Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 3

**Chapter 3**

**Bailey’s POV**

As dawn broke, I found myself jolted awake, a relentless pounding in my head that felt as if a marching band had taken residence inside. My mouth was parched, the dryness akin to sandpaper scraping against my tongue, and my stomach churned with a disconcerting mix of nausea and regret.

The events of the previous night swirled in my mind like a thick fog, obscuring the details I desperately sought to grasp. The only fragments that remained were the moments leading up to the party, the intoxicating burn of beer sliding down my throat, and… Kaleb.

Suddenly, a vivid image pierced through the haze: Kaleb’s lips pressed against mine, igniting a rush of warmth that spread through my entire being. I shot up in bed, a gasp escaping my lips, only to be met with an immediate wave of pain radiating through my skull. With a groan, I collapsed back onto my pillow, the once-blurry memory now crystallizing into something hauntingly clear.

Kaleb’s hands had gripped my waist, firm and possessive. The kiss had been electric, leaving me breathless, as if my very essence had been borrowed from the cosmos.

“No,” I whispered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief. “This must be some sort of hallucination. Kaleb… he would never…”

Another groan escaped me as I tugged at my hair in frustration. There was no way Kaleb would kiss me. It had to be a figment of my drunken imagination. Yes, just a foolish dream, nothing more.

I paused, staring up at the ceiling, my bottom lip caught between my teeth. My lips still tingled, as if they were recalling the touch of his, making it all the more challenging to dismiss.

“God,” I muttered, pressing my palms against my face in a desperate attempt to ground myself. “I’m losing it.”

Just as I was about to convince myself it was all a dream, a loud knock at my door jolted me back to reality.

“Bailey!” David’s voice boomed from the other side. “Breakfast!”

“Coming!” I called back, though the last thing I felt was hunger. I knew all too well that a certain someone would be at the table.

Taking a deep breath, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and trudged to the shower, reminding myself that it was merely a bizarre dream, and surprisingly, that thought began to ease my racing heart. Yet, there was a lingering disappointment that settled in my chest. Why would Kaleb kiss me of all people?

As I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I couldn’t help but wince. My hair was a messy bun, my cheeks flushed, and my lips appeared slightly swollen.

My thumb brushed against my bottom lip. “It was just a dream, Bailey,” I reassured my reflection. “Just a dream.”

The moment I stepped into the kitchen, I was enveloped by the enticing aroma of bacon and freshly brewed coffee. My stomach growled in response, but my steps faltered when I spotted him. Kaleb sat casually at the table, appearing utterly unbothered. His brown hair was tousled as if he had just rolled out of bed, and tattoos peeked out from beneath his t-shirt. He held a coffee mug in one hand while the other scrolled through his phone.

When our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat, and my stomach twisted—not from hunger, but from a rush of anxiety.

“Good morning, Bails,” he greeted, a small smile playing on his lips.

I nodded, gauging his reaction, my mind racing. Maybe it really was all just a dream. All I needed to do was act normal.

“Good morning… Kaleb.”

David was seated across from him, shoveling eggs into his mouth. He glanced up at me as I took a seat, his brow arching in a way that signaled impending scolding.

“You were drunk last night,” he began, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I don’t recall giving you permission to drink.”

“I just had a cup, it’s not a big deal,” I huffed, irritation bubbling in my chest.

“Not a big deal?” David scoffed, waving his fork at me. “I also heard you played truth or dare while in that state.”

“You invited me! If you wanted me to sit quietly, you should have left me in my room,” I shot back, my voice rising.

“That’s because I thought you’d be responsible enough not to do anything reckless. If it weren’t for Kaleb, who knows who would’ve ended up stuck with you in the closet—”

“What?” I interrupted, looking between the two men. Why was David talking about what happened in my dream?

David shook his head. “Weren’t you and Kaleb in the closet during seven minutes in heaven?”

I nearly choked on my food, while Kaleb remained unfazed, leaning back casually in his seat.

“She was drunk,” Kaleb interjected smoothly before I could respond. His gaze shifted to David, not me. “It seemed someone spiked her drink. I was just looking after her, like I always do.”

David laughed heartily, clapping Kaleb on the shoulder. “Thanks, man. God knows what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”

“No need to thank me. Bailey is more like family to me,” Kaleb muttered, taking another sip of his coffee.

His words stung, and I sat there, grappling with the reality of it all. Was it truly just a dream? My chest felt heavy with an unfamiliar emotion—something that burned deeper than the remnants of my hangover.

Without a word, I dropped my fork and stood up abruptly.

“Bailey?” David called after me, but I didn’t look back. I stormed down the hallway, my heart racing until I felt a presence behind me.

“Bailey, wait.” A firm yet gentle hand closed around my arm, and I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

“Let go,” I demanded, trying to pull away, but his grip only tightened.

Kaleb stepped in front of me, his gaze unwavering. “About last night… let’s just forget it ever happened.” His voice was low, almost conspiratorial, and in that moment, I knew.

It was a dream.

“What happened last night?” I feigned ignorance, finally wrenching my arm free from his grasp.

Kaleb’s eyes flickered with confusion, his brows knitting together. “You don’t remember?”

I wanted to laugh, but I merely shrugged.

“As you said, I was drunk. So I don’t remember anything. Did I do something stupid?”

His jaw clenched, and if I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought he was disappointed.

“Bailey…”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Kaleb,” I asserted, my voice surprisingly steady. “I’m not the kid you have to babysit anymore. And I think you already saw that.” I referred to the moment when my towel slipped.

Kaleb’s eyes darkened momentarily, but he turned away, understanding my hint. “Sorry…”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify