Glancing down, I’m unpleased to say that my shirt is wrinkled now. “I should…probably get a new shirt.”
“It’s cool,” Reed says. “Take your time.” His precious smile calms me down. I can almost ignore Gramps yelling at the TV and the loud stove exhaust. Mom flipping to more pages of me as a baby, however, makes me irritated again. So, I dash into my small bedroom before I get even more aggravated.
Fifteen minutes and several wardrobe changes later, I reappear in the living area in a gold-and-black plaid shirt. My self-consciousness evaporates when Reed turns his attention to me. The pleasant surprise on his face is flattering, and a small part of me wants to spend every Thanksgiving with him.
“Wow, you look great,” Reed says from the couch.
“Why thank you,” I purr. I saddle up onto the couch armrest and touch his shoulder. He taps my hand, then Mom turns a page in the book in Reed’s lap.
“And here’s my baby boy at senior prom with the fellow he was dating at the time,” she says with glee.
Reed laughs, and even I have to titter seeing my teenage self, golden side-bangs and all. “Wow,” Reed says. “You were too cute.”
“Long hair, didn’t care,” I say, and we all laugh.
“You were the only gay couple to go to prom that year, right?” Mom asks with a smile.
“Of course. In case the two boys holding hands wasn’t a giveaway, the rainbow stickers are a nice touch.” I point at the decorations in the scrapbook, and Mom chuckles.
“You didn’t care that he was gay?” Reed asks.
“Of course not. We love our Sky Baby, and we always want him to be his authentic self.”
“Aw, Mom.” My voice is only mildly chiding, mostly proud. As far as parents go, it could have been worse.
“And now he has you, a cute Asian man,” Mom remarks, patting Reed on the cheek.
I clear my throat while my face burns. “I don’t…see race,” I mutter. We don’t need to remind Reed of how White and loud my family is. “Besides, we’ve only been dating for a few weeks.”
“But I know you’re not gonna let this one go, Sky Baby.” Mom cuddles closer to Reed. “Look how handsome he is!”
A pained laugh escapes my lips. Reed, meanwhile, keeps glancing between me and Mom. Before I can say more, Gramps leans forward with the phone.
“I’m surprised you didn’t end up dating a monster shifter, or whatever you call them,” Gramps says.
“Gramps!” I whine.
“What? You love sea monsters,” he says.
“It’s true,” my sister adds on the screen. “You were like, always obsessed with tentacle men.”
“Eartha!” I yelp. “Don’t you have a husband to attend to?”
“Oh yeah, I do! Bye, everyone.”
The call shuts off, and Mom leans forward. “Don’t you worry, Reed. Our Sky Baby won’t hold it against you just because you’re not one of them monster men.”
Reed glances at me and shifts in the seat. “Um, as a matter of fact…well, I am.” He looks at each of my family members. “I’m a sea monster.”
After a long, quiet pause, Mom asks, “Really?”
“That makes sense,” Gramps murmurs.
Before I can chastise them more, the sound of the oven door closing grabs our attention. “Thanksgiving dinner is served! Come on down! Gobble gobble!” Dad hollers.
Gramps shuts off the TV, and he and Mom join Dad in the kitchen.
“I’m so sorry about them,” I whisper to Reed.
