[Mini Story] Looking Up to Love (Patreon)

Hi hi ✨

Got a treat for everyone today - including our free members! It's our first mini story, and it's a fun one.

We're following Zoe on a blind date. Simple premise, but sometimes those are the best, right?

I'll probably publish this one next week, so keep an eye out.

These shorter stories are a new thing I'm trying out. Got any ideas for more mini adventures? Drop them in the comments!

Hope you enjoy this little tale. Happy reading!

📦 Grab the full res image from the attachment section of this post. ⬇️

---

Looking Up to Love

"Calm down, Zoe. It's just dinner," Zoe muttered to herself, smoothing down her emerald green dress for the umpteenth time. The fabric clung to her muscular frame, accentuating every curve of her 7'4" body. She took a deep breath, her broad shoulders rising and falling as she tried to quell the butterflies in her stomach.

The maître d' approached, craning his neck slightly to meet her eyes. "Your table is ready, miss. If you'll follow me?"

Zoe nodded, ducking slightly to avoid the hanging light fixtures as she followed him through the bustling restaurant. The clink of cutlery and the hum of conversation filled the air, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter.

As they weaved between tables, Zoe couldn't help but notice the mix of seating options - standard chairs interspersed with larger, reinforced ones designed for women of her stature. It was a small detail, but one that made her feel more at ease.

"Here we are," the maître d' said, gesturing to a table near the window. "Your date hasn't arrived yet, but can I get you started with a drink while you wait?"

Zoe settled into the sturdy chair, crossing her long legs under the table. "A glass of red wine would be lovely, thank you."

As the maître d' walked away, Zoe fiddled with her phone, wondering if she should text her date. Jack. She'd only spoken to him over the phone, a blind date set up by her well-meaning but persistent friend, Lisa.

"He's perfect for you," Lisa had insisted. "Smart, funny, and he doesn't have that weird complex some guys get around taller women."

Zoe snorted at the memory. 'Taller' was an understatement. At 7'4", she towered over most men and even many of her fellow amazons. She'd long since grown accustomed to her size, but dating... that was still a minefield.

The waiter appeared with her wine, and Zoe took a grateful sip, savouring the rich flavour. She glanced at her watch. 7:05 PM. He was only five minutes late. No need to panic yet.

Just then, she heard a voice. "Excuse me, are you Zoe?"

She looked up to see a man standing by the table, a nervous smile on his face. He was handsome, with warm brown eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. And he was... short. Well, average height for a man, but to Zoe, he looked positively diminutive.

Zoe stood up, extending her hand. "Yes, that's me. You must be Jack."

Jack's eyes widened slightly as he took in her full height, but to his credit, his smile didn't falter. He shook her hand firmly. "It's great to meet you, Zoe. I hope you haven't been waiting long."

"Not at all," Zoe replied, gesturing for him to take a seat. "I was just enjoying a glass of wine."

As they both sat down, Zoe couldn't help but notice how the table, designed to accommodate her longer legs, left Jack's feet dangling slightly. He seemed to notice too, chuckling as he adjusted his position.

"Well, I feel like I'm back in primary school," he joked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Maybe I should have brought a booster seat."

Zoe laughed, feeling some of her nervousness dissipate. "I'm sure we could rustle one up if you'd like. Though it might clash with the restaurant's aesthetic."

Jack grinned, picking up his menu. "I think I'll manage. So, Zoe, tell me about yourself. What do you do when you're not going on blind dates set up by overzealous friends?"

"Oh, you got the Lisa treatment too, huh?" Zoe said, taking another sip of her wine. "Well, I'm a structural engineer. I specialize in redesigning buildings to be more accommodating for women of all sizes. It's been a busy few years, as you can imagine."

Jack nodded, looking genuinely interested. "That sounds fascinating. I bet you've seen some pretty creative solutions."

"Oh, you have no idea," Zoe chuckled. "Just last week, I was consulting on a project to retrofit an old theatre. The challenge was preserving the historical architecture while making sure someone like me doesn't bring down the balcony."

Their conversation was interrupted by the waiter returning to take their orders. As Jack perused the menu, Zoe found herself studying him. He seemed at ease, his initial nervousness fading as they talked. It was... refreshing.

"So, Jack," Zoe said as the waiter walked away, "what about you? What do you do?"

Jack set down his water glass, a droplet clinging to his beard. "I'm a pediatrician, actually. Specialized in adolescent care."

Zoe raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "That must be interesting, especially these days. Do you see many young girls going through the change?"

Jack nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "More and more. It's been a challenge, medically speaking. We're still learning how the virus affects growth patterns and hormonal balances in adolescents. But mostly, it's about helping them navigate the emotional aspects."

"That can't be easy," Zoe mused, thinking back to her own transformation. "I was 25 when the virus hit, and it was still a shock. I can't imagine going through it as a teenager."

Jack leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "It's tough, but kids are resilient. The real challenge is often the parents. Especially the fathers. There's something... unsettling for some of them about their little girls suddenly being able to bench press a car."

Zoe couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, I can imagine. My dad nearly had a heart attack the first time I hugged him after the change. Cracked two of his ribs."

Jack winced sympathetically. "Ouch. I hope he forgave you."

"Eventually," Zoe grinned. "Though he still flinches a bit when I go in for a hug. But enough about that. Tell me, Jack, what made you agree to this blind date? Lisa can be pretty persuasive, but surely a doctor has plenty of opportunities to meet people."

Jack chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Ah, well, the glamorous life of a pediatrician isn't quite as exciting as you might think. Between work and volunteering at the community center, I don't get out much. And Lisa... well, she has a way of wearing you down."

"Don't I know it," Zoe agreed, raising her glass in a mock toast. "To Lisa and her meddling ways."

Jack clinked his glass against hers, his eyes meeting hers over the rim. "I have to say, though... I'm glad she meddled this time."

Zoe felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the wine spread through her chest. "You know what? So am I."

As their food arrived, the conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and the occasional shared look that lingered just a bit longer than necessary. Zoe found herself relaxing, her earlier nervousness forgotten as she and Jack traded stories and jokes.

It wasn't until she reached for the salt shaker, her hand accidentally brushing against Jack's, that she was reminded of their size difference. His hand looked almost child-like next to hers, and for a moment, she felt that old insecurity creep back in.

But then Jack looked up at her, a soft smile on his face, and she realized it didn't matter. In that moment, she wasn't an amazon or a giant - she was just Zoe, enjoying a lovely dinner with a charming man.

As the evening wore on, Zoe found herself hoping that this wouldn't be the last time she and Jack shared a meal together. And judging by the way he was looking at her, she had a feeling he might be thinking the same thing.