Chapter 3

Friday, a few minutes after 6:00pm, Gemma was letting Andre into her apartment.

"Mmm... smells great in here! What are you cooking?" Andre was starting to salivate as he put his beers on the kitchen table.

"Burgers! I know, I'm pretty hungry too. The last four are in the skillet now."

"The last four?! How many did you make?"

"I made eight! Nothing crazy!" Andre's eyes widened as he began to grasp what this training would be like.

"Have a beer while you wait," Gemma offered. And then, "Can I have one?" Andre handed her a beer and cracked one open himself. They were pint sized cans, the usual yellow fizzy stuff, and it tasted great on a Friday evening.

It wasn't long before they were sitting down, and Andre realized how hungry he was. He was halfway through his first burger when he was out of beer. Gemma heard the empty can hit the table and quickly got up to get him another. Andre saw in the fridge Gemma had also purchased quite a bit of beer.

"Gosh, Gem, are you throwing a party? What's with all the beer?" He cracked open his can and took a big drink.

"Train-ing," she said slow and emphatically. "We need training materials. This competition isn't going to win itself." Andre finished his burger, and was reaching for a few potato chips, when Gemma put another burger on his plate. The condiments were still on the table, which she gestured to by waving her hand at them. Andre was definitely in the mood for another burger, and he lathered it up with mayonnaise.

Gemma was eating slower than him, but Andre noticed she had no problem finishing her first burger. Usually she would struggle at least a little, but she didnt put it down again after getting up before. The conversation flowed well between the two friends, as they talked about work and the bakery, when Andre realized he was two burgers and two pints in. He set the empty can down.

"Another?" Gemma happily chirped as she popped up to get another. She got a second one for herself. She set the beers on the table before bringing over a third burger and a glass of water for Andre.

"Oh, Gem, I'm getting pretty full here. Two will do it for me." Gemma nodded. "Yes, but wouldn't you like a yeast ring for dessert? I made a fresh batch this afternoon." A donut sounded good to Andre.

"Yeah! Can I have one?"

Gemma considered. "How about you eat one more burger? We are training, afterall." It seemed reasonable enough. Andre could push himself. He was thirsty though, and he eagerly slurped down the glass of water.

Andre was starting to get a little buzz from the beer. His third pint of beer was going down easier than the first two, and it was a tasty combination with the burger. But his stomach was filling up fast. After the third burger and third beer, he couldn't remember the last time he felt this full. But then Gemma brought him another beer.

He exhaled and pushed his stomach out a little, as if trying to make room. Gemma opened the beer for him.

"Relax and have another beer."

"Yeah, I need to-" he let out a big burp, trying to quiet it under his breath. "I need to stop for a minute." Gemma giggled, and Andre caught her looking at his distended stomach.

"I know you're trying to stretch my stomach out, but do you mean on the inside or outside?" Andre patted his rounding tummy.

"Are your pants tight?" Gemma asked sincerely.

"Yeah, these burgers are pretty substantial."

"It's ok if you want to unbutton your pants. It might help." Gemma was gentle about it. Andre couldn't wait to unbutton his pants, and he knew it would bring some relief. He undid the button and exhaled letting his belly open.

"Ahh, it definitely helps." Andre was instantly more relaxed.

"Cheers!" Gemma held up her beer can suddenly, prompting Andre to take up his can. "To victory!" She laughed while taking a long draw from her second beer. Andre also took a long draw, actually kind of wanting his beer to be over.

"Ok, Andre, I know it will be hard, but do you think you can eat another burger?" Gemma was gentle again. Andre was feeling his limit, but said, "Sure." For some reason, it was hard to say no to Gemma.

Gemma got a fourth burger and slathered it with mayonnaise again, but this time also adding a nice mustard she had stashed in her fridge. Andre took yet another bite of burger, but was pleasantly greeted with the taste of slightly sweet mustard flavor dancing on his tongue. The change was welcome. He washed it down with another swig of beer.

And like that, albeit slowly, he finished his fourth burger and fourth pint of beer for the evening. But even Gemma could tell he was spent. Leaned back in his chair, Andre was actually rubbing his tummy. She touched his arm.

"Hey, that was amazing. I'm so impressed you did that." And after a pause, "Do you want to lay down on the couch?" Andre wanted nothing more than to lay down.

They moved to the little living room, and Andre took up a corner of the couch and two cushions with his legs outstretched, pants unbuttoned. Gemma handed him a beer.

"Netflix and chill?" she grinned as she sat on the other cushion. Andre smiled a little, and he was ready to chill. He considered how Gemma seemed like she wanted to be closer to him. She kept looking at him and stole glances at his distended belly while she flipped through movies.

They found one they hadnt seen yet that seemed worthy of their time, and Gemma held up her still second beer to clink cans again. "Cheers! To a great dinner!"

"A great big dinner..." Andre tapped her can and struggled to take a drink of his 5th pint of beer. But as the movie started and he was feeling pretty buzzed, he drank his beer to empty. Shortly before the movie was over, Gemma paused it and jumped up suddenly.

"The yeast rings!"

"Oh man, Gemma, I cannot put anything else in my stomach..."

"Are you sure....?" Gemma side eyed him while she hurried to the kitchen and brought back a paper bag. "Smell them."

Andre could smell them as she took them out of the bag, and despite the pain in his stomach, nodded his head and accepted the treat.

"I want a little more beer, will you split one with me?"

This girl, thought Andre. "Sure."

She fetched the beer, unpaused the movie, while Andre managed to get the donut down. But Gemma, engrossed in the ending of the movie, was devouring her donut. "Do you want another?" she asked, eyes still fixed on the TV.

"No, I'll stick to the beer." Andre was just sipping now, but he was mesmerized by Gemma halfway through her second donut. Really? How many donuts has she been eating lately, he wondered. How many has she had already today? Her belly was also a little distended, although she had had a more normal sized meal. But here she was, picking up her third donut and biting hugely into the soft sweet bread.

Andre watched her eat that third donut without a care in the world, just enjoying a freshly made baked good, licking her lips, licking her fingers, putting the last bite into her mouth. The last thought Andre had before he drifted off to sleep on Gemma's couch was how happy she looked gobbling up her donuts one by one. He smiled.