Quite the Appetite - Chapters 3 & 4

Chapter Three

It had been a week since Caleb’s last visit, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him. The way his belly pressed against the counter. The way his shirt strained across his chest. The way his grin hadn’t wavered, even when James had made that comment.

I didn’t expect to see him again so soon, but there he was, walking through the door on a quiet Thursday evening. He looked even fuller this time—his belly stretching the fabric of his hoodie to its limit, his face rounder, his posture more relaxed. Caleb had always been comfortable in his own skin, but now he seemed to radiate an almost lazy confidence, as if he had completely settled into this new version of himself.

“Hey,” I said as he approached the counter, his heavy frame shifting with each step. “Didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”

He chuckled, a low, satisfied sound. “Yeah, well… I’ve been thinking about those mozzarella sticks all week.” His hand drifted to his belly as he said it, resting there with a casual familiarity.

“Same order as last time?” I asked, already keying it in.

“Actually…” He leaned on the counter, his belly pressing against the edge. “Double the fries this time. And add an order of onion rings. Oh—and a side of ranch.”

I raised an eyebrow, trying not to let my eyes linger on how snug his hoodie had become. “Sure you’ve got room for all that?”

He patted his belly, his smile widening. “Guess we’ll find out.”

I sent the order to the kitchen, but my attention stayed on Caleb as he shuffled toward a booth. He sank into the seat with a heavy sigh, his belly pressing up against the table. It was like watching someone settle into their natural state.

When the food arrived, he didn’t waste any time. I watched from behind the counter as he made quick work of the burger and fries, then moved on to the onion rings, licking the grease from his fingers between bites. He paused only to sip his milkshake, his other hand resting idly on the swell of his stomach.

After a while, I couldn’t resist checking in. “Everything good?”

He grinned up at me, cheeks flushed, eyes a little hazy. “Perfect.” His hand slid over his belly, giving it a soft rub. “Think I’m gonna need a minute before I waddle out of here.”

I laughed, though my heart was pounding. The Caleb I remembered would have been horrified at the idea of eating this much, at letting himself go so completely. But this Caleb seemed… at peace. He wasn’t embarrassed. He wasn’t making excuses. He was just being.

After a while, he pushed the empty tray to the side and sighed contentedly. “Okay… maybe a little too much,” he admitted, his hand resting heavily on his belly. “But damn, that hit the spot.”

“Need help getting up?” I teased.

He shot me a playful glare. “Hey, I’m not that far gone.” But when he shifted forward, his belly pressed against the edge of the table, and he had to brace himself with both hands to stand. He gave me a sheepish smile as he straightened up, his hoodie riding up just enough to expose a sliver of soft skin beneath.

“You sure about that?”

He chuckled, giving his belly a soft pat. “Yeah… maybe I’m getting there.”

As he headed for the door, he glanced back at me, his eyes glinting with something mischievous. “See you next week?”

I smiled. “I’ll save you a booth.”

And I knew, without a doubt, that he’d be back.

Chapter Four

He was back the next week. And the week after that. By the third week, I didn’t even need to ask for his order—I just punched it in the moment he walked through the door.

And every time, he looked… bigger.

The first thing I noticed this time was how much heavier he looked when he walked in. His hoodie was gone, replaced by a snug t-shirt that hugged every curve of his body. His belly pushed out in front of him, swaying slightly as he walked. His jeans were clearly struggling, the waistband cutting into the softness of his sides.

He made his way to the counter with that same lazy confidence, though his breath seemed a little shorter than usual. “Hey,” he said, his voice a little deeper, a little thicker. “Miss me?”

“Starting to think you live here,” I joked.

He leaned against the counter, his belly pressing into the edge. “Well, if you keep feeding me like this, I might have to move in.”

I keyed in his order—double bacon cheeseburger, large fries, large chocolate milkshake, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings. Then I hesitated. “Want to try the new chili cheese fries?”

His eyes lit up. “Oh, hell yeah. Throw those in too.”

He waddled toward his usual booth, sinking down with a low grunt. His shirt rode up slightly, exposing a strip of pale skin and the curve of his belly as it pressed into the table.

When the food arrived, he dug in immediately. I watched as he polished off the cheeseburger, the fries disappearing in handfuls. The mozzarella sticks were gone in minutes. And when he reached for the chili cheese fries, his belly already looked a little tighter.

I slid into the seat across from him, trying to keep my voice casual. “You always eat like this?”

He chuckled, wiping his mouth. “Only when I’ve got good company.”

I smiled. “You know… I think you’re gonna outgrow that booth soon.”

He glanced down at his belly, resting both hands on its curve. “Maybe. But I don’t mind a little squeeze.”

“You sure?” I teased.

He leaned back, giving his belly a firm pat. “Positive.”

And the way he smiled at me… I knew this wasn’t the last time I’d see him here.