Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 37

**The Night We Borrowed Fire from a Broken Star by Selvin Arlo Crest – Chapter 37**

Bailey’s Perspective

The dawn of the next day felt like an unending cycle of torment, all thanks to Denise and her relentless obsession.

As the morning unfolded, she approached my desk with that same fervent curiosity, her eyes wide with an energy that had the uncanny ability to drain me long before noon.

“Bailey,” she said, leaning in closer as if about to divulge a precious secret.

“Listen to me. Can you tell me exactly what guys like Kaleb like? I need to know how to win him over, and after all, he’s your friend.”

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I pressed my pen against the paper, feeling the weight of her expectations. This was the third time she had posed this question, and I could feel my patience wearing thin.

“Well,” I began slowly, trying to choose my words carefully, “guys like Kaleb tend to come off as playboys.”

She waved her hand dismissively before I could even finish my thought. “No, no, not like that! I need real advice—where he likes to go, how to set up a date. You promised to help me, right?”

I forced a smile, though inside I was regretting every moment of this conversation. “Yeah,” I muttered, “I promised.”

The truth gnawed at me; I had no idea why I had agreed to this in the first place.

It certainly wasn’t the way she looked at me, her long lashes fluttering and her pouty lips forming a perfect ‘o’ as if I were the only thing standing between her and a heart full of despair.

I had agreed because, selfishly, I wanted to distance myself from Kaleb, but it seemed my plan had backfired spectacularly—I was now trapped in a daily discussion about him.

When the workday finally came to a close, I dragged my weary self toward the elevator, each step feeling heavier than the last.

My shoulders ached, my bag felt like it was filled with bricks, and all I craved was to return home, collapse onto my bed, and count the days until this internship was nothing but a memory.

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor, letting out a small breath of relief.

The doors began to close, and I thought to myself, finally, some peace and quiet.

But just as the doors were about to seal, a hand shot out, and the doors slid back open. In walked Kaleb.

“Bails,” he said after a brief silence, his deep voice resonating through the small space.

I didn’t respond, my eyes glued to the glowing numbers above the door, desperately wishing for the elevator to descend faster.

“Why don’t you come back to your apartment?” he asked quietly, his tone almost inviting.

I turned my head just enough to catch a glimpse of him. His dark hair was tousled, his jawline as sharp as ever, and his eyes bore that infuriating smirk that never seemed to leave his face, even when his lips were still.

“You haven’t been home since that…,” he started, watching me with an intensity that made my heart race.

“Kaleb, can we stop pretending like nothing happened?” I interrupted, frustration bubbling to the surface. “You threw a piece of your mind at me, and now you keep acting like we’re best friends. Drop the act. Where I choose to stay is none of your concern.”

He didn’t argue, merely stared at me, nodding slightly as if he understood. Fortunately, the elevator dinged just then, and I stepped out first, not bothering to wait for him.

Outside the building, I made my way to the bus stop, eager to escape from Kaleb, who was trailing behind me like a shadow.

“Can you stop following me?” I turned sharply, irritation lacing my voice.

“I’m taking the bus today,” he replied, his tone casual, as if that explained everything.

Just then, Denise appeared, her heels clicking against the pavement with a rhythmic confidence.

Her long, dark hair bounced with each step, her lips painted a glossy red, and she looked as if she had just stepped out of a high-fashion magazine.

“Oh my god!” she gasped upon spotting Kaleb behind me, her eyes lighting up like fireworks.

“Kaleb, you’re here!” she exclaimed, blinking at me in a way that clearly signaled for me to disappear.

“I never knew you were about to be a pro footballer! What are you even doing interning here?” she began, and I felt the urge to walk away intensify.

Kaleb responded with one of his signature lazy smiles, the kind that made girls weak in the knees.

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