Chapter 29 A king-sized opening night

“Back up shirt,” Basil grumbled tersely, holding his hand out. It was the third one so far tonight. He’d packed six, knowing he’d sweat through each eventually, but it was only the second hour of service on Basileus’ first night.

I spun in the office chair behind the desk, pulled a new shirt off the rack, and tossed it over to him. He stripped, careful to avoid crashing into everything in this tiny manager’s office. The event hall he’d rented was quite accessible out front, but behind the scenes, it was a chaotic warren of teeny hallways and erratic catwalks over the central space that seemed to twist in on each other. This office was the only one Baz could even get into.

He growled, frustrated, as he struggled with the buttons, trying to hold his elbows close to his body. It was fruitless. His elbow crashed into the coat stand, sending it and his shirts tumbling. I caught them before the hit the ground, and stepped close to him. “Let me, love,” I said. I hopped onto the desk to button him up from belt to collar. I smoothed his collar down, and leaned back to admire my man. “I’ll be out in a few minutes to make the rounds.”

He jerked his chin towards the half-empty plate on the desk. “Finish your damn dinner. I sent you back here so you’d actually eat.”

“The butterflies are too busy fluttering by,” I remarked and kissed his bulging chins, once, twice, thrice. “I can’t eat anything.”

He looked down at me grumpily, his brow wrinkled under his horns. “Fine then. At least nibble at it. I don’t want my princess fainting in my restaurant.”

“Imagine what they’d say,” I teased him and gently hefted the warm swag of his belly hang. I loved the way it looked, spilling over his belt, neatly wrapped in crisp white cotton, round and soft and decadently inviting.

Basil blew an expulsive sigh through pursed lips, rolling his eyes at me. “I’d rather not. All right, once more into the breach!” He turned and stomped away, glowering, but I knew he’d have a welcoming expression on in seconds.

Indeed, when I arrived back on the floor, I saw him chuckling over a diner’s remarks like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. When he was motivated, he could be the most charming host in the world.

Spencer waved to me from across the floor. The Faun and I had become friends after finding that we worked together well. It had surprised Basil, but not me, to find out that several of his staff at his restaurants wanted to work a night or two at Basileus, and not just for the extra pay. A few ended up helping me do the set-up, so I had learned a little about each of them over the past week, and why they were interested in an all accessible, Occult friendly restaurant.

Spence’s boyfriend used a huge automated wheelchair with Occult tech that he needed to support Dryad biology, small, portable greenhouses to supplement his impaired photosynthesis. Autumn was human, but her adopted sister was a Naiad, and a super fat one at that. Kalla’s aunt, an unusually tall Minotaur, used elbow crutches and struggled to maneuver them in tight spaces. The idea of going to dinner without worrying about knocking tables over sounded great to her and her family.

All of them wanted a place where they could go with their families or partners or, in one instance, their D&D party. And Basileus was that place.

Well, we were trying to be. The night hadn’t gone entirely smoothly. A doorway hadn’t had the ramps put in place, and half of the tables were set a foot too close to each other. Thankfully, we were able to fix that before guests arrived.

On my way to Spencer’s side, I stumbled and looked down in horror. A Siren had somehow found it appropriate to put her huge bag, covered in designer logos, down on the floor behind her chair, taking up half the aisle. All my coiled-up stress bubbled, ready to explode, but, of course, I would have rather bitten off my tongue than spoil anything about the night.

Patty, a waitress at Le Beurre, had suggested I try something. She had expected this, I had hoped everyone would be respectful of the space we’d created. Patty’s worldview had proven correct. I swept the offending purse up – stumbling only slightly as it weighed almost as much as me – and leaned in to speak to the guest with my sweetest smile firmly in place. “Oh, ma’am, allow me to hang this up for you!”

The Siren turned and goggled at me, her iridescent eyes wide and glossily ichythian. “Don’t trouble yourself, it’s fine there.”

My smile grew a touch rigid. “It’s no trouble at all, miss! The last thing I’d want is for this lovely bag to get stepped on or stained.”

She tilted her head, reconsidering, her eyes glancing around the room as if seeing the packed restaurant for the first time.. “Oh! Sure, let me get my phone out.”

I waited while she searched through the voluminous bag, and one of her friends nudged my arm with her purse. “Miss, can you hang mine up too?” A third guest held hers up too.

Patty had predicted this, too. “Of course! I’d be happy too.” Now laden with stylish purses that cost a month of rent for my apartment, I stumbled over to the coat check and got them all safely stowed away before returning with their tags.

Finally, with all of the bags stowed and paths cleared, I headed for Spencer to see what other crises awaited me.

***

Only two hours of service were left to go. The crises had all been manageable with some scrambling: someone forgot to request a high chair for their child, a guest had tried to pick up a hot plate and knocked it over (I thought people learned what ‘hot’ meant in toddlerhood, but I was wrong again), a wheelchair got stuck on a wire that hadn’t been taped down well enough. All were easily handled by the staff and myself, without even needing to involve Basil.

That is, until I saw his face grow stormy from across the dining room. He scowled fearfully at the young human speaking to him before resolving his expression into one of customer service and concern. Then, he broke into a waddling run to the kitchen. I trotted after him, catching up easily. “What’s wrong Baz?”

“I’ll tell you later,” he grunted and smacked the door open before roaring at the assembled cooks and waiters. The door swung shut behind him, and was heavy enough that even nearby I couldn’t quite make out what he was yelling, though it was clearly quite serious. After a minute or two, the room went quiet and I heard some muffled apologies before Baz returned, his face composed again.

I strained on my tiptoes to ask him quietly, “What happened?”

He smoothed his shirt over his belly before noticing the thin line of sweat appearing under his moobs. “Fuck, do I have any shirts left?”

“One, yeah.”

“Let’s go change, I’ll tell you back there.” I followed him, both of us wearing tight grins, nodding at the guests we passed by. Once the door was shut, he plopped his ample ass on the sturdy metal desk and shrugged his blazer off. “The dumbest fucking mistake in the world is what happened.”

“What was it?” I helped him out of his damp shirt, then his thoroughly drenched undershirt. I even managed to resist caressing my favorite bits of plump fat on his frame.

“What would be the last thing you’d give a vampire?” He gave me a flat look.

“Sunlight? Holy water?” He shook his head but had the grace to look amused. “*Garlic*? Oh no.”

“Garlic. She’d ordered the scallops, even let us know ahead of time about her allergy, and yet…” Baz trailed off and swiped his hand over his face. He was drenched in sweat.

“Everything is okay now, right? And they’ll probably be even more alert about allergies,” I suggested while I pulled out a plastic bag I’d prepared ahead of time. When it opened up, his nostrils widened and he sniffed the air.

“Is that lavender?” he asked.

“Yes, and eucalyptus,” I announced with self-satisfied pride in my own thoughtfulness. “Raise your arms, love, let me fuss!”

He complied with a pleased grin. I had a dozen small towels and an atomizer filled with essential oils, witch hazel, and water, all to refresh my big man on his big night. Maybe others would have balked at washing their boyfriend’s pits and folds, but why date a fatty if you don’t love all of him? Watching him close his eyes, inhale the soothing scent, and cool down just a degree or two satisfied my soul.

After he’d been freshened up and dried with another towel, he stretched and sighed. My work had taken only a minute. “Princess, you’re a dream come true. I wish I’d had you around back when I was opening up my other places.” He held his hand out for a new undershirt and redressed quickly. Though I was sorry to see all that lovely brick flab disappear, it would only be another few hours before I could see and touch it all again.

“If I had been around, who’s to say we’d have been in the right place to be together?”

He shrugged and nodded acknowledgment while he did his cuff links. “True.” He took a deep, slow breath and held it for several seconds before exhaling in a slow, steady stream. “Thanks again, lovely girl. You’re so good to me.”

“It’s not a one-way street,” I said with a grin, and stretched up on my toes for a quick kiss.

Basil grinned back down at me. “I would hope not, princess. I would miss spoiling my girl!” He swatted my behind, smirking, and left me blushing.

***

The last hour of service was just as busy as the first, though somehow the energy and pace felt quieter, or perhaps I was just tired. Though, through dating Baz, I’d started to see the fun of being a night owl, I hadn’t made the full transition to fitting into the food service world’s schedule. Midnight was fast approaching, and I was feeling more like a pumpkin every second.

Basil laughed with a table of substantially sized Occult men in the far corner. There was a lot of gesticulation, laughter, and, surprisingly enough, belly slaps. It almost looked like they were comparing their guts with each other – though none was quite as large as my beloved Baz. He jerked his chin towards the corner I was in, and all five of the men turned to look at something behind me.

It took a second for me to realize that I was being oblivious, classic Millie. Why were they looking at me? I looked down at my clipboard full of checklists and notes and pretended to scrutinize them while a hot blush colored my face. Spencer paused by my side to peer over my shoulder. “What’s up? Is there something wrong?”

“No,” I said quietly, not raising my head. “I’m just…” My eyes flicked up towards the group of jolly fat Occult men.

The Faun looked up and snorted, laughing through his broad nose. “You can’t blame a guy for bragging.”

“Spencer!” I hissed. “I’m just surprised. I thought he would be more… reserved in public now.”

He put a slim hand on my shoulder and patted me comfortingly. “Millie, there’s a world of difference between what happened to you guys, and sharing happiness with, well, look at them. They get what it’s like to be his size, or near it anyway. Who else would?”

I looked up again and tried to see Spencer’s point. Baz did look happier than his merely social expression. “I… you’re right.” I mustered a wave, and Basil’s face lit up and he waved back. Though I thought about him almost all the time, I’d never thought too much about how *lonely* it was to be him sometimes. His family, who should be supportive, was so caught up in shame and a need to hide themselves, and while fat humans could commiserate on some issues, the extra height of a Tiefling just added another challenge to his life.

Basil made a shallow bow to the group, then wandered over, still grinning. “You’re an inspiration, princess.”

“Told you,” murmured Spencer as he strolled away.

“I’m so glad I can do whatever it was that inspired you,” I said, accepting a peck from him.

He didn’t reply, just gave me a funny, endearing look, and squished me to his side.


***

I tried to stay awake, I really did. I helped clean, but then everyone wanted a celebratory drink together. I… I couldn’t make myself stay awake. The office had a ratty sofa that was, nevertheless, rather comfy so I went off to nap while Baz wrapped up the night.

It wasn’t so much a nap as a medical coma. The evening had gone beautifully, even considering the handful of fuckups and accidents that had happened. Now, there were only had two nights to go. Hopefully, we’d ironed out the kinks today, and tomorrow would go even better.

Basil’s sweaty shirts served as a lovely pillow. His scent made me feel so cozy and safe that I quickly fell into a deep sleep. Baz could have picked me up and brought me home without waking me.

He didn’t, instead, he shook me gently. I opened my eyes to see my big man kneeling next to the couch, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. “Wake up, baby girl,” he said softly. He sounded a little hoarse from talking so much, it gentled his deep voice and made it velvety. “Night’s over, we can go home now.”

“Mmph, good,” was all I said, but even when I sat up, Basil didn’t rise. I leaned forward and slipped my arms around his neck to kiss him. “Let’s go, big man. I bet you need a backrub.”

“That does sound good.” He still didn’t move though, only licked his lips and looked very nervous. He looked more anxious than he had when the evening began. “Millie?”

“What?” I sleepily kissed his forehead, his cheeks, his nose, every inch of him my lips could reach.

Basil fumbled in the inner pocket of his blazer, his lips set in a tense line. “I love you, Millie.”

I cocked my head, trying to figure out what he was worried about. “I love you too.”

It all made sense in the next few, centuries long seconds. Out of his blazer, he drew a small velvet ring box. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to wake up every morning next to you, and kiss you good night every night.” He took a steadying breath and opened the box. An antique ring, on a band far too large for my finger, sat inside. A round, fire opal surrounded by rubies and diamonds glinted flashes of green in the low light, and took my breath away. “Will you marry me, Mildred O’Brien?”

I sat, wordless and overwhelmed for a split second, and Baz mistook my silence for hesitation. He hastened to reassure me. “We don’t have to get married soon.” He looked at the band, then me. “And I’ll get the band resized for you.”

I frantically patted his arm, still unable to speak but desperate to give him the answer we both wanted. “It’s, it’s…” It took me several attempts to form words. “It’s beautiful, and yes, of course, I’ll marry you!” I pulled myself as close as could be, and kissed him with all the fervor I had. His need for me was just as strong, his thick arms and broad hands squeezed me almost breathlessly tight. His embrace, his love, was home, and I never had to leave again.

Our kisses felt even more intimate, more loving than ever, and he broke away with an apologetic look. “I think there’s one last thing I have to do to make this official.” He took my hand, and pulled a ring guard out of another pocket.

“You’re well-prepared,” I marveled as he looped the guard on and slipped it on my finger.

“Well, I was hoping for the best for once,” he said

“Is… was it a family ring?”

Basil nodded, a tender smile on his lips. “It was Great-grandma’s. Fire opals are traditional.”

“It’s so beautiful!” I couldn’t look away. The gem seemed to shimmer and spark as I gently moved my hand. “I love it almost as much as I love you.”

He looked so happy, so handsome, his plump cheeks even rounder with his wide, deliriously happy smile. He laboriously pushed himself up off the ground, using the couch and desk for leverage. He gestured to the door and offered his arm, “Shall we?”

“We shall,” I agreed and skipped forward. He pushed the door open, and a chorus of happy yelling greeted us.

Basil shepherded me forward, and I surprised both of us by holding my hand high, waving it and the shining opal on my finger proudly with a smile so bright my cheeks ached.

“She said yes!” someone shouted, while another hollered, “Check that ring out!” and a third gleefully shouted, “Congratulations, you two crazy kids!”

Basil looked down at me with a sheepish smile. “I only told Manuel, but… you know kitchen gossip.”

There were many people looking at me, and so much attention on me… an old, small part in me shivered nervously, but that side didn’t rule me, not anymore. We stepped out into a room full of people who we cared for and who cared for us, a world that was changing – that *we* were changing together – into one that would welcome us.

Occults and humans of all shapes and sizes congratulated me, hugged me, hugged Basil, and cried happy tears for us – for me! I’d never imagined much for myself. I always thought I’d work hard and try to find contentment where I could, and I’d resigned myself to that future, filled with cats and books. Instead, a future filled with love, passion, and a gorgeous fat man awaited, ready for me to reach out and seize joy.

I looked up at my big, sweet man, feeling so happy my heart felt too small to hold it all. I didn’t have to settle. I had friends and, now, a family.

Basil kissed the top of my head once the well wishers had their hugs, and pulled me close. “You look thoughtful.”

A little grin, somewhere between shy and blissfully happy, spread on my face. “Have you ever thought about getting a cat?”

His expression somehow became even more delighted. Baz threw his head back and laughed, freely, loudly, a sound of pure joy, and one I hoped to hear every single day for the rest of my life.