Gordito: Chapter 4

A month had passed since the night Lee first spent tangled in Juan Pablo’s sheets. Since then, things had deepened slowly but undeniably. Lee spent more nights at Juan Pablo’s than he didn’t. They ate together, fawned over each other’s swollen bodies, and shared the kind of quiet looks that said more than words. And through it all, Lee had been growing– in every sense.

He stood in front of the mirror Monday morning, toweling off after a shower, and paused to take his reflection in. His body had noticeably expanded over the past few weeks. His chest remained strong but a thick roll was beginning to develop between his pecs and belly. His stomach pushed forward in a rounded paunch that was impossible to ignore. Sucking in was out of the question. Several weeks ago the puffiness of his navel suggested a steady gain of full meals, and now sported a pot belly that betrayed his propensity towards stuffing himself beyond capacity. Even his thighs had filled out, touching now at the top and leaving less space for his manhood.

He rubbed a hand over his stomach, watching it jiggle gently. It was warm, plush, and sensitive to the touch. Juan Pablo had taken to calling him gordito with a smirk and a subtle hand on his love handle. If they were alone it was always followed by a kiss or another helping of food. Lee had laughed it off at first, but deep down he liked it. There was something about the way Juan Pablo looked at him now, proud, hungry, possessive, that made Lee want to become the man’s perfect prized pig.

He tried on three different work shirts before settling on the stretchiest one, even though it clung tight across his chest and hugged the swell of his middle. His jeans barely buttoned. He debated switching to joggers, but he didn’t think the cotton could hold up to the elements. So he took a deep breath and cinched the pants closed.

At the job site, the heat oppressive and his clothes clung to his skin like syrup. His shirt rode up constantly, revealing the thick freshly grown curvature of his tanned body. The crew didn’t say much, but Lee caught a few sideways glances. Of all the guys around his own age, he was the heftiest. Some of the older guys were fatter but Lee stood out as especially bulky for his age. It didn’t help that all the bulk was fresh. The crew had basically watched him transform over the past few months.

He was shoveling mulch when Juan Pablo pulled up in his truck. Lee looked up automatically, smiling. But something was different. Juan Pablo nodded in his direction, gave a short wave, then turned his attention to the man in the passenger seat.

The new guy was tall, lean, tan. Tattoos lined both arms. He wore a cutoff tee and cargo shorts slung low on his hips. He stepped out of the truck like he belonged there, smiling.

“Marco,” Juan Pablo called out. “Everyone, this is Marco. He’s helping out for the summer.”

Lee wiped sweat from his brow and tried not to stare. The rest of the crew greeted him with easy nods. Juan Pablo walked him around, introducing him to everyone individually, lingering just a little too long at Marco’s side.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of heat and manual labor. Marco worked fast, joking with the crew in Spanish, occasionally laughing at something Juan Pablo said. Lee found himself glancing over more than he should, watching the way Marco’s shirt clung to his back, the way his body moved with effortless grace.

At lunch, the crew gathered under a tree. Juan Pablo handed out drinks and containers of food like usual, but he gave Marco the biggest portion and sat beside him. Lee ended up across from them, sweating through his too-tight shirt, chewing his burrito in silence.

“You not hungry today?” Juan Pablo asked, finally noticing Lee’s half-eaten food.

Lee forced a smile. “Just hot. Not much of an appetite.”

Juan Pablo tilted his head. “Since when?”

Lee shrugged and looked away. The rest of the meal passed with scattered conversation, most of it between Juan Pablo and Marco. Lee picked at his food, feeling the waistband of his jeans dig deep into his skin. He’d gotten used to being doted on, fed, touched. Now, suddenly, he felt...extra. Too much. Or maybe not enough.

After the shift, most of the crew packed up and drove off, leaving just Lee and Juan Pablo loading tools into the truck. The sky was pink from the sunset. Lee kept glancing at him, waiting for some kind of sign.

Finally, he said, “He seems...cool. Marco.”

Juan Pablo glanced over, “Yeah. Quick worker. Knows his stuff.”

Lee swallowed, kicking at the gravel. “You two seemed to hit it off.”

Juan Pablo paused, then looked at him directly. “You jealous?”

“I don’t know. Should I be?” Lee flushed.

Juan Pablo stepped closer, the heat between them flaring even in the open air. “I like what I like. And right now, I’ve been liking you.”

Lee crossed his arms over his stomach, self-conscious. “Doesn’t seem like it today.”

Juan Pablo let out a slow breath. “This ain’t the place, you know that. I can’t be all over you with the whole crew watching.”

Lee nodded but didn’t look convinced.

Juan Pablo reached for the cooler, pulled out a plastic container, and handed it over. “Leftovers from last night. Thought you’d want 'em.”

Lee took the container, Juan Pablo’s hand still lingering on the plastic. He didn’t know what to say.

Juan Pablo stepped in close again, voice low: “Eat up, gordito, and you won’t have anything to worry about.”

Lee looked into his eyes, breathing just a little faster.

“Come by later if you want,” Juan Pablo said. “Door’s open.”

Lee nodded, heart thudding, belly rumbling. He watched Juan Pablo drive off, then climbed into his own truck.

That night, he sat at his kitchen table shirtless, eating straight from the container. His stomach pushed against the edge of the table, bloated and full. He thought about what Juan Pablo had said and unlocked his phone. He ordered a chocolate cake to be delivered from the grocery store.