Page 26 of Baby Love

“Why, do I look bad?” I ask, chuckling.

“No, of course not. I just worry about you, that’s all.”

“I’m good,” I assure her.

“I had lunch with Yah the other say. She said you’re working all the time.”

I frown. “Does she feel she has to keep Anya too much?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that. She loves Anya. She just worries about you like I do.”

“I can take care of myself,” I say softly, yet firmly.

When she finishes, I wait for Spin and then we go to another tent to change into our first outfit for the photo shoot—a pair of boyfriend sweaters with hearts on them. When Spin meets up with me again, I can’t help but stare at the coat of pink lip gloss on his full lips. He’s downright gorgeous.

The photographer poses us sitting on a bench, my forehead against Spin’s temple as he stares directly into the camera. I’m glad for the lack of awkwardness between us—it makes this so much easier than it has been in the past when I’ve been paired in a photo shoot with someone new. This morning, when we met at the spa, Spin was so tense, worrying about Kiet not answering his texts. I thought he might have trouble letting go when it came time for photographs, but he’s acting like a pro. Maybe the massage and facial did the trick.

We pose standing, sitting, with Spin in my arms, on my lap, and standing in front of me. Some shots are happy and some romantic. Khun Lee supervises them all, staring at the monitor as every photo is snapped. She whispers something to the photographer, he nods, and Khun Lee calls over her assistant and speaks to her.

“Nongs, go with Mouse and change into the next outfit,” she tells us.

I’m a little surprised when I see what it is. White mesh shirts cut high and tailored black pants that aren’t exactly the usual fair for a shoot for an office romance series. Khun Lee obviously wants to present us as a sexy couple, probably because one of our scenes will be NC 17+.

When we return, the photographer poses us under a tree on a red blanket where I’m instructed to lie down on top of Spin. I can hear the camera clicking as the pictures are snapped one after another. Next, Spin lies on top of me. Then the staff puts food out like a picnic, and we feed each other while a box fan gently ruffles our hair.

Time for a third outfit—this one with complementing shirts and long shorts—and some fun shots taken on the playground.

“We need to wrap these up. It’s supposed to rain in a couple of hours, and the clouds are already rolling in,” the photographer’s assistant tells us.

But it’s at least another half hour before we’re walking toward the parking lot.

I’m exhausted, and, looking at Spin, I can see he is, too. He’s checking his phone again, and his expression tells me Kiet still hasn’t texted him back.

“Give him some time. He’s probably trying to make things up to Daw,” I say.

Spin sighs. “Am I a jerk to wish he’d break up with her?”

“No. I get it that you don’t feel she’s right for him, but he has to come to that conclusion himself. You know how when your parents don’t want you to date someone, and that only makes you more determined to do it? I think it works with friends, too.”

Spin smiles wryly. “You’re probably right.”

The SUV drops us off at the SPPT building where my car is parked.

“I’ll give you a ride home so you don’t have to ride the Skytrain,” I offer Spin.

“That’s not necessary,” he protests.

“I’m going that way anyway.” I don’t like to think of him riding home alone on public transportation. Plus, it’s getting dark. No doubt he has a lot of experience taking care of himself, but—I don’t know. I just want to make sure he gets home safely.

I don’t expect him to invite me inside his apartment, but he does. Curious about where he lives, I follow him up the three flights of stairs. The place is compact with only a small living room, kitchen, bathroom, and a bedroom tucked behind glass sliding doors.

“My sister has always used the bedroom, and I sleep on the couch,” Spin tells me. “I guess I can use the bedroom now that she’s moved out. The dorm already had a bed in it, so she left hers here.”

“That’ll be nice for you, right? Not having to sleep on the couch anymore,” I say.

Spin nods. Both of our phones receive notifications one after the other. When I open mine, it’s an email from Khun Lee with an attachment of photos from the shoot. That was fast.

“Which pictures should we share?” Spin asks, looking at his phone.

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