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Pawford

Ch 12: The Two of Us, Plus One

copyright 2017 comidacomida

CJ had somehow awakened earlier than I had and managed to slip out from beneath me without waking me up. He offered up that goofy smile of his, tail-nub wagging as he sat there watching me. Before I had a chance to ask him what was so funny he volunteered his point of view. "You snore, you know."

I sat up indignantly, rubbing the lower part of my back as I attempted to sound grouchy, but his expression made it difficult to keep from smiling. "When I sleep on the couch, sure. Everything was probably fine until my Rottweiler mattress escaped."

His smile widened and he leaned forward, bumping our foreheads together, following it up a touch of his nose to mine. "I haven't been up all that long-- just remembered that I left my guitar out in my pickup overnight so I went and got it."

As if to back-up his story he motioned to the instrument case leaning against the recliner. I finally stood up, leaning over backward to stretch my back before heading to the kitchen. Only once I was facing away from him did I let my smile out, but I kept my gruff tone. "Hmm... I suppose promised you pancakes, didn't I?"

CJ didn't relent in the least. "If they're as good as you say they are I might even forgive your horrible snoring."

Thankfully a throw pillow was within easy reach and I made use of it in a way that was worthy of it's name; the Dog's smile remained even after it bounced off his muzzle. I made my way into the kitchen announcing with certainty "I don't snore THAT badly."

The loud roar of what sounded like a chainsaw startled me and I turned around to look back at CJ who had his cell phone up and pointed at me. Although the screen was too far away to see clearly I could tell it was me sprawled out on the couch. He was grinning smugly with the tip of his tongue hanging from the corner of his muzzle. "I recorded you."

I stick to my initial defense, shouting it over my shoulder as I retreated into the kitchen. "I was sleeping on the sofa!"

Despite the laughs at my expense before breakfast the day evened out quite a bit and I got a couple of jabs in of my own. For one, despite CJ's size, he apparently had couldn't polish off as many pancakes as I could. He had quite a weakness for maple syrup, both eagerness to add as much of it as possible, and for filling up on it. By the time I'd finished off my fourth pancake he was barely managing to finish his third. His excuse? Downing twice as much syrup as me. I didn't find it a valid argument and let him know it.

We spent a lot of time hanging around the house that morning. Since he'd brought his guitar inside we passed an hour with him playing a few songs and me trying to figure out a few chords. My grandfather had loved playing and had tried to teach me how to play but it's just one thing I was never very good at. Surprisingly, CJ managed to show me some basics, and they actually sunk in. By the time we decided to break for the day I could do all of the chords for 'Horse With No Name', and CJ even sung along when I did. Sure, his voice was a little too deep for it but he still sounded great.

By noon it we were both ready to get some time out from under a roof so, rather than calling it a day and heading our separate ways I made a suggestion. "Hey, Seej... you been through the shops along Main Street downtown lately?"

It was something of a dirty, underhanded trick since, according to Locker, CJ was a fiend when it came to antiquing, or even just window-shopping. The problem was that the Rottweiler didn't like window shopping or walking downtown alone and he didn't usually have company. Based on the sound of tail-nub on upholstery I knew the answer before he spoke it. "Too long. You up for a walk, Derek?"

Our early afternoon was spent hitting up the West side of the street and then around 2 we stopped to grab some burgers at Roy's, which on the north side of downtown. After that we crossed over and headed south, visiting all of the small shops on the east side of the road. Walking down Pawford's Main Street was a lot of fun, and not just because of the Rottweiler accompanying me. As I'd experienced elsewhere in town, everyone was friendly and that counted shoppers and store employees. If you're ever in Pawford you really need to check out Choclet, a little sweets store that makes their own fudge, taffy, and rock candy. I think I left the place with almost five pounds of tooth-rotting goodness; CJ, still reeling from his striking defeat at pancake eating that morning must have had at least seven pounds.

Despite all the cash we spent on candy the majority of our visits to the shops were more about the experience than actually buying something. Sure, I made a purchase here-and-there, and CJ had his backpack along, which had been rapidly filling with various 'whatever's from the antique stores and knick knack shops. One of our last stops for the day, however, was at 'The Bibliophile', Pawford's biggest book store. Incidentally, Pawford only has two book stores, and, since the other one is a Christian Book store its selection is kinda limited so 'The Bibliophile' has an easy win in that regard.

'The Bibliophile' was a store that had new and used books; it was the primary place the folks around town brought their unwanted fiction, reference material, and literary collectables. I was looking over some used books on Montana civil codes while CJ was following-up on one of his 'quests' and was seeking out some sheet music to continue my guitar-based education. When we finally came back together near the science fiction paperbacks we were both surprised when a young Dobie woman almost ran into us both, her arms filled with books. She quickly danced around us. "Oh! Sorry!"

While I didn't think much about encountering yet another Dog, CJ seemed genuinely surprised. I wasn't able to place it until he spoke up. "Haven't seen YOU in town before."

It was a tone I'd experienced before, not all that different from the one he'd used with me when we'd first encountered one another when my car broke down outside of town during my move. Based on the way his tail nub was moving I could tell that he'd taken more than a passing interest. She smiled his way, hers likewise matching his in speed. "Oh! Right. Y'see, my roomie and I just moved here last week!"

She definitely didn't have the right speech pattern to have been from Pawford; the Dogs all had a slower, more relaxed pacing to their words (except Fielder and Arizona, who were transplants). She also had a faint southern 'twang' to her words. Like a good wingman I went to support my friend. "Welcome to Pawford then. This is CJ, and I'm Derek. How're you liking the town so far?"

Her muzzle fully parted and her smile was unmistakable, tongue hinting at a pant when she locked gazes with me. "Y'know, I heard there was another Human in Pawford and I was hopin' I'd get to meet y'all."

CJ was apparently better at accents than I was and he had no qualms about showing his skill off. "Kentucky, right?"

Her smile widened as her eyes went back and forth between the two of us, and she almost jumped when she apparently realized she hadn't introduced herself, which she did with a giggle as she explained herself. "Oh! I'm Carin, and, yeah-- Louisville... but I spent the last four years in Washington-- the state, not DC."

Something about her earlier statement clicked and I circled back in the conversation. "Wait-- did you say 'another' Human?"

Carin's muzzle wagged up and down. She shifted her load of books so that she held them under one arm as she spoke. "Yep! We moved here together, my roomie and I-- friend from college. Her name's Ashley. We live together."

I couldn't stop myself. "Like most roommates. Right."

Despite smirking at my antics, CJ still gave my foot a light stomp as he stepped forward to help Carin with her books. "Here. Lemme help ya there, Miss."

Carin's ears blushed but she didn't refuse his assistance. "Well, such a gentleman. Thank you, CJ."

Seeing his ears redden a little, I couldn't just let the stomped foot go by unanswered so I seized the opportunity. "His friends call him Seej."

The Rottweiler shot me a look. "Only YOU call me that, Sommers."

I could tell by the use of my last name that I was winning the unspoken war so I pressed my advantage. "Well, no reason Ms. Carin couldn't call you that too. She's new in town and could probably use some friends."

It was hard to figure out if CJ wanted to laugh or bite me, but he didn't have a chance to do either because the Dobie spoke up first, quite eagerly. "Oh! That'd be great! We haven't really had a chance to meet anyone yet and I--"

Maybe it was the fact that her eager agreement came so freely, or the slight bounce to her step, but she'd managed to get the attention of both of us with her acknowledgement; I saw her settle down immediately, ears reddening anew. CJ opened his muzzle to say something as well but, surprisingly, he was also tongue-tied and used his free paw to rub the back of his head. Taking the lead in the conversation I moved things along. "I haven't been in Pawford that long either. It's a really nice town though-- good people."

Thankfully, my little prod was enough to get Carin out of her verbal slump, and her tail nub started anew. "Oh. Yeah. Working at the school too, Derek? Maybe Ashley and I'll see y'all there."

I'd remember something about the elementary school getting new staff but I hadn't really considered it much. "You're one of the new teachers?"

Carin was immediately all smiles. "I'll be teaching third grade. Ashley's gonna be a councilor at the high school. We tried to get in at the same school but there wasn't really an opening it."

CJ smirked. "Well, you'll still be neighbors, right?"

Only once the Rottweiler mentioned it did I realize that Pawford's two schools shared a lot. I'd looked over the proposed plan the school district had to add on to the lot, which brought up another thought. "The district's office is back behind both-- you and your roommate will still see each other every day."

A Great Pyrenees in what I figured was his late teens was manning the sales counter. I didn't know him personally, but apparently he knew CJ (who in Pawford didn't?) "Hey, CJ-- you ready to have me ring you up?"

The Rottweiler glanced to Carin, who nodded. He brought them to the counter and set them down in front of the white-furred Dog, who began typing them into the register. He was even sure to say "Thanks, Al."

The Pyrenees nodded at the comment and went about doing his work while Carin glanced back at me. "So what about you, Derek-- do you work at the school too?"

I shook my head. "Nah. I work at city hall in the planning department."

Silence prevailed for a few moments until Al spoke up. "That's $5.94 for the paperbacks, and $7.98 for the hardcovers."

Carin pulled out a $20 and handed it to the cashier. CJ, in the meantime, made introductions. "Hey, Al-- this is Carin. Carin, this is All-Over-the-Table... he'll be a senior at the high school this year so he'll probably get to meet your roommate. Al, Carin's room mate is the new councilor over there."

The Great Pyrenees began sliding the books into a paper bag, offering a casual "Cool."

Once Carin got her change the three of us reconvened our discussion outside. It was CJ that noticed her collar first and, true to form, he was pretty smooth about bringing it up. "I like your choker."

Her ears raised and her tail nub picked up speed again as she held her paper bag of books against her chest. "Thanks! It was a gift. What about your necklace?"

I winced inwardly when I saw the hint of introspective pain cross CJ's face but, to his credit, he let it pass as he tucked a thumb under the necklace and pulled up, revealing his brother's dog tags. He offered a very vague "Keepsake."

She seemed deflated immediately, but quickly hid it. "Oh. That's cool."

Silence prevailed for several seconds; there was chemistry there and I could tell, but it really needed a catalyst. Enter Derek Sommers. "Hey-- if you're new to town, maybe CJ and I could show you around some time?"

Her face lit up immediately. "Oh? Oh! That'd be great! Sure!"

CJ slid right back into his smooth Dog groove. "Pawford isn't that big a place but it's still a lot better to tour with a local guide."

Her ears reddened again and her tail nub picked up speed. "I'd like that."

The two stood there looking at one another for a few seconds longer than was reasonable for things to continue moving forward so I offered CJ a 'polite' elbow to the ribs. "Well, Seej? Give her your number, ya doof."

He didn't even pause. "I was getting to that, Monkey!"

The exchange earned us a titter from Carin. "Y'all sound like ya get along just as well as Ashley and I do."

I grinned. "Well, he said: it pays to have a local when you're wandering around town."

CJ put on airs theatrically, dialing up the humor. "I'm very helpful."

Smirking to myself, I presented an in-joke to him, somewhat subtly, but overt enough that he wouldn't miss it. "But you can be a pain in the ass too."

He was just as blunt, but less overt. "And yet we still hang out."

We were both knocked off of our game as Carin looked up from her cell at me, ears reddening slightly. "What about yours, Derek?"

I took a moment to process what she was saying. "My... what?"

CJ did not miss the opportunity; elbowing me back he parroted my earlier statement. "Give her your number, ya doof."

I did. She laughed again. Although we parted ways, Carin promised to give us both a call in the near future.

* * * * *

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly and the day progressed without any other major event. Carin remained a topic for casual discussion for the next few hours but we didn't actually really sit down to talk about her in earnest until that evening. We were hanging out at Arizona's sitting at a table and chatting over beer and pretzels.

Although we'd brought her up now-and-again, the approach CJ took that evening was much more direct and specific. "So... what'd you think of Carin?"

I shrugged, taking a sip of my beer as I thought about a suitable answer. "Bubbly... friendly... energetic. I think those are all good traits for someone dealing with puppies all day. With any luck that'll help her be a good elementary school teacher."

He took a sip of his own and licked his muzzle. "And?"

I swirled my mostly empty beer as I watched him for a few seconds. "She has a nice smile, is interested in science fiction and, if you're asking me if I got any 'vibe', I'd say she seemed interested in you."

His floppy ears perked slightly. "JUST me?"

Having just started to take a sip of my beer, I spat it back into my glass and stared over the brim at the Rottweiler. "Uh... huh?"

He downed the last of his own before commenting "I'm pretty sure she's a Burb Dog, Derek... VERY sure."

Clearing my throat, I set my glass down. I wasn't dismayed or confused; if anything, I was bemused and intrigued. "Okay-- the choker I got... and the fact that she noticed your tags right away. What else you got?"

He waved Mattie over, holding his empty glass up for her to see before looking back to me. "She was looking at you as much as me."

I shrugged, willing to play devil's advocate. "She was being polite and inclusive... you and I WERE there together, you know."

Smirking, he nodded to the Lab as she dropped off a fresh glass and picked up his other. "Thanks, Mattie."

I waited for her to head on her way before pushing him further as he took a big swig of his drink. "What else ya got?"

CJ set down his beer and ran a finger around the rim as he smirked. "She was just as eager to get your number as mine, Derek... that was more than 'being polite and inclusive'."

Shrugging again, I continued to pick at his circumstantial evidence. "Well, maybe she is thinking about setting me up with her friend."

A so-very-wide grin split his broad muzzle and his tongue flopped out; apparently I'd fallen into some kind of 'trap'. "Exactly... a friend of hers from college. A HUMAN friend who went to school with her in Washington."

I blinked, failing to see just what trap had been sprung. "...okay... and? They went to college together. What's the big deal about moving in with a friend from college? Plenty of college grads like to team up after school. I don't think it'd be anything weird for college grads with a similar major to star their careers together."

CJ took another swig of his beer so I did the same. After both our glasses were back on the table he spelled things out for me. "Carin is from Kentucky and she went to school in Washington. If she met Ashley there then it's possible that her friend is from Washington. The fact that they both moved out here together to a city where neither of them is from says a lot, you know."

Countering his logic, I pointed out an alternative. "Maybe she and Ashley were both from Kentucky. It's not that weird to favor the familiar."

He just chuckled, shaking his head. "That just makes my point more then. They end up in Washington together and instead of moving back to Kentucky they both decide to move in together here in Pawford? There's too much going on here to ignore the possibility that they're Burb Dog and Leasher."

I took a moment to digest his argument, taking another sip of my beer as I considered what it was he was suggesting. "Okay... so... let's say that Carin and her room mate are. What do you think that means?"

CJ attempted to hide his grin behind his glass but it didn't work, especially since it was still there when the drink was lowered to the table. "It means that you might have some competition from Carin's Human friend."

Providing the Rottweiler a solid kick under the table, I turned his argument up on its head. "Yeah? Well maybe you'll have some competition from Carin."

He winked. "Oh come on... Carin wouldn't stand a chance. Besides-- it's a lot more likely that Carin's as happy with her Leasher as I am with mine. I bet it if we got THAT kind of call it be for a double-date."

It was an interesting thought; what WOULD it be like going on a double-date with another Human-and-Dog pair? Carin had mentioned that CJ and I sounded a lot like how they did; there were bound to be some similarities, but I'm sure there would be some differences too. I suddenly felt very self conscious as I thought about some of the more intimate moments CJ and I had shared. My mind immediately went to the obvious question: did Carin and Ashley have similar experiences with one another too?

CJ was still staring at me when my mind finally eased back to the present and I looked up from where I'd been gazing down into my beer. "Well... whadda you think? Would you be up for a double date if Carin asked us out?"

Chuckling, the Rottweiler raised his beer glass to me for a toast. "Hell, Derek-- whether or not her friend comes along I'd be happy to share ya even if she just wanted to make it the three of us."

We clinked glasses, not realizing at the time that our first official date with Carin would be just that.