Shocks
A couple hours later, Peter and I are walking just talking about nothing when-
“Mistletoe!” Flash yells out as Peter and I are unknowingly under a sprig of mistletoe at the threshold of the kitchen.
I look at him quizzically.
“You guys are under a sprig of mistletoe.” My mom teases.
We look up.
‘Crap.’ I think to myself.
“You know the rules.” She smirks.
“We um, I um-”
“What he is saying is that we don’t believe in public displays of affection.” I say.
“Come on.” My mommy begs. “One kiss won’t hurt. Please?”
So I turn to Peter.
Peter turns to me.
“We don't have to-"
He shuts me up by kissing me.
Just as I was about to pull away, I feel Peter delve his tongue into my mouth, and I internally let out a startled noise from the back of my throat. Peter scratches along the nape of my neck, brushes his thumb gently across my jaw, and then he finally leans back.
Peter’s lips are a bit red and wet, his cheeks are flushed, and happiness is swimming through his eyes.
I’m just too shocked at this point; it's gotten to the point I didn’t realize that his hands are now on my waist.
Isn’t he straight or what?
After a good few moments, he pulls away.
I see a smile on his face.
I am beyond confused.
“Dum-da-da-dum…” My mom says humming the wedding song.
“MOMMY!”
She only laughs as Flash cheers.
“Someone, please get the milk.” She says walking away from the stove to the pantry.
We all move around except for Peter, who’s still standing under the mistletoe, smiling and blushing like a goof ball.
Seriously, what is with him at this moment?
Oh Brown Eyes.
⁂
It’s currently 4:00 in the afternoon and everyone is in the living room waiting to open presents.
Everyone but my mom that is.
“Kiddo, where’s your mom?” My daddy asks me as he puts more wood into the fireplace.
“I’m not sure.” I say. “I’ll go find her.”
After a good couple minutes of searching, she’s in their bedroom, folding my dad’s underwear.
Ugh! Since when did he start wearing g-strings?
“Mom, it’s time for presents.” I tell her.
“Is it?” She asks absently.
“It’s 4.” I tell her.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m folding your father’s underwear.” She says. “Sometimes, I think your dad is looking at other women.”
“Huh?” I ask.
I’m confused.
Daddy would never cheat on mom.
He’s planning their anniversary party.
“Do you ever have dreams that Max is looking at other men when you’re out on date nights?”
“No. Is everything ok, mom?”
“Do you know that your father is the only man I ever slept with?”
What the-?
Is this woman ok?
What is going on here?
“Have you ever slept with more than one man?”
“Are you seriously gonna talk about my sex life, mom? That’s embarrassing. I’d rather talk to Gwen and Flash about that.”
“Why did I even ask that question? You’ve dated other men before Max. It’s the modern world.”
“Yup. I think it’s time for presents!” I exclaim, dismissing this conversation.
“Oh my God! You’re right! It’s time for presents!” I hear her exclaim loudly as I am going down the stairs.
“Max, time for presents!” I yell out as we are all handing out presents.
“Thanks.” Flash says as I hand him his gift.
“Have you noticed anything about my mom?” I quietly ask him.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Well, she wanted to know about my sex life. I’m not sure why, but she was telling me that dad was the only person that she’s ever slept with.”
“That’s crazy!”
“I know! She thinks that he’s looking at other women.”
“Now that is crazy. Daddy loves her to pieces! He would never cheat on her.”
“I said look, not cheat.” I correct almost forgetting that he and Gwen consider my parents as their parents.
They are crazy ass friends, but I love them.
“Same thing.” Flash says as Peter sits next to me.
“Here you go, Max.” My mom says, handing Peter a gift bag.
“Thanks.” Peter says taking the bag from her.
He’s still smiling like a goof ball.
“Harry, for you.” She says handing me a box.
“Thanks, mommy.”
“Can I?” Peter asks.
“Yeah, go ahead son.” My dad says.
Peter looks through the bag.
“Wow! This is nice!” Peter exclaims as he pulls out a 5 piece gold and crystal liquor decanter set. “Thank you!”
“No problem.” My mom says.
“I know exactly where this is going when we get back to the city!” He says happily as he puts his gift back in the bag. “So, who’s next?”
“Harry is!” Flash says.
I unwrap the box and open it.
I sigh.
It’s a red sweater.
“Wow!” I exclaim giving my parents a fake smile.
“It really brings out your eyes!” My mom says happily.
“You’re next!” I tell Flash.
He opens his box.
“AHHH!!!!! A 5 piece wine lovers tool set?!” Flash exclaims. “Thank you!”
“No problem, you wino.” My dad says.
“I’m next!” Gwen says opening her box.
My dad smiles.
“An elegant wood jewelry box!” Gwen says. “Thank you! I can put all my jewelry in this box now! Thanks!”
“Go wild, Gwen.”
“You’re next, Norman.” Delores tells my dad.
He digs through his gift bag.
My daddy chuckles.
“What’s in the bag?” Flash asks.
“None of your business.” He says. “Thank you, Delores.”
“Anytime, Norman.” She says winking at him, raising her glass at him.
“Here you go, babe.” My daddy tells my mom.
“Thanks.” She says.
She opens the box.
“Wow!” She exclaims.
She pulls out a big book.
“The Journey of Norman and Emily Osborn.” She read from the cover of the leather book.
“Harry gave me the idea a few weeks ago.” My dad says. “This book is filled with moments of our life together.”
My mom starts crying.
“And there’s something at the back that you might want to look at.”
She opens the book to the last page.
“Two tickets to the Bahamas in early February.” She says.
“Yup. That’s where we are going to get married again.”
“What?”
“Emily Osborn, will you marry me again?” He asks getting down on one knee holding out a ring.
My mommy breaks down and says yes.
Everyone cheers.
Oh how I wish my life can be filled with that kind of love, but you don’t always get what you want.
“Alright, alright!” My mom says, trying to regain her composure. “Here, mom.” She says handing my mom a small box.
Delores scowls at being called mom, but she takes the gift.
When Delores opens the box, she starts laughing.
“This is a damn good gift! I love the necklace, but the cups are better.” Delores says showing us two cups. One cups says “It took me 50 years to look this fabulous” while the other says “It took me 30 years to be this effortless.”
“I’m glad you like it.” My mom says.
We open presents for a good fifteen minutes or so, and just as we thought everyone had been done opening presents, my dad gave me another box.
“I think this might come in handy.” He tells me.
I open the box.
I try not to roll my eyes at the new briefcase.
“We just thought that-”
“Yeah.” I deadpan putting the briefcase back in the box.
“I know you told me what happened that day when you had that interview with Dr. Connors, but I do think that you should work at Oscorp.” My dad tells me. “It’s safer than going out for multiple job interviews and bombing the interview. At least with Oscorp, you’ll be in charge and it’s a decent job.”
“I know.” I tell him. “I am going to work there, but I am not quite ready yet.”
“Harry, I want you to focus on achieving a legitimate career. I’m not saying this to get on your nerves or anything like that, but you’re my only son, and I wan to see you succeed in life.”
I only sigh.
He’s right, but I am not ready to work at Oscorp mainly because I am afraid of failing horribly. What’ll happen if I burn it down to the ground? I have already found things that I excel at, but I don’t know how to tell my daddy what I am afraid of.
“Kiddo, I can see the wheels turning in your head. What are you afraid of?” My dad asks me.
“Failing.” I simply state hanging my head. “When I’m volunteering, working at little mom and pop stores, and painting, I feel like I’m living. When I think about running Oscorp…..I know that I can’t run that company like you, but what if I fail to the point where I run it down to the ground?”
“Then start again.” My dad says. “You’re not alone at Oscorp.”
“But-”
“Harry, I trust you and your decisions. You can even change what Oscorp stands for and run it successfully on your own terms.” My dad tells me.
I finally look up and he's crouching in front of me and he looks into my eyes.
“You can do anything with the company.” He tells me. “I believe in you.”
I kiss his nose and hug him.
“I have one more gift for Harry.” Peter tells everyone.
My dad and I pull away from each other.
What's he about to do?
“I completely agree with everything you’ve said about Harry running Oscorp, Norman. If he wanted, he could change it into something completely like developing small art galleries, small department stores, so on and so forth. I’ve seen his paintings and they are so beautiful because they are so raw, complex, and expressive. I feel like I am looking into his soul.”
I simply look at him, giving him a small smile.
“Harry Osborn.” Peter says as he gets down on one knee and he pulls out the ring that he’s had for the past few days.
My mom exclaims happily and I am in complete shock.
“Will you marry me?”
I cover my mouth with both of my hands, trying not to laugh at this fake situation.
Can you believe that I want to laugh at a moment like this?
I probably shouldn’t have said moment like this because Kelly Clarkson would probably come out and sing that song as a lot of women wait a lifetime for a marriage proposal. I know I have, and I am not a woman.
“Yes.” I say in shock.