Unlikely Meetings

CHAPTER 4 - PHONE CALLS

"Look man I know that you wanted to change the location of range day but why indoors? You know Chelsea won't like that." Noah's voice came out scratchy and lacking bass from Max's phone speaker as he worked on resoldering a set of split cables for a solar panel.

"Remember that girl that I took to the clinic?" A confused 'yeah?' passed the tinny speaker before Max continued. "She'll be joining us and since she's cold blooded I wanted to make sure the place was heated." With a sigh Max looks over to the phone with his best friend's face taking up the screen. "I know Chel will want to kick my ass since she won't be able to, and this is a direct quote, "Work up her man by going in the buff." Seriously man, how'd you find a woman crazier than you?"

"No idea but she's been able to keep me away from South Carolina. Damn guilting me with those big- Ow! Babe I was going to say eye- OW!" Shouting could be heard over the speaker as no doubt Chelsea was poking him with her nails. "The talons on that woman. She says hello and give the girls big kisses from her."

"Consider it done. Actually, could you put me on speaker?" After a few taps and a 'you're on' tinged the speaker before Max set down his soldering iron. "Hey Chelsea quick question, is there an anthro only part of town?"

She gave an audible sigh over the speaker as she probably pinched the bridge of her muzzle. She had a sing-songy voice that sometimes got a bit much Max but that tone was wholly absent when she began speaking. "Christ you met Gray didn't you?" The lack of a reply from Max told her that she was correct in her assumptions. "What did you do?"

Max's brow furrowed at the insinuation that he would be the instigator of any confrontation. "Wha- Nothing! I was having breakfast with Eli and-"

He was interrupted by Chelsea's sudden squeal over the speaker. "Pin in the Gray thing, you've got a girl?" Her gossipy smile could be heard over the phone along with her beaming smile.

"It was one date."

"With her joining us this weekend, which counts as a second date."

"A double date?" Max scratched the back of his head as thought about the situation. "I guess? If anything it's just a meeting with friends that'll probably embarrass me in front of a girl I like. God it'll be just like with my mom and sisters."

There was a hearty laugh from Noah on the speaker with a quick 'ow!' before Chel started speaking again. "Oh it won't be that bad! I'll talk you up, don't worry! What species is she!? Please tell me she's a canine!"

"That makes me worry more and as for species she's a hognose snake, eastern base I think since she's a really dark black." He leaned back as he thought of those onyx scales, bringing a smile to his face. "It's like she's made out of space the way her scales catch the light."

"Little poet over here." Her voice reassured him that the romantic that hadn't been seen in many years was still alive and kicking as she audibly swooned over his words. "Really we won't embarrass you Saturday, I promise. But back to Gray, what happened?"

Max scratched at the cuts on his shoulder from where the taller wolf had grabbed him the day prior. "As I was saying earlier I was just trying to ignore him and he yanked me from my seat. Gave me a few good cuts on my shoulder too but that's the worst of it."

"That's the worst of it?" Noah jumped back into the conversation, curious on how his best friend came out of a situation like that almost unscathed. "Were you off the ground?"

"Yeah full on feet dangling from the ground. As for the minimal wear he's just as scared of getting shot as anyone else. Barrel under the chin did the trick." Max said in a 'matter of fact' tone as he focused on the phone.