Read Online Cristal - Novella by Anne-Rae Vasquez - Free Book Online Page A

help my caffeine
headache.”
    She glanced up at him and remarked, “You
still have a headache?”
    “Well I didn’t get a chance to get my dose
of caffeine at Gabriel’s. And spilling it on my jeans doesn’t
count.”
    She giggled, remembering the event that
happened earlier.
    They crossed the street in silence and
stopped in front of the shop.
    “I guess Harry can’t see us anymore,” he
said quietly.
    He gently let go of her hand.
    “Yes, sorry for that,” she said. “Thanks for
helping me back there. I really didn’t want to hang out with Harry
right now.”
    He stared at her for a moment. His steely
gazes made her catch her breath. She remembered her thoughts from
earlier about ice cream and bad boys. Chocolate ice cream is
very bad for your hips , she reminded herself. She noticed Kerim
glance down her body. Was he checking her out or was she only
hoping he was?
    “No worries. I know how it is,” he said,
snapping her back to reality.
    She gave him a small smile realizing that
her cheeks were probably the color of persimmon.
    Cristal wished she could enjoy this moment
with Kerim a little longer but they reached the coffee shop’s
entrance. The sign on the door said “Open” so despite the
earthquake, it looked like the shop was running business as
usual.
    “After you,” Kerim said, pulling open the
door.
    She entered the store noticing that they
were the only customers and the owner of the shop was sweeping the
floor behind the counter. He looked up when he noticed them
standing in the entrance.
    “Sorry, we’re closed.”
    She started to turn around, but Kerim’s hand
gently squeezed her arm.
    “We were hoping we could stay here for a
bit. We really have nowhere to go right now,” he said.
    The man behind the counter stopped sweeping
and stared intently at them as Kerim continued with his story.
    “She’s not feeling well. Something fell on
her head during the earthquake. We just need a few moments.”
    She touched her head, wincing slightly and
hoped that it looked convincing.
    The shop owner leaned the broom against the
back wall and walked towards them, wiping his hands on his
apron.
    “It’s been a hell of a day,” he said.
“Please come and sit at this table.”
    He pulled back a chair and waited for
Cristal to sit down.
    “Do you want anything? Tea, coffee? An ice
pack?”
    As she sat down, she smiled and said, “I’m
fine. Thanks for asking. I just need to rest a moment.”
    “I’ll have an espresso,” Kerim added,
winking at her as he sat down across the small table. “And how
about an iced café for the lady?”
    “Of course, no problem,” the owner said, and
then walked back to the counter.
    Cristal leaned towards Kerim and whispered,
“You like starting trouble, don’t you?”
    “I was just trying to be a gentleman.
Besides, I need my caffeine fix.”
    She was relieved to be able to sit down and
have a real conversation with him. Who knew that this would be the
sweet "aftershock" following the stunt she pulled on Harry
earlier.
    “I guess I could do with an iced café after
all we’ve been through.”
    He leaned forward, and admitted in a
semi-sultry voice, “Now I’ve revealed my weakness to you.”
    “You’re hilarious,” she said, putting her
hands on the table. “My dad always said, ‘Never reveal your
weaknesses.’”
    “You have a very wise father,” he said.
    His steel grey eyes probed hers, looking for
what… she wasn’t sure. The sadness that she buried deep down inside
suddenly welled up in her throat.
    “Yes, he is…” she half-whispered, “or
was.”
    She looked down at the table.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Kerim reached
for her hand.
    She looked up at him and tried to blink away
the tears. Tears that betrayed the cold loneliness she felt every
day. Loneliness that had become part of her, since the day her
father disappeared.
    “No, it’s okay. He went missing when I was a
kid.”
    Cristal focused her eyes on Kerim,