Chapter 2

Marina couldn’t believe it. The scrawny Jeff Hamilton of her undergraduate days was gone, replaced by a big meaty hunk of man. Without meaning to, she reached out and touched his sizable belly. He looked ashamed and sucked it in, to her disappointment. She loved a big handsome man who was comfortable in his own skin.

“Marina Naismith? Wow,” he said. “You look just the same.”

She laughed.

“Well, you look much, much better that I remember. More… more.”

Jeff patted his belly and laughed.

“I can’t really hide this, can I?” he said. “What can I say. Years of good living, I guess. Marina, it’s so good to see you. What have you been up to?”

They chatted about their lives in the intervening ten years. Marina had worked for a while as a production assistant in the film industry, but had found it too stressful a lifestyle after a while. She had quit and studied accounting.

“I’ve just moved back to the city, actually,” she said with a smile. “It’s so strange. Everything has changed. I feel like I need to get to know this place all over again.”

“Hey, if you need a guide, I’m your man,” said Jeff.

“I’d like that a lot,” said Marina.

“Let’s make it a date then.”

They exchanged contact info and continued talking long into the evening. At the end of the night, a slightly tipsy Marina gave Jeff a big hug. Her hands lingered on his love handles for a brief squeeze.

“Mmm,” she said. “Don’t forget to call me, Jeff.”

He didn’t. In fact, he called her up the next day and they made a plan to go for a walk along the waterfront followed by dinner at a swanky restaurant. Marina insisted on buying waffles from a sidewalk vendor to eat as they strolled leisurely along. They were delicious and fresh and Jeff ate three of them before he knew it.

They reminisced about the silly things they had done as students and argued over what business was where in the old days.

“No, that was never a dive shop,” said Jeff. “It used to be an old hobby and craft sort of place. I used to buy model kits there when I was a kid.”

They eventually arrived at the downtown restaurant, Soho, where they were to eat. Marina wanted to order a starter each, as well as an entrée and a dessert, but then quickly claimed to be full. Jeff polished off the remains of her lasagna and tiramisu, as well as his own steak dinner and slice of apple-and-walnut tarte. He reached down and tried to surreptitiously loosen his belt. He looked up to see Marina licking her lips as she watched him. Was she doing this deliberately? She had certainly encouraged him to eat up. His heart leapt in giddy amazement. Had he finally met a cute, fun woman who was also an encourager? He had never believed such a thing was possible.