Page 52 of Baby Love

“Tell him to keep his fucking mouth shut,” I say through clenched teeth before dressing and stalking out.

“What’s the matter?” Spin asks me when I sit down next to him at the long dining table.

“Nothing,” I mutter. I don’t even notice what the food tastes like, but the rest of the guys are complimenting it, so it must be pretty good. I can feel Spin watching me as I eat.

It only takes a few hours for the speculation to begin on the SPPT website where the live footage of Love Lounge is being broadcasted.

Daengswoman23: What’s wrong with Park? He looks angry.

KaiSuholuv3rs @Daengswoman23: He’s probably just tired.

Daengswoman23@KaiSuholuv3rs: No, he came out of the bedroom after changing looking like he wanted to strangle someone. You could see that Spin asked him what was wrong. They had the cameras and mics turned off while the guys changed.

MYwinter@KaiSuholuv3rs: Didn’t you see what happened in the pool? Daeng was on the float with Spin. Park got over there fast! (wide eyes with hand over mouth) (312 likes)

KaiSuholuv3rs@MYwinter: Ack! When are they posting these on YouTube with subs?

Spin flops down on the bed next to me, wearing blue pajamas with yellow ducks printed all over them. We each have a separate blanket, which supposedly makes sleeping in the same bed less intimate. I’m over being angry, as long as I don’t look at Daeng. Tossing my phone into my bag, I turn on my side and regard Spin. We’ve taken off our microphones, so the live feed won’t pick up on what we’re saying.

“How’s it going so far?”

Spin furrows his brows. “I wish we won the single room.”

“I think there will be a competition in a few days to take it from them,” I say. “This isn’t so bad, though, is it?”

“I just don’t like being with people I don’t know,” Spin says so quietly I barely make out the words.

Reaching for his hand on top of the blanket, I squeeze it.

“Most everyone here is a good guy,” I whisper. “The only one I really don’t trust is Daeng.”

Spin looks worried. “I didn’t ask him to climb on my float.”

“I didn’t think you did. Just…don’t trust him. Okay? He doesn’t have your best interests at heart.”

“Okay, P’Park.”

For some reason, my heart flips every time he calls me P. I like it. I like being older than he is and responsible for him.

“Do you think it’s going to mess up our ship to have that on camera?” Spin asks. When I look at him, he’s biting his lip worriedly, and I automatically reach over and smooth my thumb over his lower lip to stop him.

“No. Fans like to see some jealousy.”

“That’s why you came over there to get me?”

“Yeah.” Actually, I didn’t even think about that. I wanted to get Spin away from Daeng.

I watch Spin fall asleep, my gaze lingering over the soft curve of his cheek and the shadow of his dark lashes. Our bed is on the end of the row, closest to the door. On Spin’s left, someone’s laughing softly. Raising my head a little, I make out the blond streaks in Aod’s hair. Crap. I don’t like Daeng being in the bed next to Spin, even if Aod is between them.

Getting to my knees, I carefully lift Spin—blanket and all—and place him where I was seconds ago, at the right side of the bed with no one on his other side. Then I take my blanket and move into Spin’s former place next to Aod. Satisfied, I settle down to sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Spin

Istick close to P’Park at the Love Lounge house. The couples play games that have been planned for us, such as face-painting each other to be an animal and something called “chicken fight” where we get on our partner’s shoulders in the pool and try to knock down our opponents with pool noodles. In the evenings we watch movies in a sort of slumber party atmosphere with blankets and pillows and stuffed animals everywhere. I like this the best, especially the part when P’Park wraps his arm around me, letting me lean against him while we watch.

When someone chooses a scary movie on our second night there, I keep hiding my eyes. I hate scary movies, mostly because of those moments when something jumps out. I always startle and yell. Always. The other guys laugh when I do, ruffling my hair and teasing me. The Love Lounge Live message board is full of comments about how P’Park protects me and coddles me. I guess he’s doing it for show, and I find myself wishing that wasn’t the case.

On the third day of our stay, P’Park and I are assigned to cook dinner—kuay teow neua, or beef noodle soup. Each of us in a white apron, I take care of making the minced beef meatballs while P’Park soaks the noodles and starts on the soup base. We do pretty well moving around each other as we cook, and in the end we create a tasty meal that the whole group approves of.

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