"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." ~
◇Walt Disney◇
Anna's POV
Saturday
A cup being placed on the round table in front of me snaps me away from my book momentarily. I look up to see a man dressed in dark blue trousers, white fitted t-shirt with a black waiter's apron at the front.
"Your strawberry coconut smoothie, Madame," the waiter smiles at me, his voice thick with an accent. His 5 O'clock shadow on his face fits him like a glove, dark brown eyes radiate warm as his smile displays friendliness and a pleasant welcome. Dark brown hair is slicked back in its little ponytail at the back of his head making him look like the perfect fictional character in a book set in the 90's.
"Merci Jed," I reply in the most French accent I could muster up, after taking a sip of the heavenly goodness in front of me.
Reading and sipping my favorite smoothie is the perfect way to start the Saturday morning.
The Petit Grand Cafe is my favorite place in Ridgeford Valley. Mainly because of the fact that Sofia Elize, the owner, and I are great friends. Oh, we go way back. From she first opened the store 2 years ago business has been nothing but good.
She's a 26-year-old entrepreneur and best smoothie maker ever. I praise her literally every time she makes me one. Yet she always thinks I'm exaggerating because her smoothies are not that good, as she likes to say. she calls it average. Ha! Jokes on her then.
Jed, one of the waiters and also her boyfriend is like that cool older brother to me. You know those big brothers that always gives you money, buy you stuff and lets you have your way? Yeah, he gives off that vibe. He also makes the lamest dad jokes that Sofia and I pretend to laugh hard at each time. But I find him quite fun.
"What book are you reading today, Annie?" He asks leaning over to take a peek, his accent thick as he speaks my nickname that he made for me.
Slipping my diy bookmaker to the current page, I close the book then hold it up to let him see, gliding my fingers over the cover, tracing the title of the paperback with my fingertips. It's a bit tattered and the pages have gone brown but that doesn't stop me from enjoying it.
"She's No Angel by Janine A. Morris." I gush excitedly. I've read this book at least 3 times give or take, and it still gives me the urge to read it again. A brilliant book and an even more brilliant author she was for writing it.
Jed nods as he moves to clean the table beside me, "What's it about?". He tilts his head, his right ear directed at me, showing that he's listening.
"It's about this woman who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks but claws her way out as she makes a life for herself. She finds love but the skeletons in her closet are banging on the door, eager to get out. So, she tries hard to conceal her past from her lover without knowing the consequences they will bestow on her future." I say all that in one breath then reach for my smoothie, taking a hearty gulp.
I almost melt at how good it tastes when the flavors hit my tongue.
"Wow, that sounds intense and interesting," he nods, "bet it's filled with a lot of drama."
YOU ARE READING
The Book Exchange
Teen Fiction"It's not the pain that ruins us. It's the things we do to avoid that pain, you just need to face it." I tell him running my fingers through his wet hair. A fire ignites in his eyes and he pushes me off of him, my hand falling to my side. His jaw ha...
