Brothers or Boyfriends: Chapter 11

“Jude, welcome back,” the waitress said. “Is this your brother? You two look just alike.”

“Oh, just a close friend,” Jude replied.

Kenneth was surprised Jude didn’t play the brother-in-law card, but brushed it off. They were seated outside on the patio as the dining room was completely full. The sun shone bright overhead, casting a warm glow over the pair. It was hot and neither of the oversized men were thrilled at this turn of events but they made do. Besides, the place had a rustic charm, and the tantalizing aroma of freshly grilled meat enveloped their senses. As soon as they sat, Jude ordered beers for them both and some calamari to get started.

Sitting down across from one another, Kenneth was slightly in awe of Jude. It had been about six months since he had last seen the object of his affection, and his eyes couldn’t get enough. Jude’s navy T-shirt was especially snug sitting down with his belly pooling forward into his lap. He had removed the cardigan and Kenneth noticed the sleeves were even tight around his arms. This was a tell-tale sign of outgrowing clothes too quickly. Jude had to have put on at least ten pounds since the holidays. It was hard to tell on his body, but his face did look puffier, especially the double chin. Kenneth wished he could strip the man naked right then and there.

They discussed the reading, with Kenneth giving accolades that Jude warmly accepted. The beers were gulped down before the calamari arrived, and Jude ordered another round plus two double cheeseburgers with a fried egg and bacon added. Kenneth was surprised by the order and nodded his head approvingly.

“Well, I figure you need the protein, huh big guy?”

“Could you tell?”

“Could I tell? You’ve absolutely swelled my man, and it’s only been what? A few months?”

“Six months.”

“And…?”

“And what?” Kenneth chuckled awkwardly.

“How many pounds?”

“Honestly,” Kenneth blushed, “I don’t know. My cheap ass digital scale crapped out at two twenty in March. And god knows, none of my clothes since then fit anymore.”

“Way to be! I’m glad to hear you’re still bulking man, and I mean a serious bulk. You’re looking thick. I’m kind of envious.”

“What’s stopping you?”

“Laziness, I suppose. I hate to say it, but I do worry about what people think. There’s already comments about my size on the internet, god knows reddit has the most unflattering photos imaginable. And if I got even bigger… oof! I’d never hear the end of it.”

The food arrived and the men looked at each other humorously. The burgers were towering and served with a bucket of steaming french fries.

"I bet I can finish this burger before you finish yours," Kenneth declared, his mouth half-full of fries as he pointed at the plate before him, stacked beyond reason. Jude looked down at his own burger, equally grotesque in its proportions, and winked back at Kenneth.

“Is that a promise or is your ego as big as your biceps after all those complements?” Jude fired back.

Kenneth’s cheeks flushed and he took a massive, taunting bite of his burger while maintaining eye contact with Jude. Jude raised an eyebrow and followed suit. They dug into their food, grease dripping down their hands, and mischievous glances darting in between bites. Every slam of the burgers against their plates echoed across the patio.

“Remember our thanksgiving together?” Jude asked, his eyes glinting with a mixture of nostalgia and competitiveness. “You almost tapped out after ten minutes in.”

Kenneth grinned, remembering the sexual tension that hung in the air that day, heavier than the grease that coated their fingers now. “That was a learning lesson,” Jude said, “but I’ve grown since then.”

Jude leaned forward, the playfulness in his stance shifting to something more contemplative as he regarded Jude. “Seriously, that time we spent together– I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I’ve missed you, man.”

Kenneth felt his heart skip a beat as he lowered the burger to his plate, letting the weight of Kenneth’s words settle between them. The tension that had hovered since they first met eyes at the bookstore was thickening like the fat at their waists.

“Same here,” Kenneth admitted, allowing the vulnerability to creep into his tone. “Life just… it makes things difficult sometimes. Harder than it should be, you know?”

They both took another swig of their beers, and Kenneth’s eyes roamed down the length of Jude’s body, taking in the way his heft settled comfortably in the wooden chair, the nonchalant confidence radiating from him. The sweat on his brow and the mischievously sexy grin on his chubby cheeks. Kenneth was swooning, and in the back of his mind worried he was falling too hard for someone completely unavailable.

“You really have grown, you know?” Jude said, a hint of mischief cutting through their earnest exchange. “All that muscle, you look like a-”

“I know, I’ve had some… help,” Kenneth interrupted.

Jude ignored the comment and finished his sentence: “A beast. You look like a beast.”

Kenneth grinned, “more like someone who spends too much time in the gym, and, well, ordering take out.”

With another round of beers emptied, it became harder to ignore the sexual tension strumming between them. Kenneth found himself leaning closer, his belly pressed against the table, enamored with Jude. Every word spoken dripped with an undercurrent of something unspoken and punctuated with a fistful of fries. Their knees brushed underneath the table, causing their cocks to quiver expectantly.

“Okay, last one to finish buys the next round,” Kenneth said, as he triumphantly gulped down the final massive bite of burger. He was actually surprised, yet proud of himself, to see that he was the winner.

“Looks like I’m buying the next round then,” Jude winked.

“Or… maybe you could take me somewhere a little… quieter?” Kenneth offered. The air shifted, charged with possibility.

“I… I would like that, but…”

“It’s fine, I shouldn’t of-”

“No, wait Kenneth. I’m gonna- don’t tell anyone this please, but, well, I’m going to break up with your sister.”

Kenneth stared at Jude, their faces shiny with burger grease and sweat, a chasm of desire and unknown futures between them.

“So,” Jude took a deep breath, “I’m gonna be single soon.”