Chapter 1 - a little more to love

Zia frowned. Her boyfriend hadn't smiled since yesterday and she was starting to get a little worried.


"Hey... you okay? You've barely touched your lunch."


Owen blinked up at her, no longer lost in thought, and sighed softly.


"Yeah, I know. Sorry. I don't have much of an appetite."


As if on cue, his stomach piped up in protest. A full five seconds of growls and gurgles later, his shoulders sagged in defeat.


"Okay maybe I'm a little hungry. But... ugh, I don't know. Maybe we should cut back a little. I mean, what if I'm getting too fat?"


Indignantly, Zia set her fork down.


"Who the hell told you that? Was it that one guy working the night shift again? If your parents are giving you a hard time, we can skip out on the next holiday."


He shook his head. "No, no it's not that--at least, not recently--but that's not the point. I've been insecure about my body since I was a kid, and my classmates used to ask me out as a joke, and..."



Zia cupped his chubby cheeks in both of her hands, stopping him in his tracks before his mind could head in the wrong direction.


"Hey. Hey. Look at me."


The sight of tears welling up in his eyes tugged at Zia's heart. It was hard not to feel guilty for not realizing what was wrong sooner, but right now he needed his girlfriend to comfort him, not the other way around. Planting a kiss on his nose, she placed a hand on his back and gently rubbed.


"I love you. And I mean really, really love you. I'm not lying, I swear. It doesn't matter what I think about how you look, what matters is that you feel comfortable in your own skin. If you really want to lose weight, I'll support you."


He sniffled, resting his head on her shoulder. Like it had a mind of its own, Zia's hand moved up to stroke his hair.


"But," she slid her hand down her boyfriend's back and let it drape over his hip. "If you think you're not attractive to me anymore, then boy have I got some news for you, mister."


He laughed in spite of himself, the sound a soothing balm to her nerves. The way his rolls bounced underneath her hands with each peal of laughter was just too precious and she unconsciously pulled him closer, giving one love handle a light squeeze.


"You're handsome. I love you. Being fat isn't a bad thing. You're fat and perfect and I like you just the way you are." She punctuated each affirmation with a peck on the lips and he happily obliged her.


"I-I'm...." He started, but changed his mind. "Thank you. I love you too."