Chapter 18 - a final balance

“So, did you enjoy walking around the food festival?” Jennifer asked, finally done for the day and collapsing onto the hotel bed for the evening. The bed frame protested under her massive weight and Zach chuckled, knowing that Jennifer was underestimating how heavy she was these days.

“I did enjoy myself, actually!” he smiled back. “Although, I ate more than I’ve ever eaten in my life! All these people you know just kept giving me free food all day long!”

Jennifer smiled, delighted. She always had been a popular character. “Oh, really?” she asked. “Now you know why I always come back a little fatter from these events!”

“Yeah, well, the diet starts on Monday!” Zach laughed, grabbing a handful of his small tummy; feeling disappointed at himself for having indulged so much. He gazed at himself in the mirror, trying to assess the damage.

Jennifer huffed and grabbed at Zach’s belt, pulling the guy down onto the bed with her. “Full disclosure…” she began. “I hate that you’re always going on these stupid diets.”

Zach felt a little frustrated. “But I do them for you!” he cried. “You always say how sexy my six-pack is… well, was,” he sighed. “I diet because I have to, not because I want to!”

Jennifer simply laughed. “You’re such an idiot sometimes!” she joked. “Do you really think I’d be serving you up my four cheese lasagne if I was that concerned about your stupid six-pack? I know how fattening my food is and yet, I plate it up for you anyway.”

“But you’ve always said that you like how much smaller I am than you,” Zach replied defensively.

“Yeah, don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed that a lot. But now I’ve got a husband who’s just starting to get chubby in all the right places…” she grinned, poking her finger into Zach’s soft stomach. “And all I want to do is cook up a feast for him instead!”

Zach smiled, but a huge sense of relief came upon him. It was like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. It wasn’t that he had any intention of following in Jennifer’s footsteps, but not having the pressure to look a certain way was the most joyous revelation. “Phew!” he laughed, feeling Jennifer big hands start to rub his tummy in appreciation. “I hate missing out on your cooking!” he smiled in delight.

“Oh, I’ll be cooking up plenty for you!” Jennifer grinned. “If you left me to it, I’d have another hundred pounds on you by the holidays!” she grinned, patting the little stomach and looking cheekily at Zach; as if she were asking him to let her try just that.

Zach nodded and laughed. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure you could easily do that if you set your mind to it! I know what you put into your recipes!”

“There would be one perk to be had from me feeding you up a bit, as well…” Jennifer laughed, her eyes having that old wicked, deviousness to them. “If I really went to town, fattening you up; imagine how successful I would be at pissing off your Aunt Mildred!”

Zach laughed. “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

Jennifer nodded, leaning in to kiss Zach, whilst simultaneously unbuttoning his pants and reaching in. “Come on!” she coaxed. “I’ll just fatten you up a little bit to start with… I’m sure you’ll learn to love it!”