Big on Broadway: Chapter 2

“Ugh, fifteen pounds, Riley. That’s how much I’ve gained since the hiatus two and a half weeks ago. Fifteen goddamn pounds! That’s like six pounds a week!”

“That’s nothing, you can lose it easy. Besides, I can’t complain honestly. I happen to like that extra padding on your ass back here,” Riley replied while squeezing Roger’s rear.

“Okay sure, but let me tell you… rehearsals were not easy today. And they had to take my measurements to let out my costume in both the gut and ass.”

“Well, I wasn’t wrong about your ass then,” Riley replied with a smirk.

Roger hit the gym hard the three days before Roger’s show resumed from hiatus. He spent two hours every morning and night mostly doing cardio and some light strength training. In between he ate nothing but salads and protein shakes. He knew that press would be there considering all the tabloid drama which meant there could be no weak spot in the show whatsoever, and that included his gut.

The night before the big reopening Roger stepped on the scale with high hopes. Disappointingly he’d only lost one pound. Frustrated to the point of tears and filled with anxiety he broke down and ordered a hamburger and fries for comfort. Clearly it wouldn’t make a difference one way or the other, he told himself.

Luckily, as the show began he found the choreography easier to execute than during the last rehearsal. Still, he was pretty winded after each scene and needed to fully recover his stamina before going back on stage. The burger and fries didn’t help Rileyers, as he could feel them sloshing around in his stomach and midway through the show began to develop heartburn. Not only was this far from comfortable, but he worried it was affecting his singing. Nevertheless, the show had to go on and Roger powered through.

Returning home after the show Roger complained to his boyfriend at length about the experience. Riley had whipped up a comforting lasagna for the two of them and listened to Roger simultaneously vent and stuff his face. Riley hated seeing Roger like this, but at the same time he found himself somewhat enjoying Roger’s fuller frame and aggressive appetite. Something about it felt primal and manly. For this reason, Riley refused to point out that over the course of their conversation Roger had consumed two thirds of the tray of lasagna.

The next morning Riley awoke first. Opening his phone he saw the reviews for Roger’s show all over his feed. The prognosis was not good. He showered and began working on some sweet and savory crepes while Roger slept. In the midst of whipping the batter he heard a “fuck me!” emanate from the bedroom. Riley braced himself but Roger didn’t emerge until twenty minutes later when he had finished reading all of the reviews and social media buzz. The crepes were finished and waiting on the counter.

“I just… I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” Roger said, stomping out from the bedroom in the nude. “I mean it is a rickety fucking production I get it but did three out the five reviews just have to call me fat?”

Riley observed his boyfriend absentmindedly grabbing the crepe full of nutella, whipped cream, and strawberries, and hoisting forkfuls to his mouth. Looking at Roger in the nude there was no denying that he now sported a definite paunch that protruded from midsection, even on an empty stomach. Not to mention his thighs and ass which were getting quite thick, to the point that they wobbled when he walked. Riley felt oddly turned on.

“To be fair, babe, they barely mentioned you. The majority of the articles focus on the production value and poor direction.”

“One called me portly, the other called me paunchy, and the third simply said, and I quote, that I ‘struggled with choreography as though my center of balance was thrown off.’ That’s code for fat!”

“Babe, I know it stings but you’ll get through this,” Riley said while massaging his boyfriend’s shoulders. “I think you’re beautiful the way you are and if you want to lose the weight, I think you’re beautiful that way too.”

“Um, DUH I’m losing the weight. And thanks, I know you love me but there’s a legitimate threat that the show could be permanently shut down, or worse: I get fired.”

“That won’t happen,” Riley replied while noticing that even Roger’s shoulders felt a bit softer. He couldn’t tell if it was fat, loss of muscle mass, or both. “They won’t fire you before giving you a chance to lose the weight.”

By the time Roger was finished talking through his worries, every single crepe Riley had prepared was gone. And Riley had only eaten half of one. He expected Roger to freak out over this fact, but he was so worked up that he didn’t seem to notice he had been so gluttonous. Roger trodded off to the shower to get ready for the day while Riley admired his voluptuous ass bobbing away from him with each step.

Roger spent the rest of the day practicing his choreography at the empty theater. He knew that his points weren’t as sharp and part of that was simply that his thicker body was getting in the way. Even though it wasn’t a significant amount of weight, it made a difference and Roger began to devise ways to compensate. By evening he was feeling less nervous and a bit more confident in his ability. However, by the time the curtains pulled back his heart was pounding.

After the show, he rushed back stage and immediately launched Twitter and Instagram and began name searching himself. There it was, all across the Internet: Roger was fat and the public knew it. Most of the comments applauded his performance while still expressing surprise at his weight. Some were even complimentary about his fuller figure. The biggest shock, however, was when a before and after photo of his weight gain began to circulate.

In the first photo, he’s posing with Riley in front of their bedroom mirror. The couple had near identical physiques, lean and muscular, while wearing nothing but matching underwear. In the next photo Roger is on stage, kneeling down, mid-song, and it is more than apparent the degree to which his stomach is folding over his waistline. Even worse: the buttons on his shirt are strained. Anxious and bewildered, Roger met Riley outside the venue and the two rushed home.

Waiting on the kitchen table when they arrived was a bottle of champagne and a chocolate cake Riley had made. At first, Roger protested but he quickly caved and cut himself a massive slice of cake. The second the chocolate met his lips his body seemed to relax and his mood softened. This was just what he needed. He polished the plate clean, scraping all the icing up that he could. Afterwards, Riley cut him another slice. Roger protested at first, but Riley didn’t have to persuade him much before he caved.

“Don’t be mad at me,” Riley said and slid his arm around his man, “but I could get used to this,” and pinched the bit of pudge on Roger’s side. His hand then slipped lower below Roger’s waistband where he cupped a generous handful of soft ass fat that he gave a long squeeze. “Now let’s get you undressed. I wanna see how this bounces.”