31. Chapter Thirty-One Spin

Chapter Thirty-One: Spin

P 'Park was right when he told me that I would have to get used to large crowds of fans. Since the series debuted, we get swamped at whatever event we go to. Tons of fan art and fan fiction have been created about us online, and not a day goes by that someone doesn't take my photograph. Even in the grocery store. It's so weird. But my career has taken off, and it's proving that P'Park and I did the right thing when we signed on for five years together.

I haven't heard from my father, and I hope he's out of my life for good. Khun Hom made him sign legal papers, so if he comes back to bother me, he can be sued. For a long time, I secretly hoped my father would change. That he might come back a new man, or that he might have a change of heart and at least try to be a father to me and Nok. But, now, I know that won't happen. P'Park offered to try to glue together the pieces of the conch shell, but we both knew it was a lost cause—my father had made sure it was completely shattered, some of it stomped to dust. P'Park bought a beautiful box made of mother of pearl, and a piece of my heart mended when I settled the fragments of the conch inside it and placed it on the shelf again.

I'm not the only one relieved to be rid of the man. Nok seems much more carefree since our father left town. Of course, that could be due to her new relationship with Bass. Slowly, I'm beginning to get used to seeing them as a couple. Nok and I have had a few conversations about it, and she insists that Bass is an absolute gentleman with her.

He fucking better be.

Aside from work, P'Park and I try to make time for dates. Sometimes these have to be at his house with his sister present, but I don't mind. I love Anya. She's so sweet and I enjoy playing with her. Besides, most nights she's in bed by eight and then P'Park and I have time together. We rarely have sex with Anya in the house, but on the nights we work late and she stays with Khun Anong, we stay at my place and can't get enough of each other. The first time, we did it three times in a row, and my legs shook so hard I collapsed when I got up to go the bathroom. P'Park rushed over and picked me up, apologizing over and over until I was able to convince him that he hadn't hurt me. He's always afraid he hurts me during sex, and then he tries to be gentle until I beg him for harder, faster —and that's all it takes for him to let go and plow me like I want him to.

"P'Park! Nong Spin!" a fan calls out to us, then holds up a sign with our names printed on it surrounded by hearts. We wave to her, and she bounces on her toes with excitement. P'Park's hand is at the small of my back, and beside us P'Daeng and P'Gift wave to their fans. It's been two months since Heartbeat finished airing, and we're participating in a charity event with several other production companies. Someone shouts out for P'Park to kiss me, and he busses me on the cheek, causing the crowd to go wild. I pretend to admonish him over it, but my blush is real .

Later, at the reception for the actors, I spot someone across the room that I haven't seen in months.

"I'll be right back," I tell P'Park, leaving him talking to friends.

Making my way around the groups of people chatting, I walk up to the buffet where Pravat is loading his plate with food.

"I thought that was you," I say, tackling him with a tight hug.

He squeezes me before letting me go. "Nong, where have you been hiding?"

"I'm not the one who keeps going on trips out of the country. Where's Rama?"

"In the restroom. How are you?" He looks me over. "You look good. You must like it at SPPT."

I grin. "I do."

"You've made a name for yourself. I'm proud of you."

"It was mostly luck, but thank you."

"That's not true. I watched your series. You're good. Is your partner treating you right?" He looks over my shoulder to where P'Park is still talking to the fans.

"Yes. P'Park is wonderful."

"Spin!"

I turn around to find Rama walking toward me. I launch myself at him, hugging him just as tightly as I hugged Pravat.

"I've missed you guys."

"We've missed you, too," Rama says. "Pravat and I watched Heartbeat. You were so good in it. We were impressed."

My face warms. "Thank you, but you're exaggerating."

Rama shakes his head. "No, not at all."

Rama is so handsome. So is Pravat, but Rama has a regal beauty that makes it difficult not to stare at him.

"I hear you two are back as a ship," I say .

"We are. I think P'Tida figured out it was a mistake to break us up."

"Why did she, anyway? Was it because you two were together outside of work?"

"Definitely," Pravat says. "Maybe she was afraid we'd lose our chemistry or that we'd break up and fuck things up that way. I don't know. But since Fah has moved onto something else and Rama is free again, they relented and put us back together. Our new series starts filming soon." He smiles at Rama, and it's clear they're both glad to be working together again.

"How's Bass?" Pravat asks. "I haven't heard from him in a while."

"He's dating my sister. I'm trying to be a grown-up about it."

Rama and Pravat chuckle, and Rama asks, "What about Kiet? How's he doing?"

I think Rama's always felt bad about his sister, Chinda, breaking up with Kiet, although he had nothing to do with it.

"He's good. Finding his way professionally. So is Bass, but he's had some setbacks. When I talked to him yesterday, he said his chance to act in a lakorn fell through due to funding issues." I was so bummed for Bass when he told me. He tried to cover it up, but I know how disappointed he was.

"That's rough," ‘Rama says. "Has he considered starting with bl's? You know a lot of actors launch mainstream careers that way."

"I'm not sure if he'd consider doing that."

"An actor recently dropped out of our upcoming series," Pravat says. "He should go to the audition Monday." He pulls out his wallet and withdraws a card, handing it to me. "Tell him to call this number if he's interested."

"Thanks. I'll let him know."

I feel a presence behind me .

"P'Park!" I say, smiling and grasping his arm. I introduce him to Rama and Pravat, and they greet one another with a wai.

"By the way," Rama says, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "I saw there's a trend on TikTok where they post videos of everyone being so done with you two."

"What?" I ask, frowning. That doesn't sound good. But Rama and Pravat are both smiling.

Rama searches his phone and then hands it to me. P'Park looks over my shoulder.

The first video is of me and P'Park standing in a crowd at a recent event. The caption says, "The only two people in the room." Behind us, two other actors from SPPT are watching us and then look at each other as though to say, "Oh, brother," before walking away.

The next one is at a promotional event where we're talking with the host about cosmetics. I begin blending a cream into P'Park's cheek while he's looking at me, both of us unaware that everyone standing around us is making teasing faces about our closeness. Are we really that obvious?

A third video shows P'Park coming up behind me as I talk to P'Daeng at the studio and wrapping his arms around my neck. The caption reads, "Someone's possessive!" Face hot, I hand Rama his phone and move to the table to get some punch.

"Is there something we should know?" Pravat asks. "Or are you two just fantastic at fanservice?"

"Uh…" P'Park hesitates.

Turning back to them, I say, "Think whatever you want to think. That's what we tell our fans."

"But we're not your fans," Pravat says, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me closer. "We're your friends. And you know what Rama and I are to each other. "

Face heating, I look to P'Park for permission to out us as a couple.

"Nong and I are dating," P'Park says, pulling me out of Pravat's embrace and into his own. I look around, but no one's within hearing distance, and it's normal for shipped couples to be affectionate at events like these.

"Congratulations," Rama says, patting me on the shoulder. "Does anyone else know?"

"Just those close to us. We don't plan to tell anyone else for now," P'Park says, and I nod agreement.

Later, as he's driving me home, P'Park asks, "Are you sorry that Pravat and Rama know about us?"

"No, not at all. I just wasn't sure if you wanted them to know."

"It's fine with me. It's probably better that everyone at work doesn't find out, though."

"Yeah, I agree."

P'Park has to get back home to Anya, so I kiss him goodbye in front of my building.

"I'll miss you," he says, which melts my heart.

"I'll miss you, too."

I'm doing laundry when I hear a knock.

"Baby, it's me." I recognize Kiet's voice through the door but look through the viewer hole in the door anyway.

"What are you doing here so late?" I ask, hugging him.

"I need to talk. Is that okay? Are you wiped out after your event?"

"I'm fine. Want a beer?"

"Sure."

We sit in the living room, and Kiet seems to be looking everywhere except at me. Oh, crap. What if he's gotten back with Daw and doesn't want to tell me?

"Out with it," I say, unable to stand the tension .

Kiet looks sheepish. "Um." Focusing his attention on the label of his beer bottle, he begins scratching it off. "I, uh." He clears his throat. "Cushion told me you know about that time we got drunk and slept together."

I frown. "Yeah. She told me. "

Kiet looks embarrassed. "I know it was a stupid thing to do. That's why I never told you about it."

"You didn't like her enough to date her?" I ask, getting pissed off all over again that he used her like that.

"I don't know, Baby! She was a friend, and I was attracted to her. One night we were drinking, and she suggested it. I knew we shouldn't, but we were so drunk and I was perpetually horny in college. We all were." He glances at me, but I didn't help him out. "I knew we couldn't do it again and remain friends. Back then, I was testing the waters of being away from home and single. I wasn't looking for a girlfriend."

"Why are you telling me about it now?"

"Because Cushion's been helping me through this breakup."

"And you're going to use her as a rebound?" I get to my feet.

Kiet grabs my hand and pulls me back down to the sofa. "No! No. But after everything that happened with Daw, I want to clear the air with you. I started to realize a while back that what you guys were saying about her might be true, but I resisted. She was different when we were alone together, and…hell, I don't know. I was just confused. But Cushion's helped me see that part of me just wanted Daw to force me into doing what my father wants me to do. I just wanted the decision taken out of my hands because I was being gutless. Anyway, Cushions been great, and I know it's too soon to start looking at her in a different light, but if it happens someday, I want you to know I don't take her feelings lightly. We've talked about the past and agreed that we're friends. But I'm telling you that someday…well, maybe it may be more. And I want you to be okay with that."

"I just don't want you to hurt her," I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm glad you aren't going to jump from Daw to Cushion. It wouldn't be right."

Kiet nods. "I understand. I know I shouldn't date anyone for a while. I need to work on myself." He smiles. "Cushion says I should open up my own hair studio."

Grabbing a pillow off the couch, I smack him in the face with it. "I've been telling you that for years, asshole!"

Kiet comes at me with the pillow, and I grab another one, and we fight it out until we're both rolling on the floor, laughing.

Kiet stays the night, and the next morning we're sitting at the kitchen table eating some warmed-up congee when P'Park walks in the front door. I gave him my key, but I didn't expect to see him this morning. I run to him and give him a hug, and when I pull back and get a look at his face, my heart stops.

"What's wrong?" I ask. "P'Park…is it Anya?"

But then Anya pops her head around her brother. "P'Pear got hurt, P'Spin!" she says, bottom lip trembling. She rushes into my arms, and I hold her.

I look at P'Park questioningly.

"Pear was in a car accident this morning. Auntie had us drive her to the hospital. I need to go back there and be with Auntie. She doesn't have anyone else, and she's upset about calling her son to tell him about it. Could you watch Anya?"

"Of course," I say .

P'Park seems to notice Kiet for the first time.

"Kiet stopped by last night for some advice and stayed. Do you two want some congee?" I ask.

"Anya's probably hungry. I'd better get going." He looks down at his sister. "You be good for P'Spin, okay?"

"I will, P."

I want to run after P'Park and talk to him for a minute, but I can't leave Anya with Kiet—she doesn't know him. I settle on calling out to him, "Call me later!" And then he's gone.

"Come sit, Anya, and I'll get you some congee."

She sits at the table across from Kiet and I put a bowl in front of her.

"This is my friend, P'Kiet. He's very nice."

Kiet winks at her. "I am. You remind me of my niece. You're both really pretty. Do you like dolls?"

"I love dolls!" Anya gushes. "I brought two of them with me. They're in my backpack." She carefully blows on her congee before taking a bite.

"I'd love to see them after you're finished eating," Kiet says.

By the time breakfast is over, Anya is comfortable enough with Kiet for me to slip into my room to get dressed. I text Cushion and let her know Kiet and I talked, and then I text P'Park that Anya is doing fine. I hope he'll text me right back, but he doesn't.

Kiet stays a while, helping me to entertain Anya.

"Can we go see P'Pear?" Anya suddenly asks.

"I don't know. I guess that depends on what her doctor says." P'Park still hasn't texted or called me. I wonder if that means it's bad news.

"Is P'Pear okay?" Anya asks, tears building in her eyes .

"I'm sure she is, honey," I say, stroking her hair. "Her grandmother's with her. You don't have to worry."

Anya starts to cry.

"Why don't you go in the bedroom and call P'Park?" Kiet suggests. "Anya and I will play with her dolls."

Anya perks up a little at that, and I retreat to the bedroom with my phone.

I'm not sure if P'Park will answer since he's in a hospital, but he does on the second ring.

"Nong, I'm sorry I haven't called. Auntie has been very upset. Pear had to have surgery."

"Is she okay?" I ask.

"She's in the recovery room. They think she's going to be fine, but the next few hours are critical."

I let out a breath. "Anya was getting upset. She's worried. Sorry I had to bother you."

"You're not bothering me," he says. "I'm glad you called."

"She wanted to know if she could see P'Pear, but I guess under these circumstances, it isn't a good idea."

"No. Not yet. Listen, I'll call you back when I know something more. I'm going down to the cafeteria to get Auntie something to eat."

"All right. Talk to you later."

I report to Anya that P'Pear is okay. A smile brightens her face. "So, I can see her?"

"Your brother will let you know when you can visit. The hospital has special times for that." I look at Kiet. "Don't you have somewhere you need to be?"

"You don't think Daw's father kept me on at his company after I dumped his daughter, do you? I'm between jobs, which is good for you right now. I can help you with Anya. "

"Hopefully P'Park will be here by dinner," I say.

But he isn't.

Kiet is doing the dishes when Cushion drops by.

When I introduce her to Anya, Anya smiles up at her and says, "You're pretty."

"Thanks. So are you," Cushion says.

"I'm watching Anya while P'Park visits a friend who got into a car accident this morning."

"P'Pear. She used to be P'Park's girlfriend," Anya tells Cushion.

"Oh," Cushion says, giving me a look that might be sympathetic, but I'm not sure.

"Anya, why don't you take your pajamas in the bathroom and get into them while I make up the couch for you to sleep on? Then we'll all watch something on TV until it's time for you to go to bed," I suggest.

Cushion helps me get sheets on the couch and a pillowcase on one of the pillows while Kiet looks through what's on television.

"Nothing scary," I tell him. "We don't want Anya to have nightmares."

When Anya returns wearing her cute kitty pajamas, we all settle down on the couch. Kiet's found an animated movie, and Anya curls into me while we watch. It isn't long until I realize she's fallen asleep.

My friends help me to tuck her in and then signal that they'll be leaving. When they're gone, I look at my phone.

No messages from P'Park.

I change into my pajamas and, afraid Anya might wake up in the night and be afraid in a strange place, make a bed for myself on the floor.

I'm awakened sometime later by the buzz of my phone. The screen reads eleven forty-eight p.m.

I open the text message from P'Park.

Sorry. Staying here with Pear. Call you in the morning.

I stare at the succinct message for a long time before putting my phone on the floor and settling down again to try to sleep.