Cherry Pop (Mercury Rising Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Good Old Boy.
    Luke was the only one left by the grill. Everyone else was at the boats, and Tripp’s cousin Junior had already left the dock since he had to work third shift at the plant tonight. “Hey,” Luke greeted Ben. He pointed to a covered platter. “Take one. I’m shutting the grill down and packing ’em up to take on the boat.”
    Ben looked around and grabbed a bun from a pack before getting a burger and efficiently searching for and using the condiments without asking for help. “Where’s Carver?” Ben asked.
    Tripp immediately got annoyed. “He had things to do today,” he said shortly. Fact was, he hadn’t invited Carver, not once he knew Ben was coming. “Hey, how about a Cheerwine?” Tripp didn’t give Ben a chance to answer before he reached into the cooler and pulled out a plastic bottle.
    “Isn’t that beer?” Ben asked. Tripp froze and then turned back to stare at Ben in disbelief. He saw Luke doing the same.
    “Ain’t you ever had Cheerwine?” Luke asked incredulously. “Where’re you from?”
    “Los Angeles,” Ben said.
    Luke blew out a raspberry. “Well, no wonder,” he muttered. “Cheerwine is cherry cola, made in North Carolina,” he lectured. “Can’t get it any place else but the Carolinas and maybe Virginia. It’s about all we drink besides Mountain Dew.”
    “Seriously?” Ben asked. “I just assumed it was beer or some kind of wine. Because of the name.” He took a bite of his burger as he suspiciously eyed the bottle Tripp held out.
    “Nope,” Tripp said, shaking the bottle a little to get Ben to take it. “Just cherry cola.”
    “Like Cherry Coke?” Ben asked, finally taking the bottle.
    “Not really,” Tripp said. “If I go someplace without Cheerwine, I usually order a Dr. Pepper or Mr. Pibb. That’s closest. But Cheerwine is better.”
    Ben made a face. “I’m not much of a Dr. Pepper fan.”
    “Quit fussin’ and try it,” Luke said impatiently. “If you don’t want it, I’ll drink it.”
    “You barely even know me,” Ben said in shock, “and you want to share my drink?”
    “Hell no,” Luke said in disgust. “But I ain’t gonna waste Cheerwine.” Tripp laughed as Ben grinned and opened the bottle.
    “Are they paying you guys for this kind of advertising?” he asked. “Endorsed by Tripp and Luke,” he said, sounding like a TV announcer.
    “Drink,” Luke said. “We got to go.”
    Ben hesitated just a moment before he raised the bottle and took a big gulp. Then another. He lowered the bottle and stared at it for a second. “Damn,” he said. “That’s pretty good.”
    Luke grinned. “Told ya.” He dumped some sand into the grill, covering the coals. “Help Tripp pack up the cooler while I wrap these burgers. That water isn’t going to ski itself.”
    “Yes, sir,” Ben said, shoving another big bite of burger into his mouth. He grabbed the bag of buns and, after Tripp opened the lid, tossed it into the cooler. Tripp placed the ketchup and the mustard inside, next to the chili and slaw. He flipped the lid closed.
    “Well, that was easy,” Ben said.
    “We don’t cater parties,” Tripp said. “So we tend to keep it simple.”
    “Works for me,” Ben said.
    They walked down to the dock, and Tripp surreptitiously looked Ben over. He was dressed in bright yellow and blue board shorts and a white Oakley T-shirt with a white Turnstiles baseball cap and Oakley shades. The sunglasses looked pretty pricey. He also wore some sort of funky water shoes that made him look kind of ridiculous. Well, he hadn’t been around long. Tripp would take him shopping for some Reefs so he’d fit in more. Overall, he looked really natural in the relaxed clothes, so different from what he’d worn to the bar. He looked more approachable. Still good-looking, but in a less intimidating way.
    “Do I pass inspection?” Ben asked without looking at him.
    Tripp was pulled out of his own thoughts and blushed at being caught checking Ben out, which