Page 72 of Baby Love
It’s dark by the time we reach Bangkok and SPPT’s building is lit up against the skyline. Spin and I climb into my car, and I drive him to his apartment instead of to my house because he insists.
“I’m walking you up,” I tell him. He opens his mouth, undoubtedly to say that isn’t necessary, then seems to change his mind.
“Okay.” Grabbing his bag, he heads for the front door of his building with me just a step behind.
Spin hasn’t been to his apartment since his father showed up. I want to be one hundred percent sure the man’s vacated the premises before I leave Spin alone there. In truth, I really don’t want to leave him there alone tonight. I plan to talk him into letting me stay.
Neither of us is prepared to open the door and find the place a ransacked mess. Books and broken dishes are all over the floor. The cushions from the couch and chairs are slashed open, their stuffing spread all over the room.
While Spin walks around in a daze, I take his phone, open his group chat with his friends, and send them an SOS, briefly explaining what happened. When the first of them—Cushion—arrives, Spin is in tears.
“Why couldn’t he just take the money and leave?” he says on a sob. “Why did he have to do this?”
“You know the answer to that, Baby. Your father’s an asshole.” Cushion puts her arms around him while I answer another knock at the door. Bass and Nok stand on the other side and both hurry past me to join Cushion in comforting Spin.
I met Spin’s sister once before when we took Nok some food after we ate at a restaurant she liked, and we stayed and visited with her for a while. She’s a sweet girl who seems to have a good head on her shoulders, and she and Spin are obviously close.
“Are you okay?” Bass asks Spin, then belatedly looks around. “Holy shit. He really did a number on the place!”
“I’m so sorry, P,” Nok says, squeezing her brother’s arm.
At the sight of his sister, Spin makes an effort to pull himself together. “How did you find out?” he asks her, wiping at his tears. “P’Park said he told the group chat.”
“I, uh, was hanging out with Bass. No way was I not coming with him.”
“Oh,” Spin says, eyeing his friend. But he drops the subject. Standing, he surveys the room.
“Don’t worry,” Cushion says, getting to her feet. “We’re going to take care of this mess. Where are the trash bags?” She follows Spin into the kitchen.
“Do you think he’s still in town? Spin’s father?” Bass asks me.
“I doubt it. He’s being paid well to leave. This is just his final word.”
“How’s Spin?”
I turn at the new voice, surprised to find Kiet standing just inside the door. “I let myself in. Door was unlocked,” he explains.
“How did you know to come? I thought you blocked Spin,” Bass says.
“I unblocked him this morning. I ended things with Daw.”
“I know. She called Spin and chewed him out,” I start picking up books from the floor. “Spin’s pretty upset. He’ll be happy to see you.”
Spin cries out from the kitchen, and we rush into the kitchen where we find him standing by the shelves with something in his hands, Cushion beside him, looking upset.
“Oh, Baby,” Kiet says sorrowfully as he crosses the room to him. “The conch your mother gave you.” He wraps his arms around Spin, who hides his face for a moment in Kiet’s shirt before pulling back.
“He broke it,” Spin says, placing the pieces on the counter. “It’s the only thing I’ve got to remind me of her, and the bastard broke it.” Turning, he runs out of the room.
Nok turns and sobs into Bass’s chest.
I find Spin in his bedroom, crying into his pillow. His room’s been tossed around, but not as bad as the rest of the apartment. Sitting beside him, I stroke his hair.
“I’m sorry, Spin. You don’t deserve this.”
“I hate him, P’Park. I hate him so much. He never loved me or Nok. I don’t even think he loved my mother. She was miserable and died because of him. He beat her down until she didn’t want to live anymore. Why couldn’t he just leave us alone?”
“Shh, I don’t know. He’s just a bad man. But you’re good, Spin. Too good to have him as a father. I wish I could make it all better for you.”