Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 18

**The Night We Borrowed Fire from a Broken Star by Selvin Arlo Crest**

**Chapter 18**

**Bailey’s POV**

I averted my gaze from Kaleb, feeling an urgent need to escape the chaos around me. The throng of students surged together, their voices rising in a fervent chant that echoed off the stadium walls, drowning out everything else.

“Let’s get out of here,” I urged Selena, just as my phone buzzed insistently in my pocket.

I fished it out, squinting at the bright screen. It was David.

“Hello?” I answered, my voice straining to rise above the cacophony of cheers and laughter.

“Bailey, are you at your apartment?” His voice crackled through the line.

“It’s so loud here! Where are you?” I shifted sideways, attempting to carve a path through the sea of bodies.

“I’m at the stadium too,” he replied. “Head over to the second gate.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You’re here? At the game?”

“Yes, I am. Hurry up, I’m waiting for you,” he urged, and I could hear the excitement in his tone.

“Okay, I’m on my way,” I said, ending the call and turning back to Selena, who was still practically glowing from the thrill of watching Kaleb.

“I need to meet my brother. Do you know where the second gate is?” I asked, urgency creeping into my voice.

She blinked, her expression shifting from surprise to eagerness. “Oh! Your brother’s here? Of course, let’s go!”

Before I could protest, she linked her arm through mine, a gesture that felt both comforting and slightly constraining. “I’ll lead the way!”

I glanced back at the field, but Kaleb was nowhere to be seen, as if he had vanished into thin air.

We navigated through clusters of students, their jubilant screams mingling with the pulsating music blasting from the speakers. The atmosphere was electric, filled with laughter and the rhythm of bodies swaying to the beat.

Selena squeezed my arm, her excitement palpable. “You didn’t tell me your brother was here! Is he older? Is he cute?”

I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress a smile. “Selena…”

“What? I’m just curious!” she shot back, a cheeky grin spreading across her face.

“Don’t worry, I won’t steal him—unless he wants to be stolen,” she teased.

Finally, we reached the second gate, and I spotted David without difficulty. But my steps faltered when I noticed who was standing beside him.

Kaleb.

He towered over the crowd, his laughter ringing out as he engaged with David. He had changed into casual clothes, exuding an effortless charm that made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

Selena gasped, her grip on my arm tightening. “Bailey… is that him? The hot guy? The one from the field?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, and I could sense her excitement bubbling over.

I remained silent, unable to form a response.

She began fussing with her hair, tossing it over her shoulders as if preparing for an audition. “Do I look okay? Please tell me I look okay! Oh my God, I wasn’t ready for this. Is my lip gloss smudged? Is it fine now? Bailey, don’t just stand there, say something!”

With a resigned sigh, I trudged toward David. “You look fine,” I said, my voice barely rising above the din.

“Fine?” she hissed, incredulous. “Not fine, stunning! You have to say stunning!”

“Stunning,” I muttered under my breath, my eyes fixed on David.

As I approached, David’s face lit up with a welcoming smile. “There you are! Took you long enough.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, deliberately ignoring Kaleb, even though I could feel his gaze boring into me.

David rummaged through his bag, producing a stack of books. “I got these from a senior in business administration. They should help you with your classes this semester.”

I blinked in surprise, the weight of the books surprising me as I accepted them. “Oh… thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” he replied, adjusting the strap of his bag with a satisfied grin. “Just make sure to remember your best brother of the year when you ace those classes.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a smile. “Yeah, best brother of the year. Thanks.”

It was impossible to ignore the fact that Kaleb hadn’t taken his eyes off me, not even for a moment.

“Are you guys fighting again?” David asked, his tone teasing.

Selena seized the moment, nudging me with her elbow and whispering urgently, “Introduce me. Now.”

“This is my brother, David,” I said, gesturing toward him.

Selena’s face lit up as she waved enthusiastically. “Hi! I’m Selena. So nice to meet you!”

“Nice to meet you too,” David replied, nodding politely.

“And,” I added flatly, “this is Kaleb. My brother’s best friend.”

“I knew it!” she squealed, practically bouncing on her toes as she followed me. “Bailey, tell me everything! Don’t you dare walk away. Tell me, tell me!”

I picked up my pace, but she kept up effortlessly, tugging at my sleeve and laughing as if she had just won a prize.

Finally, I let out a long sigh. “Selena, listen. Kaleb isn’t someone to mess with. His loyalty lies with his… well, let’s just say it’s not with his heart. He’ll sleep with anything that moves. Don’t even bother.”

Selena erupted into laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Oh my God, Bailey! The way you said that!”

She wiped away tears of laughter, still chuckling. “His loyalty is to his… you know what?”

I stopped walking, my voice turning serious. “I’m serious. Stop laughing,” I said, frustration creeping into my tone.

Her smile faded as she recognized my irritation. “Okay, sorry.”

I turned my gaze to the sidewalk, feeling the weight of my thoughts. “We had a summer fling. It wasn’t even a fling…”

I recounted everything to her, and her excitement only grew.

“Bailey, this is so cool! If your brother finds out about this, you’re done for!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with mischief.

I shook my head sharply. “Don’t you dare tell him! It’s over. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Leaning in closer, her eyes glinting with mischief, she asked, “Do you still have feelings for him?”

“Never,” I replied flatly, trying to sound convincing.

She studied me for a moment, her expression softening. “You do,” she said softly. “Maybe you don’t want to admit it, but I can tell.”

“I don’t,” I insisted, my voice firm.

Selena merely grinned wider. “Then I’ll make sure you two get together again. Just wait, Bailey; I’m good at this kind of thing.”

I groaned, rubbing my forehead in exasperation. “Please don’t.”

She ignored my plea, her excitement bubbling over. “This semester is going to be so much fun! I’m so happy I met you today. Seriously, we’re going to have the best time.”

I didn’t respond, allowing her chatter to wash over me like background noise.

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow! Don’t miss me too much!” she winked, hurrying off, still humming a cheerful tune to herself.

I watched her go, letting out a tired sigh. My body ached from the day’s events, and all I wanted was the comfort of my bed.

I didn’t care what Selena said or what her plans were. All I knew was that Kaleb wasn’t going to affect my mood ever again.