The Ballerina and the welder part 4
#4 of Ballerina
Chris laughed. "True, it is nice to win once and a while."
"Speaking of winning, you know Jo normally waits until the fourth date to cook dinner." Stacy teased, because Jo could use a little help sometimes.
"Oh really?" Chris asked.
"Yup, I bet he even got your favorite dessert too." Stacy said with a smile.
"To be fair it is mine as well." Jo grumbled.
"Honestly I don't know how anyone could dislike chocolate cheese cake." Ronda added and thought she might have to go get herself one from the bakery.
"Does that mean the two of you dated?" Randy asked.
Stacy laughed. "We were never that close, and the company we worked for really frowned on employees dating. Since neither of us had siblings it was more a brother, sister kind of relationship."
"So you argued a lot and made fun of each other?" Ronda asked a bit amused.
"Well we made fun of each other yes. We got along all the time and worked well together." Jo said.
"That isn't very helpful, since everyone gets along with you." Randy chuckled and touched the tip of Stacy's snout with a finger.
Stacy sighed. "Not everyone."
Jo knew exactly what Stacy was referring too, and needed to change the subject. "Couple of guys didn't think someone like her belonged in our line of work. Thankfully the boss was more concerned with work quality than what equipment the person had in their pants."
"Always are people who think that." Chris said thinking of two dancers in particular. The first time he got the lead female part in a performance they were livid. If not for Ronda and the studio owners, he would have quit on the spot and given up on dance.
Stacy was thankful Jo had steered the conversation away from why not everyone got along with her. Since Christina's father was a cop, she knew the wolf would probably be upset knowing Stacy had been Kingpin's son. Granted Stacy had not told Jo that her sex change was because of a potion and not surgery. Stacy never could figure out why Jo never considered the idea of a sex change.
As the conversation turned to upcoming winter holidays, Jo's thoughts mirrored Stacy's. Since she figured Christina's father probably had interacted with Kingpin on several occasions. Or at the very least with Kingpin's men. Jo knew who Kingpin was, but was rather removed from all of the violence and crime. They lived out in the suburbs and while he might have been a mob boss, he didn't mess with the union workers. Because Kingpin wanted them on his side, her dad never told her why and it didn't matter now. The fucker was dead and her friend was far better off now than when he had been alive.
This was the longest time Ronda had spent with blue collar folk, and she was pleasantly surprised with the variety of topics they talked about. Her older sister knew Jenny since they had gone to school together. Ronda did not understand why Jenny insisted on doing so many things or working when her family had so much money. Granted her jaw about hit the floor when Chris had told her how much Joe made an hour.
The Jackalope was boyishly handsome and pleasant to be with. He was articulate and appreciated the arts. While he was someone who worked with his hands, Ronda thought that he was the right kind of guy for Chris. Her friend had rather rotten luck the last couple years finding anyone who would stick with him, once they knew Chris was really a guy. The last one was a real loser when he had found out.
Naturally the hyper cat girl had taken first place and the old man with her took second. Ronda wasn't the least bit surprised, usually one of them took first when they went to a tournament. Winston was getting much better at each one he entered. As she looked over at Chris, she could tell he was happy with how things were going. Usually he was a little quiet until he really felt comfortable with other people. Though Ronda had a hunch that Stacy and Joe had dated in the past. It would be more unusual for close friends of opposite genders not to try it.
Chris was nearly aglow with how happy he was as they walked back to Joe's truck. Today was a lot of fun, and he had made a new acquaintance at least. He was a little surprised his parents were interested in meeting his new boyfriend, they had only had three dates. Thought they have been dating for a while due to conflicting schedules. "I know we haven't been together long, but my parents would like to meet you."
"That would be nice. For the next month, Sundays will be the best day for me. The weather this time of year really messes with work." Jo said and figured she had to be doing something right if Christina was going to introduce her to her parents.
Chris laughed. "It will probably be another dinner date."
"Maybe we should catch a movie or play some mini golf." Jo smiled as they turned the corner to head to the parking garage.
"I haven't played mini gold in years, I am probably no good at it." Chris said, though his tail gave away his thoughts about doing anything with Joe.
"Good or bad isn't really the point, just getting out and having fun is." Jo reached for her keys as she spoke.
"Promise not to make fun of me if I am?" Chris asked.
"Nope." Jo said with a wide grin.
Chris wanted to be mad, but he found himself laughing instead. "I guess I can't fault your honesty."
"I just figured you would poke fun if I messed up." Jo spoke as they got in the truck and buckled up.
Chris texted his mother as they drove, explaining the reason Sunday would be a better day schedule wise. Naturally his parents understood long hours and odd work days. "Is there anything you don't like or are allergic too?"
"I am not a fan of cabbage in any form, or brussel sprouts. I am not a picky eater by any stretch of the imagination. Though she does not need to fix anything special." Jo said as she drove to Christina's apartment.
"She usually makes a casserole or spaghetti of some kind." Chris said and glanced out the window as zipped down the highway to her side of town. It looked like it might snow tonight.
"I do love Italian food." Jo said with a smile.
"I get the feeling you just like food." Chris chuckled.
"It is true, good thing I am active or I would be really fat." Jo pulled off the highway to wind over to the apartment.
"I really have to watch how much I eat or I wouldn't fit in costume." Chris had to eat small portions to stay so thin and stay away from using weights. It was the hardest part about being a ballerina.
Jo had wondered about that since Christina never seemed to eat everything on her plate. Given how small she was, maybe the ballerina didn't need to eat as much. Jo however was almost always hungry, and always wanted to be busy.
"I had a lot of fun today, even if we didn't do anything." Chris said and leaned over and kissed Joe on the lips.
Jo blushed. "It was fun, glad you enjoyed yourself."
"I'll let you know when they pick a day. I am free any time so if you want to do something just let me know when to be ready." Chris said and got out to head up to his apartment.
Jo sent Stacy a quick thanks for the help text, before heading to her little duplex. Meeting parents was always a little odd since usually she was known as a he the first time. With it an hour till dinner, she headed out to the garage. She had a copper sphere she had not known what to do with, but now did.
So to pass the time, Jo turned the plain sphere into a copper apple, with a stem and little leaf. Christina's mother was a teacher after all and while a little cliché, she figured it would be appreciated. The week went by quickly and Jo was surprised she didn't have to work Saturday and called Christina up to see about doing something besides just eat food.
Chris did like the idea of playing a little mini gold and while his attire was appropriate for the activity, it was also a little flirty. He was content with the progression of this relationship, it wasn't rushed or hurried even if they have not been able to spend lots of time together. Sex could wait this time as he wanted a long relationship and not just a fling.
His outfit did have the desired effect as Joe seemed a little flustered as he opened the apartment door. "I take it you like this."
"Cute enough to eat." Jo teased as Christina locked her door.
"I thought we were skipping a food date?" Chris teased back as they headed to the elevator.
"Well, we are skipping it being the main course." Jo said and chuckled when Christina groaned at her pun.
The giant mall had an indoor mini gold course, actually it had three, each with a different theme. They played two courses before a large group of kids invaded the courses. Neither of them were very good and were tied when they called it quits. Chris was glad to leave the noise behind. "Guess we will have to come back for our tie breaker."
Jo looked at the score card, they were pretty bad. "I guess so. Since we are here, do you mind if we swing into the hobby and craft store? I need to get a couple things."
"Only if you don't mind if I do a little clothes shopping." Chris said as they walked the mall.
"Depends on if you are going to let me see you model things." Jo said with a smile and a wink of an eye.
"I might." Chris teased.
Jo only needed some paint and a couple small sheets of copper for another little project. She was a little excited as Christina lead her into a dress store. The little wolf did try on a couple and one got her own heart beating a little faster. "That one for sure."
Chris blushed. "It's a little outside my budget."
Jo gave her a puzzled look. "I didn't say you had to buy it, just you should get it."
At that Chris was a little taken back. No one had offered to buy him a dress before. He went back into the changing room. "Are you sure, it is kind of expensive?"
"I'm sure, plus it was easy to tell how much you liked it." Jo said and kind of wished she could find it in her size. However this store did not cater to people her size.
Chris watched as Joe paid cash, for a nearly two hundred dollar dress. He didn't flaunt his money, but Chris wondered if Joe was trying to impress him with it. Once well clear of the counter he decided to ask. "Is there a reason you always pay with cash?"
"Keeps me from spending too much. If I used a bank card I would forget to log it in the check book. That and since making good money, I like to spoil my friends. Last month I chipped in three hundred to get a friend's car fixed." Jo said.
"That is pretty nice, I have to be pretty diligent when it comes to my own spending, or I would forget to pay my bills." Chris said.
Jo smiled. "Plus I had a little extra cash this week because I didn't get coffee every time the coffee truck pulled up and skipped the taco truck twice."
Chris laughed as they stopped in front of the food court. "You really do like food."
"Hey, it is lunch time after all." Jo said and after a pause added. "Back when I was little, mom wanted a necklace, and dad couldn't afford it at the time. When he could, she had passed away, he still regrets it."
"That is sad." Chris said as they wandered the food court. In some ways he was a bit spoiled and forgot how differently they had grown up. It was a little rude to ask about money after receiving such an expensive gift. "Sorry about that, it was rude of me to ask."
Jo shrugged. "I had just figured you have dated a few guys who sucked at managing their money. I have dated a few women who had horrible finances. So while not a popular thing to discuss early in a relationship, it should be considered if a long term one is to last."
Chris didn't need to give it much thought, cause a couple guys were always broke. "I have, so I do understand that. Since you bought the dress, I'll get lunch."
"Sure, what are you thinking?" Jo asked.
"I think just a slice of pizza." Chris said and headed over to the pizza place. He giggled as Joe took a while to narrow it down to just two slices, and ended up getting two slices. They talked music mainly during lunch, mostly because of a school band playing in a different part of the mall. Chris mulled over Joe's comments about money, and long term relationships. It lead him to believe that Joe was giving this relationship serious thought.
Jo spent most of lunch wondering if she had been a little too flashy with her money. If you took the dress out of the equation, their dates had not been spendy. Even the fancy dinner wasn't extravagant, a little more than usual first date dinners, but she didn't think it as showy. Also on her mind was sex, Christina's attire was flirty and revealed just enough she wanted to see more. Actually the little wolf as a whole had been a little flirty and though she tried to keep it still, her tail gave her away. It was so damn cute.
"What did you say?" Chris asked as he forced his tail to be still.
Jo was not aware the last part had been voiced out loud. However she just ran with it. "The way you try and keep your tail from wagging, it's just so damn cute."
Chris actually blushed, partly from the comment and partly from embarrassment. Wolves were not supposed to wag their tails and his wouldn't stop since getting the dress. "I think you are the first person to say that. Though now I know where your eyes have been."
Jo smiled and leaned her elbows on the table. "I don't have to look when you keep hitting me with it."
Chris blushed even more since he did not notice. Joe' devilish smile along with a raised eye brow was both handsome and childish at the same time. Maybe it was the buck teeth that made it a bit silly than roguishly handsome. Joe teased him, lots of people did, but he did it in a way that was clear it was meant only in fun and never to hurt. It made Chris feel relaxed around the handsome jackalope, and that was a really nice change.