“He really is protective of you.”
“Okay, maybe, but she said he gives off a vibe for other people to stay away. He doesn’t do that.”
“He kind of does.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
“Yes, he does. When I first met him, I assumed he was interested in you.”
I stare at her. “What? You’ve never told me that before.”
“It was just a passing idea before you told me you were best friends and lived together. Then I figured he was looking after you like a brother, even though you’re the same age.” She frowns. “Why is he so protective of you, anyway?”
“He’s not. You’re imagining things.”
Bua rolls her eyes. “Sure, and I guess P’Tam is imagining things, too.”
“She must be,” I say. “By the way. She also asked me about you.”
Bua stills. “She did? What did she ask?”
“What faculty you belong to, what your interests are, where you’re from.”
“What did you tell her my interests are?” Bua asks.
“Mystery novels and sewing.”
“What? She’s going to think I’m such a geek. Why didn’t you tell her I like surfing and mountain climbing or something else cool?”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes at her. “Gee, I don’t know, since that sounds so believable,” I say snarkily. Something occurs to me. “Maybe it wasn’t about liking Sud but about likingyou!”
Bua’s face reddens. “Don’t be stupid.”
Someone plops down on the bench next to me, and I know it’s Sud without looking because of the cologne he wears. I’d recognize it anywhere.
“What’s going on?” he asks, taking a sip of my bubble tea even though there’s a perfectly good drink of his own on his tray. His mouth is on the exact same place mine just was—This is the kind of weird thought I’ve been having since we started working on the video.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Not much. Are we filming tonight?”
He nods. “ Is six o’clock okay?”
“Yeah.” The sooner it’s finished, the better.
Sud digs into his meal. “Was that P’Tam I saw sitting with you guys?”
“Yeah. She was flirting with Mee Noi,” Bua says, eyes on Sud.
I aim a kick at her under the table, but she avoids it.
“She was not! She was flirting with you!”
Frowning slightly, Sud holds out a piece of his seared pork for me to eat. “Did either of you flirt back?”
Taking the bite of pork, I shake my head as I chew, then flinch when Sud comes at me with a napkin.
“You’re such a messy eater,” he says, smiling.
When I glance at Bua, she’s giving me an odd look. I don’t even want to know what that’s about. She’s ridiculous.