Page 16 of Baby Love
“It seems hard to date in this business. I mean, from what I’ve seen.”
P’Park nods. “It is. Ship work means you have to keep your relationship under wraps, and a lot of girls can’t put up with that. I’ve always found it difficult to give to a relationship when I have enough on my plate with work and with Anya. It’s too much.”
I nod because even though I’m not dating anyone, the job takes most of my time and I can’t imagine trying to make room for someone else. “My friends Pravat and Rama make their relationship work, but I think that’s because they’re both in the business. They used to be paired together. Hearts Entertainment split them up even though they were a popular ship. It didn’t change things between them, though. They’re still going strong.”
“Ah. I wondered about them,” P’Park says. “Rumor was that they’re dating, but you can’t believe everything you hear in this business.”
By the time we reach Sumkhumvit district and park the car, darkness has fallen and the city is lit up. We have to walk several blocks to the bar, passing many people already well into their Saturday night partying. A rowdy group stumbles out of a nightclub, one extremely drunk guy blocking my way on the pavement.
“Hey, you’re cute. Want to come with me?” he slurs, leaning in close to my face, his whiskey breath strong.
Before I can say anything, P’Park steps between us.
“He’s with me,” he says, leading me away, his arm around my shoulder. When we reach the bar, the place is packed, and P’Park slides his hand to the small of my back as we make our way through the crowd. I can’t see over anyone’s heads, so I rely on him to find Daeng and Aod.
“Over there,” he says, nudging me.
When we walk up to the table by the bank of windows where P’Daeng and Aod sit, P’Daeng’s gaze immediately goes to P’Park’s arm curled around my waist.
“Starting with the skinship right off the bat, I see,” he says. P’Daeng has changed into a black shirt and jeans. Aod’s wearing a green button-down over a navy shirt and a pair of dark pants. He recently had his hair streaked blond for the part of Bear, and it suits him.
P’Park sits to P’Daeng’s right, and I take the chair between Aod and P’Daeng.
P’Daeng’s gaze runs over me. “You look good tonight, Spin.”
“Er, thanks.” I glance down at my red sweater over my white T-shirt and jeans that I’ve been wearing since our meeting.
“Really. Red is a good color on you.”
P’Park clears his throat and asks me, “Beer?”
“Sure.”
He motions to a server.
I look around. Crowds make me uneasy, but I feel comfortable as long as P’Park’s with me.
“Do you want to dance?” P’Daeng asks, and it takes me a second to realize he’s talking to me.
“We’re here to get used to our partners,” P’Park reminds him. “You may be confident in your skinship, but we want practice. In fact, trade seats with me so I can sit next to Spin.” He stands up.
Frowning, P’Daeng turns to Aod. “Come on, let’s dance.”
Aod follows P’Daeng to the dance floor, and P’Park takes his vacated seat as the server places our beers on the table.
“So, you know about me and my sister and why I’m determined to succeed in this business. What about you? You said you have a younger sister.”
I nod. “Her name is Nok. She just started university, and I’m helping her pay tuition.”
“Are your parents still alive?” P’Park asks.
“My mother isn’t. I don’t know about my father. He left us when I turned eighteen and Nok was thirteen.” Smiling, I shake my head. “I didn’t know anything about raising a teenage girl. The years since then have been trial and error on my part. Mostly error.” I chuckle.
“I’m sure you’ve done a great job,” P’Park says softly.
“Well, Nok’s still alive. Although, one time I almost lost her in a crowd.” My spirits fall as I remember that day. One minute, fourteen-year-old Nok was standing beside me, and the next she was nowhere to be seen. I was terrified. I finally found her coming out of a public restroom.
“Is that why you don’t like crowds?” P’Park asks.