered by pointing to what he wanted.Derek ordered as well, and they sat back with their drinks.“William was in today.One of the interns handled him and gave him the library version of the bum’s rush.”
Harm leaned forward, using his phone.“You should talk to him the next time.”Derek’s mouth fell open.“Play him.Get William to admit the things he’s done.There are cameras in the library, and maybe you can arrange for someone else to hear what he’s saying.If you can do that, then maybe we can get the police to arrest him.He’s broken a number of laws, and if he makes threats or anything, then we have him.”He sent the message.“As much as I hate to say it, but play up to him, make him think he has a chance, and get him to tell you things he probably shouldn’t.”
Derek nodded slowly.“I think I can do that.But I don’t know when he’ll come in.”
“He shows up at the library at least once a week, so prep some of the people you work with and see if they’ll help you.”He wished he could be there for backup as well, but that was probably more than he could hope for.“Otherwise this guy is going to stick around forever.Whatever obsession he has going on, it isn’t going to stop on its own.”
“That I know.I was thinking about what to do myself, and I came up with nothing.But I can talk to Connie and a few other people at work and see what they think.”
Harm grinned.“They’d probably revel in the chance to do something sneaky.”
“You’re right there.People think we lead boring lives, but we read a lot of books, and they give us some great ideas.Now, I have some other ideas, and they involve you and me, alone… once we’re done with dinner.”His eyes grew deep and dark, and Harm’s insides fluttered with anticipation.
“Eat fast!”he sent and did his best not to squirm with excitement.
HARM ACHEDthe following morning… in the best way possible.It seemed Derek had been in a take-charge mood, and Harm wasn’t going to complain about it.Not for a second.He showered and went to get ready, because the holiday season was in full swing, and that meant that he had the opportunity for overtime.He took all he could get even if it meant they wanted him at work by six.So once he was cleaned up, he dressed and returned to the bedroom, where Derek was still sound asleep, wrapped up in the covers.Harm lightly kissed him goodbye, watching Derek sleep for a few seconds, and then he left the room, going downstairs and quietly leaving the house.
