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Chapter 13

Spec was up early as he could not sleep well. He was in the mood for something different as he put on some 80's rock tracks on his phone before heading downstairs. He bobbed his head to the heavy guitar rifts as he sat his phone down on the check out counter. Before he realized it he was dancing around the store with his mug of coffee, all while restocking the shelves. He turned and suddenly stopped when he saw Cindy and Scotty standing at the counter smiling.

"Hello... How long have you two been standing there?"

"Just enough to see your dance performance. How was your night boss?"

She held her hands behind her back grinning. Spec shook his head grateful Jon wasn't there to see this.

"I've had better. How are you doing Scotty?"

"I'm fine. I'm going to get going Cindy I'll catch you two later."

She hugged and gave him a peck on the cheek before he left. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Spec looking at him with a curious look. Cindy noticed too as she cleared her throat.

"I'm going to see Scotty out. I'll be back in a sec to help you set up okay?"

"Sure, I'll be here putting stuff up."

As the two skunks walked out Scotty whispered,

"He gave me a look."

"I noticed. I will talk to him later but I'm sure it was nothing."

"Are you going to tell him what happened last night?"

She paused for a moment, looking back into the shop

"Cindy, maybe you shouldn't say anything."

"No, I'm going to tell him. He has been honest with me and I'm not going to lie to him. Besides I want you to be able to be around. If there is tension between you two... Well it's not going to happen. Don't worry okay? I'll take care of this."

She kissed his cheek again before heading back to the shop.

"Okay Cindy, I'll call you later. Good luck and have a good day at work."

He waved as he walked off making sure she got back into the shop. She sighed as she looked for Spec who was straightening up the magazines.

"Hey Spec, me and Scotty noticed you gave him a look just now. What's up?"

"I just noticed he was wearing the exact same outfit from yesterday. I thought that was odd."

"Oh, he stayed at my place last night. After dinner it was late and we talked. He is interested in helping with the party."

"You are telling everyone about that aren't you? Well he can help if he wants. He doesn't find it odd to be in the same room with his cousin who is having sex?"

She paused and looked away. Spec caught this and looked back at her.

"Are you alright?"

She was leaning on a shelf looking down. It took her a second to compose herself.

"Scotty and I have sex with each other. We had sex last night in fact."

She looked up to see his confused look on his face. It wasn't an expression of anger but his mind was processing what was said.

"You and Scotty, your cousin, have sex together?"

She nodded as he changed his position to a crossed leg one.

"Hmm. Well I guess it won't be so weird when you two are at the party then."

"That's it? You aren't mad or going to say anything about this?"

He took a deep breath and stood up, walking towards her.

"Cindy, this relationship is far from a traditional one, let alone normal. I mean you watched me have sex with my high school friend for a robe. And you were okay with that. I'm sure we both have more things to find out about each other."

He hugged her tightly giving her a kiss on the lips.

"Besides, you told me the truth. And there are worse things then you sleeping with your cousin. There is no point in dwelling on it, especially if it makes you happy."

She smiled as she nuzzled his neck.

"Thank you for understanding Spec."

"No problem. Besides I could understand why you would sleep with him."

He paused for a moment before whispering to himself, "sides he has sexy purple eyes and a cute tail." She barely heard what he said but it was enough to cause her to look up.

"Wait, what did you say?"

"I said its time to get to work. We still have a lot to do before we open up."

He released her and went back to the magazine rack grinning as he left her confused.

"Hold on, I swore you just said you thought Scotty was sexy. Tell me what you said."

She pushed him trying to get him to confess what he said. He dodged the question trying to get her to get the store ready to open.

**********

"Are you going to tell me what you said about Scotty?"

"No."

She looked at him while he grinned having his fun teasing her.

"Who's Scotty?"

Both looked to Jon who was in his usual spot behind the counter.

"He's Cindy's cousin. We met yesterday while Doc was here."

H nodded as he went back to the graphic novel he was reading. Cindy sighed as she rubbed her temples.

"Well are you at least going to tell me what you want for lunch?"

"Yeah give me a salad with balsamic dressing and some potato soup."

"Do you want anything Jon?"

"No thanks I'm good."

"Then I'll be back in a bit. Try not to kill each other while I'm gone. And you are telling me what you said about my cousin Spec."

"Later Cindy, love you."

He followed her with his eyes as she exited. He saw Jon was giving him a look.

"What ferret?"

"Really, you're having a salad and soup. You are a disgrace to wolves."

"Wolves can't have soup and salad for lunch? Besides both have bacon in them."

"Well I guess that sort of makes it better. I'm done with this one."

He placed the book he was reading onto the restock pile.

"Did that new book come in you were telling me about?"

"It did actually. Have a look."

He handed his friend a white book with a hot pink cartoonish skull on the cover. He opened the first page to read the title.

"'Partners'; what's this about?"

"It sort of pokes fun at the super hero comics from the 90's with their over the top story lines and powers. Basically it all takes place in the future where an alien invasion of monsters and living latex like suits are trying to take over the 'Spliced race'."

"What the hell is the 'Spliced race'?"

"Well the writer slash artist has this idea that people use to be these types of mammals called humans. Their DNA was crossed with different species to create people like we know today."

"That makes no sense."

"Just read it Jon. I'm sure you will like the action and satire."

"Well I found something I like already."

Spec peaked at what Jon was talking about. He saw the two main female leads posing for the first chapter divider page. One was a dark fur wolf wearing a pink and white hoodie with the same skull design on the front cover with a rather voluptuous rear end. The other a white fur cat with stylish curls in her hair and an ample chest wrapped in a gray and black school girl uniform with the matching skirt.

"Oh yeah, there are heavy sexual overtones. But don't get too excited the naughty bits are always covered by what they call under stickers."

"And what the hell is an under sticker?"

"It's like high tech underwear that covers the naughty bits and keeps people sanitary at the same time. I'm not sure how it works but they are colorful and act as sexual devices somehow. They explain it better in the extra section of the book."

"That sounds kinky."

Jon starts to read as a female panda walks through the door wearing a blue zip up jacket and khaki Capri pants. She walked up to the counter and waved.

"Hello sir, I was wondering if you were still hiring."

"Well we are looking for possible employees. But I didn't put out an ad yet. How did you hear about it?"

"I saw an ad online. It said come in for an application."

He thought for a second when he realized what was going on.

"Yes, we are taking applications still. Let me get you one and you can fill it out."

As he walked off to get an application the panda noticed Jon who looked up. They said hello to each other as Spec returned.

"Here you are... I'm sorry; I never got your name."

"Oh, I'm Jennifer Ming. You can call me Jen for short."

She extended her hand to shake Spec's who returned the gesture.

"It's nice to meet you Jen. Here is an application. You can fill it out and return it when you are done."

"Would it actually be okay to fill it out now? I should have all the information needed with me."

"That sounds fine. If you would like I can show you to the back room so you have a proper table to work on. Jon, watch the front for a sec."

"Can I ring up customers too?"

"No."

He led the panda to the break room and gave her a pen to fill out her application. Upon returning to the front counter he saw Cindy was back with lunch.

"Cindy, may I have a word with you as to why there is a female panda in the back room filling out a job application for a position she found online?"

"Well she obviously saw the posting online and came in like she said earlier."

"Jon you aren't helping. If I want sarcasm I'll ask you to dinner. And no, that was not an invitation to make some smart remark."

"You're no fun."

He went back to his book chuckling at the pages. Spec looked back to Cindy who was setting the food on the counter.

"Well you did say I was the one that had to arrange the party and everything. I figured that meant I could also hire a few more people to help out with the actual business side. I mean you seemed okay when I suggested Kit should work here. Oh that reminds me, did you decide about Kit yet?"

He gripped his forehead, massaging his temples with his thumb and middle finger.

"No I haven't Cindy. It doesn't help that there is now a panda in the break room applying for a position that I haven't even decided if I want filled yet. Shut up Jon, I know you are going to say something and now is not the time."

He held out his finger towards his friend who was about to say something but quickly looked back down towards his book.

"Normally I would say he could have had something constructive to add but lets face it; I've been around both of you long enough to know he was going to make a dirty comment about hiring me."

"There you go Spec. She's been around us so much she knows how we work."

"I think it's more along the lines of you spend so much time here and such."

"Which ever works for you Spec. I'm going get going. Later Cindy, let me know how the hiring issue plays out."

Both wave Jon off as he exited out the front door. Spec sighed as he returned behind the counter where he received his salad from the bag.

"Seriously though, you think it is a good idea to have Kit work here? I mean... Come on Cindy. She is petrified of me."

"She was getting better towards the end after you talked to her. I think it will do her some good to see all wolves aren't sex crazed deviants."

He whispered something to himself as he added his dressing to the salad. After taking a bit he looked up.

"Okay, get her application and give her a call. She can start Monday. We'll take a look at this other application when she is done filling it out."

"Are they still here?"

"Yeah, she's in the break room filling out the app now. She said she had all her info already."

"That's good. Maybe we can start her and Kit at the same time."

"Sir, I'm finished with the application."

"Perfect. Jen, I'd like to introduce you to Cindy, the assistant manager."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Jen."

Spec took the application, looking it over while the women shook hands. After a quick glance and a nod of approval he looked back to Jen.

"Well everything looks to be in order. We'll talk it over and give you a call when we make a decision."

"Thank you very much. I hope to hear from you soon."

She shook both of their hands before leaving. Spec ate some more of his salad as he handed Cindy the application while she took a bite of her chicken wrap.

"She looks good to me. What do you think?"

She placed her wrap down and skimmed over the paper looking at Jen's work history.

"She has some good retail experience. She isn't hard on the eyes either. She might help draw in more customers."

"I honestly have no idea what to say to that."

"Come on Spec, you thought she was cute."

He sighed and shook his head looking back down at his salad.

"It seems like we pretty much decided what we are going to do. Give Kit and Jen a call later and let them know we'll start them out Monday."

"Sounds like a plan. I promise you won't regret this Spec."

"Time and my therapy bill will tell."

"You see a therapist?"

"No but between Jon, and this place I'm going to need one pretty soon."

She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek before picking up her wrap.

"You make it sound so dramatic. It will be fine."

Both of them continued to eat when Spec's phone went off. He checked the number before placing his fork down.

"I have to take this, shouldn't take long."

She turned to listen to his half of the conversation after hearing how he answered the call.

"Hey dad, what's up?

I'm fine. Store has been good. Hired a new assistant manager and will be training two more people Monday from the looks of things.

Business is fine. In fact I've got a new project in mind. Don't know when it will happen but it might be pretty fun.

Yeah, Doc is going to help out with it. I'm sure he'll be sending you a bill in the near future.

Yeah, Zenia made a robe for me. It's for a new lady friend.

Dad... I

Dad, seriously it hasn't been that long.

She is very nice. I'm sure you'll get the chance to meet her soon.

No I don't know when. I'll let you know when we can all meet up.

Hold on I'll ask her."

He pressed the phone to his chest to muffle the speaker.

"My dad wants me to ask you if you like the board game Gambit."

"Is that the one with the armies and taking over the world?"

"Yeah, it is."

"To be honest, I never played it."

He returned the phone to his ear and started talking again.

"She's never played dad.

Well I don't know. We'll wait and see okay?"

He looked down and sighed as he rubbed his temples again with his thumb and middle finger.

"Is there anything else you need? As much as I love talking with you I still have work to do.

Oh? She's coming back when?

Okay, do you need me to pick her up or does she have a ride?

That doesn't surprise me. Well I'll be sure to call her tomorrow night and make sure she made it back safe.

Okay dad, I'll talk to you later.

Love you too. Bye dad."

He pressed a couple of buttons on his phone before placing it back in his pocket.

"So that was your dad I take it?"

"Yeah, it was. He was just calling to give me some news. It seems my sister will be back in town tomorrow."

"That's nice. Will I get to meet her soon?"

"Oh, I'm sure you will."

He picked up his salad and started eating again as he had a thought to himself.

"When Luna finds out about Cindy, it will be another reason I'll need a therapist."