Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 29

**The Night We Borrowed Fire from a Broken Star by Selvin Arlo Crest**
**Chapter 29**

Bailey’s POV

The days that followed the explosive confrontation with Kaleb felt like a heavy fog settling over my heart.

He didn’t reach out—not a single text, not a call. Each time I caught a glimpse of him in class, he acted as if I were nothing more than a ghost, invisible and unimportant.

The chill emanating from him was unlike anything I had ever experienced; it was as if he had wrapped himself in an icy cloak, shutting me out completely.

What gnawed at me the most was the realization that he didn’t seem to feel the slightest bit of remorse for his words.

I was furious—furious at what he had said, at the way he had dismissed me—but I insisted to myself that I didn’t care. Deep down, however, I knew that was a lie, a comforting facade I wore to shield my wounded pride.

And just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, Professor Snape dropped the bombshell that we would be working in groups for the semester’s major project. Guess who I was paired with?

Kaleb.

“Of course,” I muttered under my breath, my eyes narrowing at the slip of paper that bore his name.

Selena leaned in, her curiosity piqued as she read it, and a laugh bubbled up in her throat, which she quickly stifled.

“Well,” she whispered, her eyes twinkling with mischief, “at least this will force you two to talk.”

I rolled my eyes so dramatically I thought they might get stuck.

We settled on meeting at a cozy café near campus to delve into our project. Arriving first with Selena, I took a seat across from her, watching as she sipped her iced coffee, engrossed in her phone.

The soft chime of the bell above the door drew my attention, and I looked up to see Ethan walking in.

His eyes lit up when he spotted us, that signature grin spreading across his face like a ray of sunshine cutting through clouds.

“Well, well,” he said, ambling toward our table with an air of casual confidence. “If it isn’t Bailey, hiding out in a corner café. Should I be offended that you didn’t think to invite me?”

“Ethan,” I sighed, already bracing myself for the inevitable onslaught of his playful banter.

Selena, however, was practically glowing with excitement, her smile wide enough to light up the room.

“Sit with us!” she chirped, her enthusiasm infectious. “Bailey needs a break from all that studying anyway.”

“I don’t need a break,” I grumbled, shooting her a glare that could have melted ice.

But Ethan, undeterred, pulled out a chair and plopped down next to me, his shoulder brushing against mine in a way that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.

“You look so sexy today,” he said, his tone teasing.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Why are you like this?”

“Because you like it,” he shot back, his smooth retort eliciting a laugh from Selena that only added to my embarrassment.

I wanted nothing more than to crawl beneath the table and hide.

Just then, the door swung open once more, and my heart sank before my mind could catch up. Kaleb stepped inside, tall and brooding, his familiar scowl etched across his face.

But he wasn’t alone. He walked in with Lila.

That insufferable witch.

Instantly, my mood plummeted. She had her hand possessively draped over his arm, her long nails painted a striking blood-red, practically leaning against him as if he needed her support to stand.

Selena grimaced beside me. “Oh, here we go.”

Kaleb’s gaze swept the café like a hawk on the hunt, and when it landed on us, I could practically see the tension ripple through him.

His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing into slits, and I swore I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

Lila, oblivious to the storm brewing, tugged Kaleb toward our table.

“Fancy seeing you here, Bailey,” she said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness.

She appraised me with a disdainful look that made my skin crawl. “Didn’t realize this café allowed just anyone in.”

I clenched my fists beneath the table, ready to unleash my fury, but Selena was quicker.

“At least she belongs here,” Selena countered coolly, flipping her hair with a confidence that made me want to cheer. “What’s a final year like you doing hanging around with freshmen? Don’t you have… I don’t know… better things to do?”

For a fleeting moment, Lila’s forced smile faltered, and I could have kissed Selena for that small victory.

But Kaleb didn’t even acknowledge Lila’s presence; his eyes were laser-focused on Ethan, who remained comfortably sprawled beside me.

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