Too Pretty to Be Your Backup novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Amanda jumped into a cab and rushed to campus. Shane, her senior and a friend, called in a panic. One of the professor’s paintings had gone missing. The professor needed it for a big competition, and Amanda was the only one who had the key to that particular cabinet in the art studio.

As the taxi sped through traffic, Amanda texted Shane: [I’m on my way, almost there. Wait for me at the studio.]

Shane replied right away: [No worries, take your time. As long as we get the painting to the professor today, he’ll be all set for tomorrow’s competition. There’s plenty of time.]

But Amanda couldn’t relax. There was no way she wasn’t going to hurry.

As soon as the taxi pulled up at the university gate, she jumped out and sprinted straight to the art studio. She was out of breath by the time she reached the door, where Shane was waiting for her, tall

and calm as ever.

He handed her a glass of water, his eyes soft with a smile. “Seriously, I told you not to rush. Drink some water first. Catch your breath.”

Amanda managed a grateful smile, took a sip, then hurried over to the row of cabinets. She dug out her key, unlocked the right one, and there the painting was, perfectly intact, right where she’d left it.

She pulled it out carefully. “Her you go.”

He took it from her, his whole face lighting up. “Thanks. I’ll take it to the professor. You should come

with me, too.”

“Of course,” Amanda agreed. Since she’d been the one keeping it safe, it made sense to hand it over

in person.

Shane drove them both to the professor’s building just off campus. As they got into his car, he glanced at her and asked, “You didn’t get in trouble for coming home late yesterday, did you?”

“No, it was fine,” Amanda said quickly.

She hadn’t gotten scolded, but Travis had cornered her. Just thinking about it put her in a bad mood. She didn’t like talking about her relationship problems, not even with Cindy, her closest friend. Some things just felt too personal to share.

Shane seemed to pick up on her reluctance and didn’t push any further.

The professor lived on the ninth floor of a building right next to campus. They rode the elevator up together. When the door opened, Ms. Dennis swung it wide, her smile bright and welcoming.

“Amanda!” she exclaimed, reaching out to take Amanda’s hand the moment they stepped inside. “You’ve been gone for a whole year. Now that you’re back, do you have any plans?”

Amanda’s heart skipped a beat. She knew exactly what her professor meant. Ms. Dennis had a coveted study–abroad opportunity to offer, which she’d mentioned to Amanda a year ago. But then Amanda had gotten hurt–thanks to stepping in for Travis–and took a year off to recover. The topic had just disappeared.

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