I’m Not Becoming Spider-Man - Chapter 33: Family Harmony (Patreon)

“You and Gwen aren't communicating very well, George,” Peter said again. “Maybe you should set aside some time and really talk to her.”

“Maybe. Hmm... You're right, Peter.”

“Could you heat up that pan for me? Add some oil and fry the rosemary and garlic to bring out the aroma. I'll need it for the cutlets in a minute.”

“Of course. No problem.”

George's apartment hadn't felt this lively in a long time. Peter put together an excellent dinner of creamy mushroom soup and cutlet wraps, both of them delicious.

“Would you mind calling the girls? Everything's ready.” Peter carried the dishes and the pot of soup out to the table.

“Gwen! Mary Jane! Come eat!” George called.

“Hope you two aren't starving.” Peter had already laid out the tableware.

“I certainly am, Peter,” Mary Jane said. “So forgive me if I eat like a horse, especially when you've made everything look so good.”

“Glad you like the look of it. Give it a try, George.”

George cut off a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. Spices mingled with the richness of the fat, making him want to savor every bite. Peter had delayed dinner long enough for hunger to sharpen his appetite, and the cutlet tasted particularly wonderful.

He hardly ever ate food freshly prepared like this anymore. With work keeping him busy, takeout and fast food had become his staples. Meals cooked in advance or delivered past their prime simply couldn't compete with something straight from the pan.

“Delicious! Good heavens, I didn't know you could cook like this!” George praised him enthusiastically. “You ought to apply for a chef's job at a fancy restaurant!”

“Thanks for the compliment, George.”

“Gwen, what do you think?”

“Oh... What do you want me to say? It's good. That's all. Much better than takeout and fast food,” Gwen replied.

“Uh...” George found himself at a loss.

“Try the cream of mushroom soup,” Peter interjected, hurrying to smooth over the awkward exchange.

They ate and chatted about whatever came to mind. For a while, the atmosphere was genuinely pleasant.

By the time dinner ended, it was getting late. Peter and Mary Jane needed to go home, and George offered to drive them. As a police officer, he knew better than most how dangerous it could be for two young people to head home alone at that hour.

George drove while the two of them sat in the back. There wasn't much to say, and Peter was tired.

Mary Jane leaned against his shoulder and apparently fell asleep. Peter didn't move her. Whether she was sleeping or pretending to, he didn't much care. She'd helped today without stirring up trouble, so he could let her have this small victory.

George had been to the Parker house before, so finding it wasn't a problem.

“Here we are, kids.”

“Thanks very much, George.” Peter nudged Mary Jane awake.

“Anytime, kid.”

They got out, and George watched until they had gone inside before driving away.

“Oh, I knew you might be late, but not this late.” Uncle Ben was sitting in the living room, tinkering with something.

“We got held up a little.” Peter had texted ahead so they wouldn't worry. “What are you working on, Uncle Ben?”

“A fellow's motor broke. I was going to repair it in a few days, but I had some free time, so I started early.”

“I'll give you a hand tomorrow.” Peter headed upstairs. At the top of the staircase, he stopped and added, “Thanks, Uncle Ben.”

“What are you thanking me for?” Ben muttered. He'd planned to go pick the two of them up, but Peter had said it wasn't necessary. Even so, he'd stayed awake in case they needed him.

Once inside Peter's room, Mary Jane flopped onto his bed. “Let me stay tonight, Peter. I helped you out, so you owe me a reward.”

“Fine, fine. You can stay. But take a shower first. Your clothes are in the bottom drawer on the left side of the dresser. I don't want my bed smelling like sweat.”

“Come on. What boy would complain about his bed smelling like a girl?”

“I don't want it smelling like perfume.”

“I don't wear perfume. I'm talking about my natural scent.”

“Whatever. All meat smells about the same to me. If it hasn't been drained of blood and properly marinated, it stinks.”

“Hey! That's the sort of thing a serial killer would say.”

“I'm not a cannibal.” Peter pulled off his clothes.

“Sometimes I wish you were.” Resting her cheek on one hand, Mary Jane took an appreciative look at his physique.

“...”

Peter had no response to that. “Hurry up and shower. Get changed and go to bed.”

“What's the rush? Tomorrow's a day off.”

“I've got a lot to do tomorrow. I don't have time to fool around with you.”

“Fine, fine.” Mary Jane rolled over, opened the drawer, and took out her clothes. “Be honest, Peter. Have you ever done anything with the clothes I've left here?”

“Would you rather I had or I hadn't?”

“So you actually...”

“Give me a break. The smell of your clothes is enough to knock me out. If you ever washed them yourself, folded them, and put them away, maybe I'd consider it. Every time I wash your stuff, I wonder why I don't just throw it out.”

“I hardly keep anything here.”

“Then wash what you do keep here!”

“Nope. I want to wear clothes you've washed,” Mary Jane declared.

“Just go take your shower.” Peter waved her away, looking thoroughly disgusted.

“All right, all right.”

Once she was gone, Peter used the spare time to think about a few of his projects. There was certainly no shortage of things he needed to do.

Tomorrow, he might have to help Gwen at the apartment, too. He'd already done everything he could to convince George. Whether it worked was up to them now.

Peter lowered the hammock. It could only hold one person, and he'd set it up for Mary Jane's visits, not for Harley.

A little later, Mary Jane emerged from the bathroom wrapped in nothing but a towel, leaving her long, healthy legs bare.

“Peter, you're nearly out of shower gel again.”

“Because you use too much.”

“Hehe. I want to smell the same as you. Come on, guess whether I'm wearing anything under this.”

“If you're not, I'm throwing your clothes outside.”

“Oh my. Do you want me sleeping naked that badly?”