Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 28

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

**Bailey’s POV**

The incessant ringing of my phone pierced through the fog of sleep, a relentless alarm pulling me from the warmth of my dreams.

I groaned, burying my face deeper into the inviting warmth of Kaleb’s chest, his body radiating heat that cocooned me in comfort. I clung to him, hoping to drown out the sound, but it persisted—sharp and demanding.

“Ugh…” I murmured, my eyelids heavy and reluctant to part.

With a reluctant stretch, I reached out for the nightstand, my fingers fumbling until they finally grasped my phone. A jolt of panic surged through me when I glanced at the screen. My mom.

“Hello,” I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

“Bailey, where are you?” My mother’s voice crackled with urgency. “I’m standing right outside your door. Did you change your passcode?”

The panic hit me like ice water. I shot up, my hair a chaotic mess framing my face. “I… I’m coming!” I squeaked, hastily disconnecting the call.

I glanced down at Kaleb, still half-asleep, his hand instinctively reaching for me as if drawn by an invisible thread.

“Come back to bed, Bails,” he murmured, his voice deep and husky, thick with the remnants of sleep.

My heart raced. “Kaleb! My mom is at the door!” I hissed, shaking him urgently, my pulse pounding in my ears.

His eyes flew open, confusion etched across his face. “What?”

“Mom’s outside!” I whispered, panic rising within me like a tidal wave.

In an instant, Kaleb was on his feet, scrambling to find his clothes. His trousers were a tangle on the floor, but his shirt—where was it? He searched the room frantically, his expression a mix of annoyance and desperation.

“Damn,” he muttered under his breath, yanking his pants on with urgency. “Where the hell is my shirt?”

“I don’t know!” I whispered, my voice rising in pitch as panic clawed at me.

With a swift motion, he raked his fingers through his tousled hair, making a decision. “Forget it.” He bolted toward the next room, bare-chested and barefoot, just as my mother’s knuckles rapped against the door again.

My hands trembled as I snatched a pair of pajamas from the floor, hastily pulling them on, nearly tripping as my leg got caught in the fabric.

I dashed to the mirror, splashing cold water on my face to wipe away the remnants of sleep. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to tame the wild strands. My cheeks were still flushed, but at least I didn’t look like I had just rolled out of bed.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.

“Bailey!” my mom exclaimed, her voice a mix of concern and exasperation. She brushed past me, her arms laden with two large grocery bags.

“What were you doing? I’ve been waiting for over ten minutes!”

I forced a smile, my mind racing. “Sorry, Mom. I was… uh, really busy this week, so I slept in.”

David popped his head inside, following her with a casual wave. “Hey, Bailey,” he said, a grin plastered on his face.

“Why are you here?” I asked, a flutter of anxiety tightening my chest.

“I miss you too,” he replied, his tone teasing.

What if they found out?

Mom set the bags on the counter and began to unpack them with a practiced efficiency. “I brought you some food. You’re looking too thin; you really don’t eat enough, Bailey.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I said quickly, my gaze darting nervously toward the hallway.

Just then, Kaleb emerged from the other room.

Shirtless.

My heart plummeted into my stomach.

“Kaleb?” My mother’s brows shot up in surprise as she turned from the fridge. “You’re here?”

Her eyes flicked between him and me, suspicion lurking in their depths.

Kaleb, however, remained unfazed. He wore a calm smile, as if the situation was perfectly normal.

“Yeah, my heater broke,” he said smoothly. “I just came in to get some sleep before I froze to death.”

I held my breath, praying silently that they would buy his story.

“Oh, you must be so stressed that you didn’t even hear us,” Mom said after a moment, her voice softening. “I’ll call someone to fix it before I leave.”

Kaleb shook his head lightly. “No need. I already called someone.”

“Oh, that’s good then,” she replied warmly, her tension easing. “I’m glad you didn’t try to tough it out. It’s getting cold these days.”

Relief washed over me like a warm wave.

“Bailey!” Mom cried, her expression shifting to one of concern as she reached for me.

Kaleb, ever the silent support, handed me a glass of water, our arms brushing against each other as he set it down. His face remained impassive, betraying nothing.

I grabbed the glass and gulped down the water, shaking my head once I could breathe again. “No. I don’t have a boyfriend,” I replied, my voice a high-pitched squeak.

David leaned back, rolling his eyes playfully. “Figures. You’re too boring, Bailey.”

“David!” Mom scolded, shooting him a warning glance.

He shrugged, still smirking. “I saw her with Ethan the other day anyway. Isn’t he on the football team with you, Kaleb? He’s way out of her league.”

The fork in Kaleb’s hand froze midair, tension thickening the air around us.

He slowly set it down, his eyes narrowing. “If it’s the Ethan with the ridiculous hair and that smug face, then yeah, we’re on the same team.”

David grinned, clearly enjoying the moment. “Yeah, that one. He’s actually kinda cool.”

“If that’s what passes for hot these days, then the bar is in hell,” Kaleb said, his tone dripping with disdain.

My stomach twisted uncomfortably. “Kaleb,” I hissed under my breath, nudging him with my elbow. “Shut up.”

“Honestly, I’d die laughing if Bailey ended up with him,” Kaleb continued, his voice teasing. “I really hope one day a nerd like her actually gets a shot at dating someone. Wouldn’t that be something?”

My jaw dropped in shock. “Kaleb! What the hell!”

David erupted into laughter, clearly reveling in the chaos.

“Finally! Someone else who sees it,” he exclaimed.

Mom was grinning now, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She set her spoon down, clasping her hands together. “Well, well. Ethan, huh? Bailey, when can I meet him?”

“What?” I squeaked, my heart racing anew.

She laughed lightly. “If he’s a nice boy and you two are spending time together, I should definitely meet him. I want to know what kind of young man you’re hanging out with.”

“It’s not like that!” I protested quickly, desperation creeping into my voice.

Next to me, Kaleb stabbed a piece of chicken with his fork, a smirk playing on his lips. “Yes, absolutely,” he said in a mockingly serious tone. “You should introduce Ethan to everyone, Bailey. Let’s all meet your future boyfriend.”

My face burned with embarrassment. “Shut up, Kaleb!”