Chapter 3

Al met Kat by the main door after work. She was all bundled up in her winter coat, looking cute and huggable. She pushed back the hood once she got into the driver's seat of the car.

"Where to?" she said. "Or actually, how about grabbing a bite to eat? I know a great burger place near here."

"That sounds nice," said Al.

They parked at the curb in front of a place called simply The Diner. It featured retro styling and generously sized booths, with some tables near the front. Kat and Al slid into cushiony seats by the wall. A waitress brought over some menus. Al frowned, trying to decide. Everything sounded good.

"What are you having?" asked Al. "I can't make up my mind."

"Why don't you let me order for you?" said Kat. "I know the specialities of the house."

"Okay," said Al, closing his menu. "Go ahead."

"No allergies?" she asked.

Al shook his head.

A waitress came over, notepad in hand.

"I'll have the peanut butter burger with onion rings and a glass of pepsi," Kat said. "My friend here will have the same, plus a chocolate milkshake, a large order of fries, a small poutine, a cheeseburger, an order of mozza sticks, and a slice of your world-famous coconut cream pie."

She smiled innocently.

"Sure, honey," said the waitress, and walked away.

Al's jaw had dropped.

"I-I-"

"I saw you at lunch," said Kat. "You like to eat. I like to watch a man eat. Indulge me."

He swallowed, shifting to hide the sudden stirring at his groin.

"I don't know if I can eat all that," he said.

"Wait until you taste the food here," she said. "It is beyond good."

The waitress had to make several trips with all the plates she had to set before Al. They filled the table in front of him. By the time all the food arrive, smelling devine, Al was fully erect. It was just like his long held fantasies: a cute girl and a massive array of food. His mouth watered. He bit into a perfectly prepared mozza stick, lightly spiced, crunchy and soft at once. They ate in silence for a bit, taking their edge off the hunger. Then the conversation flowed as the compared life histories, hobbies and interests. It turned out she was a year older than him.

"I didn't mean to end up as a call centre agent," said Al, in between slurps on his thick, cold milkshake. "It was the first job I got out of school, and I had student loan payments to make. And now three years have slipped by. I don't know what I'm doing."

He crammed the last bite of burger into his mouth. Kat sighed.

"I hear you," she said. "I wanted to be a travel writer, and here I am, a Quality Control analyst, evesdropping on hundreds of unhappy people every day."

When she left to go to the washroom, Al quickly undid his belt and top button. His belly was distended and firm, full up. And he still had an untouched slice of coconut cream pie. He eyed the tall cream-covered piece warily. When Kat returned, he picked up the fork and took a bite. The pie was meltingly delicious and he had the slice half eaten before his body rebelled.

"No more," he said, panting, almost moaning.

"Okay," said Kat, eyeing him.

His cock was as solid as his belly. He had to sit for a while before he felt able to move. He felt wonderful and horrible all at once.

He was slumped in the passenger seat, cradling his bloated stomach, when Kat pulled up at his apartment building.

"Please, help me in," he said.

She did so, eyes wide with concern.

"You have any antacid?" she asked, as he settled himself on the loveseat.

"Above the sink."

She rummaged in the kitchen and returned with a glass of water and a couple of tablets. He swallowed them. She perched on the coffeetable, across from him, knees touching.

"You didn't have to eat all that," she said softly.

"You wanted me to," he said.

She shut her eyes.

"I wanted to," he said.

She opened her eyes. They were green, with brown flecks he could clearly see, because her face was only inches from his. Time seemed to slow as she leaned in to kiss him. He let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, as her tongue probed between his lips, only to follow that breath with a huge burp.

"Oh my god," he said. "I'm so sorry!"