Accidental Bibliophiles

EverettI yawn loudly, scrubbing my hand down my face as I wipe down the counters and wait for the machines to warm up. The smell of coffee and baked bread wafts through the small coffee shop I work in. It's connected to a book store so it's always quiet this early in the morning, peaceful in a way that I rarely get anywhere else in my life.I turn my head to the sound of the door that connects the shop to the store opening, little Mrs. Brainerd shuffling through. I smile at her fluffy white hair and cardigan as she makes her way over to me slowly."Good morning, sweetheart! How are you this morning?" She asks. Her voice is cheerful, but the smile doesn't meet her eyes. It hasn't since Mr. Brainerd died almost a year ago."I'm good Mrs. B. How are you?" I ask, letting her pinch my cheek before giving it a gentle pat."Well, I woke up this morning so that's something." She says, grabbing the same mug she uses every morning and pouring herself a cup of coffee. I slip some milk into it f

Jack"That was crazy." I murmur to Everett as we exit the bookshop, my head still spinning from what I learned today. Although the anatomy lesson was actually very appreciated. "So your house or mine?" Everett's question pulls me back into the present."For what?" I ask. He rolls his eyes, clearly exasperated with me. "For when we host book club." He says. I look at him confused as we continue walking towards the parking lot. "What?" I ask. He lets out a frustrated sound and tips his head back, his lips moving dramatically as he silently prays for strength to deal with me. I've seen that look enough to know what it is. "Only the first night of book club is at the store. We take turns rotating every week to people's houses. They took pity on us and let us do it together." He says, showing me his sheet of paper showing what week people signed up for. I have one as well, but I just folded it and shoved it into my book not realizing what it was. "Shit, so what does that even mean?"

Jack"Let's go. We're gonna be fucking late." Everett snaps at me as soon as I open the car door. "You're the one who's late picking me up. I've been ready for fifteen fucking minutes." I shoot back, but he just huffs and starts to drive. "I didn't realize she lived so far away." He says and I look at the GPS on his phone to see where we're headed. "The suburbs. Of course." I murmur and Everett laughs. "Where's your book?" He asks and I shrug."We're not reading the book there, we're just talking about it. Why would I bring it?" I ask and he does that thing where he silently prays for strength to deal with me. He's so dramatic. "What's in the back?" I ask, gesturing towards a box. "The snack we were supposed to bring.""I didn't know we had to bring a snack." I say and he rolls his eyes at me. "That's because you never listen." He mumbles. "Well, what is it?" I ask. "Biscotti and coffee from the shop.""What's biscotti?" "It's like a cookie thing you dunk in your coffee." H

JackI yawn as I stretch, picking up my tools and throwing them in my bag. I knew I should have gone to bed at a decent time last night, but that book was getting fucking good and I couldn't put it down. I only have a couple of chapters left to read before book club and I almost don't want to finish them, knowing I'll have to sit and wait to read more. I chug the rest of my energy drink, throwing it in the recycling container as I round the school heading towards the back entrance. When I get to the side of the building, I see a man trying to pull open a locked door. The hairs on the back of my neck go up, concern and suspicion rippling through me. "Can I help you with something?" I ask, stopping a few feet away from him and squaring my shoulders. His jerky, uncoordinated movements stop and his eyes flick to me before he turns towards me. He looks agitated, but so am I.I don't want him anywhere near these kids. "Yeah, I'm just lost. I'm supposed to be meeting my girlfriend for lun

Everett"You ready to go?" I ask Jack as I pull up in front of his house. He climbs into my car with his book under one arm. A freaking miracle. "Yeah, let's go." he responds. "Where's Bri?" I ask, looking towards his house, but it's dark. He seems awfully protective of her, I'd be surprised if he left her alone like this. "She's at school. She started doing tutoring a couple of nights a week. She said she was scared to be home alone." he says, his jaw ticking. "You gonna explain that whole mess to me?" I ask. He just shrugs and fidgets with the vents like he does when he's thinking. "Her ex was a jerk. Threatened her. I couldn't just leave her, Ev. She's all alone." he mumbles. My heart aches at his morose tone and I think for a moment how I would feel if someone did the same to Harper. It makes me nauseous. "You're a good guy, Jack." I say back. He just shrugs. "According to you I'm a jerk." he says, grinning over at me. "Yeah. You're that too." I say, making him chuckle.