Over the course of the next few weeks, it became increasingly difficult for him to deny that food and eating was a very large part of his relationship with Cat. Almost everything that they did together revolved, somehow, around Caleb walking away stuffed.
As their relationship progressed further and further, eeking out of his Junior year and squeaking into their first Summer together, it became more and more apparent that he was going to only continue to be surrounded by food. Without school to keep him busy and only so much to do, even in a comic shop, Caleb found himself spending more and more time with Cat. Hanging out downtown, spending time at one another’s houses, or more often than not sitting in Cutie Pie’s—his fingers dipped in something or other that either Cat or her mother or aunt had whipped up for him especially.
When they were over at his house, Cat would watch him play video games and occasionally feed him snacks. He would lay down, back against the pillows, while his girlfriend laid with her head on his chest and stroked his belly. Which was something that he never believed girls actually wanted to do until Cat came along. If he were being honest, they did this more than they did fool around. Cat liked to watch him play, even if she wasn’t very good herself.
When he was in the zone, it was surprising how much food he could put away—though Cat never seemed to mind. Sometimes he didn’t’ even realize that she’d been feeding him. He’d just end a match and then the pressure of every bite he’d taken would just sort of weigh on him.
Even the extra hours at work couldn’t curtail his spreading waistline. He spent most days on his feet, standing at the front counter dealing with customers at the local book shop. He got about as much exercise as anybody else, with the added benefit of being a third of a lunch break away from his girlfriend—it was at least two or three times a week that she’d drop by to leave him something tasty for lunch. “Or maybe just a snack” she’d sometimes say, “It’s not that much.”
By the end of the Summer, Caleb was a blimp—he’d put on more than eighty pounds in just under a year!
It was getting to the point that even his previously unbothered parents were becoming concerned. He had spent the whole Summer holed up in his bedroom, spending hours and hours on the computer or playing games. Which wasn’t entirely too out of character, but coupled with the weight gain was cause for concern—even for him.
“So you’re puttin’ on a few; big deal.” Keeley said from behind the counter at the Rancor’s Nest, “I wouldn’t let it bother you.”
It was easy for her to say—practically pocket-sized without an extra ounce of fat on her. But compared to Caleb, she may as well have looked like a toothpick! Caleb could heft his gut up with both hands, and it probably would have weighed more than her!
“Lemme ask you something.” She asked, holding up a half-eaten bear claw from Cutie Pie’s, “Does Cat say anything about it?”
“Erm… no…” he answered meekly, rubbing one arm with his soft hands, “I-I mean, she hasn’t yet.”
“Then she obviously doesn’t mind it too much, so you shouldn’t either.” she poked him in the fleshy chest, losing her finger one ligament deep into his squishy boy boobs, “This is that whole Patriarchy thing I was telling you about—just because you’re not all muscly doesn’t mean girls don’t think you’re cute.”
Caleb thought back to all the times that Cat had touched his stomach, and how he’d started to recoil as his sensitive belly met her fingertips.
“Personally, I’ve always liked my guys a little doughy.” Keeley said as an aside, “Dad bods are in now, Nerd Boy—I’ll bet Cat feels the same way.”
“You think so?”
“She brings you donuts and cookies and all that junk, right?”
“Y-Yeah.”
“And she’s never bugged you about joining a gym?”
“Never.”
“And you’ve never heard her complain about your weight—not even behind your back?”
“I mean no but how would I—”
“Then why worry about it when your girlfriend is clearly the most perfect woman alive?” Keeley chomped down on her bearclaw, “She’s probably like me—she likes bigger guys.”
“You like bigger guys?”
“What like men are the only ones allowed to have preferences?”
“Up until last year, a pulse was pretty much all I needed, Keeley.”
And even though her tried not to put too much stock into what other people thought about his relationship (mostly because it revolved around “how and why is that with him?”) Caleb couldn’t help but consider that maybe Keeley was right. Maybe Cat liked him for his size? Maybe all of the food was just part of her love language, or whatever? Was food a love language?
It didn’t exactly put him at ease about his weight gain, though. Twenty pounds shy of a hundred in just under a year had to be some kind of record. And it wasn’t all just because his girlfriend’s family owned a bakery, either. He’d always been lazy, and he’d always been a bit bigger than the other guys. He was finding it harder and harder to stay on his feet at work, or just find clothes that fit him anymore.
Maybe Keeley was right about this one though—maybe he should stop worrying about this?
Just try to cut back on the sweets, maybe go for a jog here and there… it’d certainly stop him from getting too much bigger, right? And besides, if his girlfriend liked it… who was he to question a good thing?
“If you want to know if Cat likes fat guys—look at her dad.” Keeley said finally, propped up on her elbow at the cash register, “Trust me.”
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