Slight Changes
Synopsis: When your husband starts to act different and hide his body, naturally, you worry.
You and Erik’s shared Los Angeles home was your temple. The home you dreamt of constantly, a place where you could express your love and appreciate each other with no one to criticize or ruin your love for each other.
The home you paid off as soon as you could, the home that had been witness to your individual growth, as well as your marriage. You and Erik had been together for almost 10 years, having known each other since high school. You knew each other almost perfectly. Key word… Almost.
Your beloved home would bear witness once more to one more phase.
For the past month, your husband had become a stranger. Hiding himself from you. Erik had shown some signs about being self conscious about his body. What could have possibly given it away? His constant urge to hide his stomach behind cushions, wearing oversized clothing, barely letting you see him shirtless or in shorts, not using the pool he insisted on building.
The man had always been proud of his body, loving himself and taking care of it. He had always loved his body. He would always be shirtless or wearing wife beaters, even walking around in only boxers. Erik would sleep shirtless, eat shirtless, almost walk around naked around your home. This was completely new to you. He would barely let you touch him.
Hugs would be short, kisses were now quick pecks and hand holding had almost come to a halt. Naturally, as his wife, you worried. What could he possibly be hiding? Was something wrong? Was he in pain? Did he need something specific? Were you even right about him being self conscious about his body? Maybe this could be a new phase for him?
All of these questions, and whenever you tried to ask, as gently as you could, he would quickly shut everything down.
“Girl, no. It’s just… I don’t feel like bein’ shirtless.”
Erik would always say. And you, wanting to respect his body and wishes, stopped everything and changed the subject entirely. But a new observation had been made by you that had triggered your worry once more.
He would barely eat. His food portions were too small, his water intake was too high, his exercises too long and brutal for him. Every time he finished at the built-in gym and returned to your master bathroom, you saw how red his face was, how sweaty and exhausted he would be.
He would overwork himself.
Erik had always been athletic and had an absurdly high stamina. But he would never get this close to almost passing out. You wanted to figure out what could be wrong with your husband. You walked into the living room and saw him as he sat now.
Man spreading with a cushion over his stomach and on his phone. Wearing an oversized shirt and baggy jeans.
“Erik, baby… we need to talk.” You began softly, walking over to the sofa and sitting at a small distance. Far enough where he felt comfortable, but close enough to still be able to properly look at him. “What?” He asked you, seeing you take a deep breath and exhale. Trying your best to not seem angry or upset, you gathered your thoughts.
“Okay, Erik,” you began, “I’m worried about you.”
Your husband scoffed and offered a small smile, “why?”, he questioned.
“You’ve been distant. We barely hold hands, you don’t hug me anymore and you don’t kiss me. Whenever I wanna love you, you push me away and I would really like to know why.” You replied, seeing his eyes soften up.
“Another thing, more important than this.”
Erik’s eyes locked on yours, paying close attention.
“I’ve noticed that in the past few weeks you’ve been overwhelming yourself. With workouts, you aren’t eatin’ right, you come back from the gym exhausted and dizzy, about to pass out… I wanna know what’s goin’ on. I wanna help you. Let me help you.” You continued as Erik sighed and stood, having you follow him into your bedroom.
“Nothing’s wrong, Y/N. I’m fine. I’m just workin’ out, as usual.” Erik replied as he went to the edge of your bed.
You scoffed. “No, not as usual. Erik, you’re wearing oversized clothes, you don’t walk around shirtless, you barely touch me when we sleep and you’re always covering your stomach.” You pointed out as Erik’s face hardened. Shame and embarrassment became evident over his features.
“Erik, is something wrong? Did someone do something to you? Are you goin’ thru some shit that I just don’t know about?” You asked, sitting next to him and going to grab his hand, only to have him snatch it away from you.
Erik stayed quiet. But you noticed tears welling up. His lip quivered as he took deep, frustrated breaths.
“If I tell you, you gon’ be disgusted with me. You gon’ make fun of me.” He told you, standing and wiping away his tears, rubbing his eyes. Standing and following him, you kept your distance.
Your face contorted into confusion, surprise and even more worry. What could he possibly have to say or show?
“Erik, you know me. We’ve been married for almost 4 years, do you really think I would be that big of a bitch to make fun of you? Yeah I tease, but that’s it. Just like you tease me.” You asked him, seeing him turn to face you, tears streaming down his cheeks.
He quietly and softly took his shirt off. Instead of his “usual” body, he revealed a softer one, less muscular and toned.
His abs were replaced with a small amount of soft plump, his chest wasn’t flat, now rounder and not as chiseled, his v-line was gone and his arms were thicker, as well as his legs. His thighs were meatier. Erik dropped his head in shame and went to cover himself as you quickly grabbed his hand.
“Erik, what am I supposed to see here?” You asked him, seeing his eyes lock with yours.
“What do you mean?!” He barked, throwing his clothes across the room. You jumped at the sudden outburst.
“Look at me, Y/N! I’m fat! I’m fucking disgustin’, I look like a fucking pig!” Erik cried, wiping his cheeks roughly.
“I don’t know how the fuck this shit happened, I’ve been tryna lose the weight and I can’t! This shit just won’t go away! I can’t run without feelin’ some jiggle, I can’t even walk up the stairs without getting outta breath! I hate it! Every time I look in the mirror I see the piece of shit I turned into!” Erik continued to cry.
“I don’t know why this happened. I tried to lose weight normally, but it wouldn’t work! I’ve had to stop eatin’ and started drinkin’ a fuck ton of water because nothing works! Every damn day I go downstairs and sit on the sofa, just to look at any remedy to lose weight! This shit’s never happened to me before. Never!”
Erik kept crying in shame until he dropped to his knees. It broke your heart to see such a strong man crumble before you. Softly and slowly walking to your husband, you knelt down in front of him.
“Erik, look at me… please.” You cooed softly, cupping his face, which you noticed was the slightest bit rounder.
“You are in no way disgusting or ugly. You are not a pig! This can happen to anyone! You are human and we change all the damn time. But starvin’ yourself and almost killing yourself just so you can be skinny again ain’t it!” You told him, gently wiping away his tears.
“Listen to me Erik. If you really want to, we can get professional help. A dietitian to help us with your weight loss or even a personal trainer. There is no shame in that, whatsoever. Or you can stay like this.” You continued, seeing him calming down.
“I will always love you no matter what. You’re my husband I’mma be by your side no matter what. Unless it’s harmin’ yourself! Baby, let’s get some help. A good dietitian, a good workout plan and slowly makin’ progress.”
Erik seemed to calm down completely and held your hands. He removed them from his face to give you sad and frustrated eyes.
“I miss my body, Y/N. I know there ain’t nothin’ wrong with extra pounds but I miss my body… it’s like… I don’t recognize me anymore…” he told you, standing up. You stood along with him and stayed close.
“Then if you’re up for it, I’mma book us an appointment with a dietitian- a good dietitian and get help. But you didn’t need to hide yourself from me like that. As for the world, fuck them.”
Erik sighed and hung his head in shame.
“I just thought you wouldn’t want me. I’ve always had abs and shit. Suddenly having my body change made me think you would change too.” He explained.
You chuckled and wrapped your arms around your husband in a much needed embrace. You felt his arms wrap around you and squeeze. You squeezed just as hard, or tried to, having missed physical affection from your husband.
Erik looked down at you and placed his lips on your own, quickly deepening it. The kiss was passionate, full of love and affection. Arms wrapped around each other and not a care in the world.
Parting the kiss, you looked into his softened eyes and smiled.
“You know, I kinda like you like this too. Before you were all hard and stiff, now you’re all soft and plump… this shit’s amazing!” You laughed, getting to touch all of his body.
Your hands traveled to his chest and stomach, softly rubbing the new extra skin and went back up to his face. You noticed his cheeks rounded up too. Your bright smile never ceased.
“I really do like this new body of yours. I got a new seat for whenever I sit and ride that sexy ass face.”
Erik burst into laughter. Hearing his laugh after his sobs and rough past month was refreshing and much needed. You missed his laugh.
“Shit, girl. But for real… let’s go look for help. But yo’ ass is gon’ be at every damn appointment. Don’t you dare leave me alone.” He told you, kissing your forehead.
Smiling, you nodded and hugged your man again, “obviously. In and out of the office. I don’t want bitches with skinny men wanting to touch you. This body mine.”
Erik smirked. “Shit, Y/N… I can’t walk up a flight of stairs but I can still fuck yo’ lil’ ass so hard you won’t be able to sit for a week.”
“Really? Let’s see if it’s true,” you smirked, kissing him as deeply as you could. Your hands traveled his whole back and slowly made their way over to his ass. You gasped and stopped the kiss.
“Boy, turn around.”
“What? Why?” He asked you, thinking the worst. Thinking you changed your mind.
“You got more ass than me! What the fuck? Look at all this ass! Erik, holy shit!” You laughed, smacking and touching his cheeks.
Erik could only blush and laugh.
“Damn, I’mma miss this body. I know I said I love you no matter what, but I’mma miss this jiggle!” You smiled as you touched all of him.
Your husband only grabbed your hands and pulled you towards him. He kissed you once more and held you close to him.
“Thanks, Y/N… I think I might not lose the weight after all… I mean, yeah I gotta get new clothes and shit but… it ain’t that bad if it gets you to touch me like that.” He told you, watching your smile grow.
“I stand by you. There’s a really good boutique on Instagram where I can order clothes for you! I just gotta figure out your size.” You replied, feeling another kiss be pressed on your cheek.
“Thank you, babygirl. Thank you for lovin’ me.” He almost whispered as you kept rubbing him down. “Of course. I’ll always love you. Especially when I’mma sleep even better. Ya’ chest is my new pillow.”
“I might have to lose weight then.” Erik said as you gasped and looked at him in disbelief and anger.
He laughed, “I’m just playin’. I’mma have to learn how to love myself like this now. But you gon’ be with me every step right?”
Nodding, you picked up the thrown clothes, got under the covers of your bed and had Erik’s arm wrapped around you while you searched for the boutique. Now, while having him give his opinions on his new clothes, you could only admire your husband.
Taglist:
@chaneajoyyy
@amorestevens
@cecereads209
@readinginsilence100
@raysunshine78
@woahitslucyylu
@idont-know-shit
@kkrown
@msreshel
@ladymac82
@luvwitoutlimit1
@jessiebean00
@richonne4life
@xsweetdellzx
@btitannaaa
@koriireads
@bugngiz
@harleycativy
@soufcakmistress
@dynastylnoire
@ladymac82
-
A/N: Feel free to let me know what you think! I might be writing some more “slice of life” kinda one-shots.