Cherry Pop (MR #3) by Samantha Kane

Author:Samantha Kane
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: SK Publishing LLC
Published: 2016-04-19T03:00:00+00:00

“How’s your boyfriend’s dad?” Brian asked Ben as he sat down in the chair on the other side of Ben’s desk. “Evan told me he had a heart attack and you were at the hospital and wouldn’t be back here today.”

“First, Tripp is not my boyfriend,” Ben said. He’d gotten so used to saying that, or some version of it, that he couldn’t put any real feeling behind the words. “And second, his dad is going to be fine and they didn’t need me there to watch him sleep along with half the population of Mercury, so I came back to work.” He hit send on the email he’d been typing and turned to face Brian. He expected that Brian would have some unsolicited advice and a few not-so-funny jokes at his expense. Brian did not disappoint.

“If it smells like bullshit, and looks like bullshit, then I call bullshit,” Brian said with a grin. “Everyone in town already refers to you as ‘Ben, Tripp’s boyfriend’, like it’s your new last name.”

“Yes, well, this is Mercury. Gossip is the number one social problem here.”

“Careful,” Brian warned, wagging his finger, “your new in-laws may hear you. Apparently Tripp is related to most of Bladen County.”

“Don’t feel the need to come in here and check on me,” Ben said desperately. “I liked you better before you decided to try to be human. And by the way, you’re not doing it right.”

“My human impersonation is good enough to fool the natives,” Brian said. “Seriously, if you want to be with Tripp and his family right now, I don’t mind. Michael Tremblay filled me in on what you guys did in the workshop last week, and frankly we can hit pause on any more plans until we implement the new protocols. So right now you’re superfluous.”

“Then I’ll go back to L.A.,” Ben said, the idea suddenly coming to him and taking root. “If you don’t need me here, I can fly back and touch base with some people and water my plants.” He stood up, trying to think of someone he could go see in L.A. besides his mom. Maybe Trey? Or was he off filming somewhere?

“Not so fast, Tonto,” Brian said in alarm. “You’re my right-hand man here. You can’t just disappear. I meant we didn’t need you today, but tomorrow we’re meeting with Charles Goodman about the foundation mission statement and setting up the board of trustees’ agreements. And on Wednesday we’re testing the new server.”

Ben sat back down with a sigh, visions of Thai food disappearing like mist. “Great,” he said without enthusiasm. “I can’t wait.”

“Okay, enough,” Brian said. “I’m laying my cards on the table. Do you want to be here or not? I know I want you here. I rely on you not just as a top-notch manager, but as a friend. But I don’t want to make you miserable. This is a big step for me, Ben. My entire life is changing and I need to surround myself with people who are as excited by these new ventures as I am.

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