Final Excerpt

“Okay,” Amara relented.  She wasn’t used to people looking out for her.  As good as it felt, Amara still struggled to accept it. 

“So you and this boy are hitting it off?”  Briella asked. 

Amara smiled, “You could say that.  We had a nice date and he…”  She blushed, thinking about his kiss at her car. 

Marcus came by and picked up the empty plates, trying not to intrude.  Amara couldn’t help but feel bad that she wasn’t helping out, but Marcus waved her off, “As well as we’re paid, I’d hope I could throw away some takeout containers.”  He walked over to the open kitchen and added, “Were you still thinking of going to bed early?” 

Amara looked out the window and was startled to see it was fully black out.  “Oh, I didn’t realize.” 

Briella smiled and chuckled a little, “It’s so good to see you.  I’m glad you came by.”  They hugged as Amara gathered her things.  Amara smiled as she bent down to hug her old boss, feeling their bellies meet. 

Amara mused as she drove home.  She remembered telling Briella once that if she looked like her old boss when she got to be her size she would be glad.  The sentiment still remained.  Briella was older, she was in her forties, but there was still something yuthful in her look.  Some of it was how her weight kept her skin soft.  The roundness filled out most potential wrinkles.  Amara frowned a little as something occurred to her.  She did like Donald.  She could see something starting with him, but there was something different.  Dave had preferred fat women.  Her gaining had been a bonus to something budding.  She had accepted his weight and started to prefer it over time, but would Donald feel the same?  He had said he never dated a larger woman before but not for any reason.  It wasn’t what he preferred.  What if she got so fat he couldn’t get into her anymore? 

Amara pulled into her parking garage and shrugged a little.  There wasn’t anything she could do.  Even if Amara wasn’t in a job where gaining was just a fact of the work, she had grown to like her softer body.  She had grown so fast she honestly wasn’t sure she could stop if she wanted.  Amara got out of her car and gathered her gifts to bring in.  She smiled at them all and considered her situation.  Things were still developing with Donald, but she could see where it was heading.  Something felt more real about it too.  It was hard for her to identify, but she felt it. 

Once in her apartment and after her things were put away, Amara pulled out her phone and sent a text.  “Was thinking of going to the movies on Saturday.” 

“Any ideas what?” Donald texted back. 

Amara named a few movies coming out and Donald wrote back, “Can I take you to dinner too?”  Amara smiled and sent her affirmative.  If it wasn’t going to work out, she could make the most of it while he was there. 

The next day, Amara caught up on the backlog of work.  Even with such light work loads, taking a day off meant catching up the next day.  It was well worth it though.  She had fun and everyone else’s spirits seemed high too. 

“Austin, can I see you in my office?” Dave said from his doorway. 

Austin looked up a little surprised and heaved himself out of his desk chair.  The audible creek at his standing surprised Amara.  She watched him walk to the office and seemed to only then really look at him.  Austin had always been big.  He was the fattest man in the office from the beginning.  His gain had continued and Amara began to wonder where he even got his suits and pants.  She smiled at the delivery man who handed over her afternoon coffee and a pastry from the coffee shop.  The man stopped at Austin’s desk and left his order for him to find when he returned. 

It was almost an hour later that Austin walked back out seeming resolved about something.  Amara continued with her work, but the incident nagged in the back of her mind.  She worried about Austin, had he done something wrong?  She couldn’t imagine what.  During their break, Austin sat in his usual spot and the old members of the team seemed to have a forced joviality.  Finally, it came out. 

“I’ve had a real uptick in views on my channel lately,” Austin said out of nowhere.  Then with a wan smile he added, “I guess I’ll be able to devote full time to it.”  He shrugged, “I’ve been starting to make some real money from it so…”  He trailed off, not sure where to go from there. 

Amara and Donald looked at one another confused. 

“Well, I’m glad,” Steve said.  “Congratulations.”  His smile seemed only a little forced. 

“I don’t understand,” Donald said genuinely confused. 

Austin answered, “I’m retiring.”  He patted his enormous stomach and the chair he sat in creaked as if the jostling of his flesh was too much for it, “Guess 750s the limit.”  Laughing he added, “I’m lucky I can still walk.” 

Anna couldn’t even pretend to smile, “So you’ll just work on your channel full-time?” 

“Oh, I have some other plans.”  Austin added with a knowing smile, “Got to make an honest girl out of someone.” 

Congratulations went around again, with staff’s energy boosting some at the prospect. 

“Don’t congratulate me yet, I need a yes first.” Austin laughed. 

“Oh, like she’d say no.”  Steve said, “Alexandrea’s crazy about you.” 

“When’s your last day?” Amara asked, unable to hide how she felt.  She would really miss him.  Austin was like a big brother to her. 

Austin laughed a little, “Oh, I can’t go until someone can replace me.” 

“We’ve got ads out all the time, anyone applying will be sent our way,”  Dave said in a quiet tone.  In a lot of ways this was good news.  Austin would retire with his full retirement plan.  He was set for life.  If he wanted to just do nothing he could.  He could get a house and live off of his pension with no trouble.  Unlike some, Austin had something to go to.  A woman he loved, a new baby who would call him daddy, and a project he was passionate about.  Amara smiled some thinking she had at least a small part in how his story ended.  By Austin’s look, she felt he saw it the same way. 

“Everything’s changing,” Amara said on the way to her car.  Donald walked slowly beside her. 

“It's not all bad, is it?” he looked over at her feigning concern. 

Amara smiled at him, “No, not all.” 

“He seems like a nice guy, I’m sorry I didn’t get to know him better.” 

Amara opened the door to her car, “You like evolution?” 

“Um…”  Donald hesitated, not sure how to answer. 

“That’s what his channel is about.” 

“Oh,” Donald thought some, “I guess I can see it.” 

Amara got back into her car and started home.  She was looking forward to the weekend.  Things were changing, but it wasn’t all bad.  Maybe the new person would be nice.  Maybe she’d have a new project.  Maybe she could get Donald to come back up after their movie and dinner date.  There was something sensual about teaching him how to have fat sex.  Maybe not feeding and sex.  Maybe they could just love her fat body.  Amara turned her car on and started home.  She mused, that maybe things would go well and they would grow closer. 

Nationwide News report

An image of a female news journalist sitting at a desk appeared on the TV.  “The national obesity epidemic has reached record levels.”  The image transitioned to videos of men and women walking through a nondescript city at waist level.  Everyone in the video was fat, with both men's and women’s large protruding guts out on display.   “National averages have increased throughout the US by over 20% in the last 10 years.”  Images of men and women bighting into large chees burgers slathered in sauces played, all with soft fleshy faces and sporting double chins.  “Public officials blame rampant consumerism, and overconsumption while medical professionals blame stress and a reduction in activity.”  Plus-sized moddles ranging from a size 12 to a size 22 walk on a runway,  “Reports indicate that a greater number of individuals show no interest in losing weight as a social shift appears to be happening throughout the nation.”  another video played a group of women sitting around a table heavily laden with food, all the women were plus-sized and dressed stylishly with no attempt to hide their bodies.  “As body positivity appears to have reached a new level, social norms appear to be changing.”  The report ended on a hugely obese woman waddling down the sidewalk, her fleshy butt shaking as her hips bobbed from side to side with each step, “How far this will go is anyone’s guess.” 

“Enough of that,” Amara clicked off the TV and snuggled into Donald.  It had been a year since he had hired on and both had grown into their lives together.  Amara weighed 480 and she showed no sign of trying to slow down.  Donald clearly had learned to love the job along with his immense girlfriend.  His double chin had long since come in.  His soft love handles padded his waist with a large hanging stomach to keep it company.  His latest weigh-in had clocked him in at 310.  He kept joking that he would katch up with Amara, he hadn’t managed yet. 

“They keep acting like it’s a bad thing,” Donald said with some dismay. 

“To each their own,”  Amara said, setting the remote aside.  “If they’d rather kill themselves at a gym let them, but I’d rather enjoy some pie.” 

“No kidding,” Donald laughed.  “It’s more fun gaining weight.”  Then he said, “You know that phrase, ‘Nothing tastes as good as thin feels?’” 

Amara rolled her eyes, “If I hear that one more time I swear I’ll tie them down and force-feed them a dozen donuts.” 

“If they think thin feels so good, why do they always look so miserable?”  He then gave Amara’s expansive stomach a teasing pinch.  “I’ve been thin and I’ve been fat, I’ll take fat any day.” 

“Same,” Amara said with a little giggle.  His pinches tickled.  “I remember when I highered on, I told myself there are worse things than being fat.”  She mused some and said, “Now I can’t imagine anything worse than being thin.  God, it’s so boring.” 

Donald stood up with some effort, his t-shirt not fully covering his hanging gut.  Amara enjoyed seeing it swing in front of him when he walked so he let it hang out when they were alone.  “Anyway, didn’t you want to go to the game?” 

Amara stood with more effort and straightened out her top.  Donald had been working his hand under it to find her nipples as they watched the news.  “Yeah, I wish there was an easier way there.” 

“It’s just down the street.”  Donald worked to tuck his gut in with little success. 

“Yeah, I have to walk there, it’s too close to drive and then we have to walk all the way up to the VIP section.”  Amara righted herself and grinned a little at Donald’s attempts to be presentable to the outside world. 

“Maybe you should look into a scooter.”  Donald looked at Amara frankly, he had considered broaching the subject of letting herself go immobile.  A scooter would be a good transition. 

“I don’t know about that.”  Amara thought seriously, “Am I really there?” 

“Why not?”  Donald took her hand and they made their way to the door. 

“I mean, you really want to be with me if I get that big?” Amara considered. 

“Why wouldn’t I?” Donald couldn’t hide his offense.  He enjoyed her gain, though they were careful to not fall into the trap of just living to feed and stuff.  “You’d be cute zipping around in your own personal scooter.”  He let go of her hand to give her ample butt a little pinch, “Save your energy for other things.”

Amara giggled a little and said, “I’ll think about it,” and paused dramatically.  She opened the door and turned, “If you go to the game with your shirt undone.”  She felt the soft mass of his stomach and said, “Let it show for me.” 

Donald smiled and undid his shirt.  He was helpless with Amara.  She could tell him to do anything and he’d do it.  She had taught him everything and he loved her for it.