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.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify