Cherry Pop (Mercury Rising Book 3) Read Free Page B

we’re the only two gay guys he knows.”
    “True enough,” Luke said. “But don’t turn it into no Brokeback Mountain .”
    Carver sighed. “I’ve told you, being gay isn’t always like Brokeback Mountain ,” he said. “Would you get over that movie?”
    “Fucking tragic,” Luke said. “Okay. My job here is done.” He shoved his chair back from the table and stood up. “I’m a gonna go find a prospect,” he announced, and turned to make his way over to a table of twenty-something girls who’d been giving Tripp the eye all night.
    “Awkward,” Carver said. He pulled out a chair and sat down and indicated Ben should take his seat again. “So, we’re here and I’m going to order some wings. I’m starving. Tell me about yourself.”
    Carver was so matter-of-fact that Ben found himself relaxing. “I’m project manager at the new Turnstiles data center in Mercury,” Ben said.
    “That’s what you do,” Carver said. “Now tell me about yourself.”
    That took Ben aback. He had to think for a minute.
    “I’m from California,” he began. The waitress stopped by and Carver ordered a beer and some wings, and got Ben another beer too. Then Carver waved his hand in a circular motion to indicate Ben should keep going. “I’m thirty, unmarried, no kids, Jewish, and completely out of my element,” Ben said.
    “So unmarried, thirty-year old Ben, it sounds like Mercury is winning,” Carver said with a grin.
    “Oh no,” Ben said firmly. “I refuse to concede. I will master Mercury if it’s the last thing I do.” Carver laughed, and Ben knew they were going to be friends if nothing else.
    “Well, getting up with Tripp was probably the best thing you could do,” Carver said. “He knows everyone, and we all love him.” He winked at Ben, and for some reason Ben got flustered.
    “I haven’t gotten up with Tripp,” he said. “I mean, he’s great, you know, kind of showing me around a bit. Evan introduced us. I’ve sort of kept to myself since I moved here, and Evan asked Tripp to take care of me, I think. I guess he and Brian were sick of having me underfoot.”
    “You mean Reverend Michaels?” Carver asked. “He likes to take care of folks, doesn’t he? Whether they want him to or not.” The waitress brought his wings and their beers, and Carver smiled at her as she set them down.
    “You keeping out of trouble, Carver?” she asked, laughing, waggling her eyebrows as she looked between him and Ben.
    “Hell no,” Carver said. “Chasing it.”
    “That’s our Carver,” she said before she walked off, shaking her head.
    “You don’t like Evan?” Ben asked curiously. “I thought everyone liked Evan.”
    “He’s a little too holier-than-thou for me,” Carver said. He shrugged. “But I don’t not like him. Just don’t think about him much.”
    “He’s a great guy,” Evan said. “In spite of the religion thing. My mother worries he’s going to ‘turn me Christian’.”
    Carver had been about to take a bite but had to put his wing down he laughed so hard at that. “Gay’s all right,” he asked, “but not Christian?”
    “As far as my Jewish mother is concerned,” Ben said, nodding.
    “You are a fish out of water,” Carver agreed. He took a bite of his wing and watched Ben while he chewed. Ben watched him back, waiting.
    “You haven’t asked about me,” Carver said, wiping his mouth.
    Ben blushed. “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I just sort of figured after I talked about myself, you’d talk about yourself.”
    “Not much to tell,” Carver said. He took a drink of his beer. “I’m a carpenter. I do a lot of special order case goods and cabinetry. I only came out about a year ago, so people are still adjusting, like Luke. His heart is in the right place.” He paused, staring at his beer bottle. “Confession—when I first came out, I hit on Evan Michaels. He piously informed me he didn’t have casual sex but thanks very much. That’s why