P’Wisit sits in silence for a moment before asking, “Do you ever regret it? This responsibility? Like, wished it never happened, and you could just not have to worry about him?”
“No,” I say without hesitation. “Not once. Because what Noi and I have is special. Not everyone gets to experience the kind of connection we have.”
P’Wisit nods.
The tent flap lifts and Noi ducks inside, pausing in surprise when he sees P’Wisit sitting with me.
I’m suddenly at a loss to explain why I am sitting in here with someone I’ve always avoided in the past.
Giving Noi one of his mega-watt smiles, P’Wisit says, “Nong was just apologizing to me for the day he burst into my apartment and dragged you out. Of course, I accepted his apology. Now, I think I’ll go find Cora and see if she wants to take a look around with me.”
He exits the tent, leaving me alone with Noi.
“Where’s Pah?” I ask, searching his face for any sign of unease. I don’t see any.
“He’s talking to P’Tee.” Noi flops down on one of the sleeping mats, tucking a pillow under his head. “Thank you for apologizing to P’Wisit.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I should have done it before.”
“Pah says you’re worried about me because of something that happened here years ago.”
I don’t know what to say. Noi stares at me with serious eyes.
“Do you remember it, now?”
Rolling onto his side so he can see me better, he says, “No. I mean, when Pah started talking about it, I remembered that therapist asking me questions about you and when I thought you were lost.” He frowns. “Pah told me we were at the caves, and you went back to the campsite with Mae, but Pah and I didn’t know that. And I freaked out and ran into the woods looking for you.”
I nod.
A shiver runs through Noi, and he suddenly holds out his hand for me, tugging me closer when I take it.
Stretching out beside him, I sigh contentedly when Noi curls up against me. I wrap my arm around him and kiss his head.
“I was so afraid you would remember and freak out, and I wouldn’t be able to help you,” I say.
“Is that why Pah’s here?” he asks into my chest.
“Yeah, but I didn’t know he was coming. When I found out this was where we were filming, I called him. But he never told me he was going to try to work it out so he could be here.”
“I’m sorry I’m always such a problem,” Noi murmurs.
“Hey, nobody thinks that.”
Noi sighs, and it’s such a sad sound, my heart hurts. I know he’s thinking about his parents.
“It’s not like I want to be with them,” he says, confirming it. “I don’t. But I can’t help wondering how I disappointed them so much that they never wanted me.”
I hug Noi so tightly, he grunts.
“We love you, Noi. Mae, Pah, Ten and I love you so much,” I whisper fiercely. “Wewant to be with you.”
“I love you guys, too,” Noi says. When I finally loosen my hold, he looks up at me. And, staring at his pretty mouth, I can’t help but kiss him. Our lips move over each other, nipping and sucking softly. Noi tastes sweet and I want more of him.
Rolling on top of him, I deepen the kiss, and Noi responds eagerly, pushing up against me. The sweet noises he’s making are getting me hard, and I feel his body responding. Pretty soon, we’re dry humping as we explore each other’s mouths with our tongues.
A noise outside the tent sends us hurtling away from each other. Rolling onto my knees, I crawl to the cooler and throw it open just as Pah ducks his head into the tent.
“There you two are. It’s not even dark yet—what are you doing in here?”