Page 84 of Baby Love

Yes. You and P’Gift are together. P’Gift seemed relieved.

I hesitate and then type out another text message.

Give him a break, P. He’s still hurting from what happened to Prince.

My attention is suddenly pulled back to what Khun Hom is saying. Something about a new addition to SPPT…

My mouth falls open when I see who is standing at the front of the room with Khun Hom.

“Let’s welcome Bang Suramongkol to SPPT!” Khun Hom says, and everyone applauds.

“Wait a minute,” I say, “P’Bang’s left Hearts Entertainment?”

When the last of the announcements has been made, I stay in my seat. I should probably personally welcome P’Bang to SPPT, but I feel frozen to the spot.

“Did you know Bang was switching companies?” P’Park asks me.

Shaking my head, I say, “I haven’t talked to him since I left Hearts.”

“Let’s go and welcome him, then we need to get back to Anya. She’s probably worn out poor Kiet.” P’Park stands and holds out a hand to help me up.

P’Pear was released from the hospital and is staying with her grandmother, but P’Park doesn’t want Kun Anong to have to watch his sister at the same time if we can find an alternative. So far, it’s worked out that either Kiet or Cushion can stay with Anya while we’re at work, but we’ll have to figure out something better soon.

I walk across the room with P’Park and we wait until P’Bang finishes talking to another actor. When he turns, he smiles at me, and I’m surprised not to feel the jump in my heart I would have felt almost a year ago. I smile back.

“Nong! I’ve missed you.” He pulls me into a hug. When I step out of it, P’Park wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

“Good to see you, P’Bang. I didn’t hear anything about you changing companies,” I say.

“It was sudden. I asked to be released from my contract.”

“Oh. Well, I’m sure you’ll like SPPT. I do.” I wonder if something’s going on over at Hearts Entertainment. First someone dropped out of Pravat’s series, and now P’Bang has left the company.

P’Bang looks at me and then at P’Park. “I asked if I could be partnered with you but quickly found out you two have a five-year contract. That was fast.”

“Nong and I have a very successful ship,” P’Park says a little sharply.

Quickly, I nod and add, “I’m sure you’ll find a good partner soon, P.”

“We’d better go,” P’Park tells me.

“Talk to you soon, Spin,” P’Bang calls as P’Park tugs me away.

“Do you wish you could be partnered with him?” P’Park asks when we’re alone in the elevator.

“What? Of course not! What a question,” I say, wrapping my arms around P’Park’s waist and squeezing him briefly before the doors open and I have to step away.

He seems happy with that, and I’m a little amused that he’s jealous. But I don’t tease him about it.

“What do you think about next year’s lineup?” P’Park asks me on our way to my apartment. Outside the car, a torrent of rain is battering the streets of Bangkok. P’Park flips his windshield wipers on high.

“Well, we have two series. Can’t be unhappy about that.”

P’Park nods. “True. I think P’Big’s directing the first one.”

“That’s not a bad thing. I like P’Big, don’t you?” I look at his profile as he concentrates on driving through the downpour.

“Yeah, I do. He’s just so intense about the work schedule. I wish he’d let up a little.”

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