Adi and Cutter's woman had become decent friends over the few weeks they had been living together. Her name was Stevie, and she was kind hearted, but called Cutter on his shit if he needed it. Otis rather enjoyed watching them bicker. It was about time someone put him in his place.
Otis stood behind Adi, wrapping his arms around her waist. She giggled and nuzzled her face into his, enjoying the bristle of his beard that was beginning to grow back in. She reached up and behind her, stroking his face.
"Hey, mama." He kissed her forehead.
"Hey, handsome." She smiled. She had had a day off, the first in weeks since they had gone to the lake together. She and Otis had spent the morning entangled in one another. They had made love and snuggled with each other, just enjoying being together. She loved to see his face when they were curled up together like that. He always had a slight smile on his face and looked so at peace.
"You guys are so perfect together..." Baby smiled as she came down the stairs.
"What about us?!" Cutter smirked.
"Ahhh. Yeah. Okay." Baby sat at the table and joked with her father.
Otis swaggered over to the table and sat down, eating with them.
"Those pants not fitting as good anymore, Whitey?"
"...What?" Otis froze. Adi's eyes widened and she froze, holding her breath.
"My woman's puttin' some weight on you. Gettin' a gut on you like me."
Adi flinched. She felt sick in her stomach. Only she knew that Otis had problems with keeping food down sometimes out of guilt. She knew it stemmed from his childhood when he was only rewarded with food for not struggling against his parents, not given healthy meals. She knew how he had had to starve himself when he had first gone out on his own, scavenging for food. He had problems with an eating disorder, but she dare not bring up the actual medical diagnosis to him. She knew Cutter's words cut so much deeper than he would let on.
"Fuck you, old man..."
Cutter smirked and took a sip of his coffee, resuming his conversation with Stevie.
Baby and Adi exchanged worried glances. Baby had seen Otis relapse a few times through the years, as well, and knew how he could get. She and Adi were the only ones who had any idea.
"Like you can talk, fat fuck." Adi spat.
Cutter's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her.
"I'm surprised she can find your dick under that gut of yours." She couldn't hold back laughter. She was thankful, at least it came off like she was joking.
Stevie laughed, too. Baby sat and grimaced. Otis stared in awe.
"I'm surprised when you're riding him it doesn't make a bouncy ball noise and bounce you to the ceiling!" She howled. Cutter glared, wrapping his arm around Stevie.
"You...You like me this way, right?" He whispered.
"Of course, you buffoon. I love my big cuddly papa bear. Doesn't make it not funny, though." Stevie kissed his head, giggling along, patting his stomach. "I like you tubby. You hug better."
Cutter sighed thankfully. He hadn't had a woman in so long, he had all but forgotten about his appearance. He hadn't thought about it in years, or why it would matter.
Otis finished his plate of food, so as not to arouse any suspicion, and helped Adi clean up, like he always did. She heard him swallowing heavily and knew he was contemplating purging.
"Don't you dare..." She whispered.
He glanced at her, nodding.
They retreated to their bedroom together, Adi holding Otis's hand the whole way up the stairs. When she finally closed the door behind her, she sighed.
"Otis, god, please don't. Don't listen to Cutter."
"He's not wrong, Adi..."
"Otis-"
"He isn't. Look. I am getting a gut."
She couldn't help but chuckle. "Otis, stop. You're being ridiculous."
He was standing in front of her full length mirror, fussing. "What?"
"Stop it, babe..." She took his face in her hands. "You're fine."
"But-"
"Otis."
"...I'm listening."
"You're fine. Stop it. So what if you have a little belly-"
"So I do! You admitted it!"
"Otis. Shut the fuck up." She sighed. "I love you. Belly or not. You're still so, so sexy. And so, so handsome."
Otis rolled his eyes. "Now I have no beard AND a gut."
She laughed outright. "Baby, stop. You...actually could have used a few pounds on you..."
"Hn?"
"I love your belly."
"Adi-"
She kissed him, pulling him close to her. "Relax, Otis."
"Mmm...Ok. Ok."
She wrapped her arms around his waist, giggling. "My Otis has some squish!"
"Ahh..."
"I love my squish." She squeezed him, nuzzling into his chest.
"Okay. That's enough of that."
"Of me loving on you?" She raised an eyebrow incredulously.
"No, of calling me your squish."
"Not you. Your belly."
"Oh. My mistake." He rolled his eyes.
Cutter sighed, staring at Stevie in the mirror. They too had retreated to their bedroom.
"You sure you wouldn't want a man like Otis? Fit and young?"
She sighed, swaying her hips as she approached him. "I've had more than my fair share of young studs. They're all talk and no play. They treat you like shit. Not all of them. Otis seems to treat Adi like she walks on water. But I'd pick you out of the lineup any day, papa bear." She smiled, kissing him lightly. "I love it when you just hold me close."
He smiled. "I think I can manage that." He playfully growled at her, swatting her to the bed with one great paw-like hand, pinning her under his arm as she squealed and giggled.