Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 38

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

**Kaleb’s POV**

In the earlier days, whenever Bailey and I found ourselves embroiled in a quarrel, it always felt like we could simply brush it off, as if the arguments were mere shadows that faded with the dawn. But now, I had created a rift so deep that she wouldn’t even spare me a glance. The weight of my mistakes hung heavily on my shoulders, suffocating me with regret.

I had hoped that working alongside her as an intern would help mend our frayed friendship, but it seemed that hope was misplaced. The distance between us had grown, and it gnawed at me relentlessly. I despised the pain I had caused her more than anything else in the world.

Every time the memory of our last conversation replayed in my mind, I felt an overwhelming urge to inflict physical pain upon myself. The way she had withdrawn after our argument was like a phantom haunting me. She didn’t return home during exams, opting instead to stay at Selena’s place, a decision that felt like a dagger to my heart.

When we crossed paths at work, she would glide past me as if I were nothing more than a ghost, invisible and unworthy of her acknowledgment. The silence between us was deafening, and I longed to break it, yet the thought of apologizing filled me with dread. To apologize meant confronting the truth, laying bare my feelings, and I was too much of a coward to take that leap.

What could I possibly say to her? That I craved every fragment of her being yet couldn’t commit to being her boyfriend? That I felt a pang of jealousy whenever she spoke to someone else, yet I wouldn’t dare call her mine? The absurdity of it all made me feel foolish, and I hated that I couldn’t articulate what I truly felt.

I decided that the only way to bridge the chasm between us was through the internship. Manipulating a few connections to land a spot in the same company wasn’t a Herculean task, and soon enough, I found myself interning alongside her.

Each day, I made the effort to reach out, to engage her in conversation, but my attempts were met with indifference. She would dismiss me with a glare that could freeze flames, and at times, it felt as though she were looking right through me, as if I were a mere stranger in her world.

As the internship neared its conclusion, I realized time was slipping through my fingers like sand. The urgency to reconcile with her became a palpable ache in my chest. Beating around the bush wouldn’t suffice any longer; I needed to confront her, to apologize, to plead for her forgiveness.

That’s why, when I caught sight of her stepping into the elevator, I seized the moment and slipped in just before the doors closed. The moment our eyes locked, she let out a heavy sigh, and it struck me like a physical blow. Did she truly loathe my presence that much?

“Bails,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

She stood rigid, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her gaze fixed on the flickering numbers above the door, as if they held the answers to all her questions.

“Why don’t you come back to your apartment?” I ventured after what felt like an eternity of silence.

Her lack of response was deafening.

“You haven’t returned since…” I trailed off, the weight of my words lingering in the air.

Her eyes shot to mine, fierce and unyielding.

“Kaleb, can we stop pretending like nothing happened?” she demanded, her tone slicing through the stillness. “You blasted me with your words, and now you act like we’re on friendly terms. Just drop the act. And by the way, where I choose to stay is none of your concern.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I was momentarily speechless, taken aback by the change in her demeanor. Bailey, who had always been sweet and forgiving, was now a fortress of anger.

Yet, in a twisted way, I felt a flicker of relief. At least she was talking to me again instead of pretending I didn’t exist.

“Look, Bailey,” I said quickly, my voice rough with emotion. “I’m sorry, but you can’t just abandon your apartment because of me.”

“You give yourself too much credit,” she shot back, her words laced with venom.

The elevator doors opened, and she stormed out, leaving me grappling with my thoughts. I was determined not to let her anger consume us entirely.

“Bailey!” I called after her, desperation creeping into my voice.

She marched furiously across the company lobby, her strides purposeful as she stepped into the open air.

“Stop following me,” she snapped, whirling around to shoot me a glare that could melt ice.

“I’m not following you,” I lied, raising my hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m just… taking a bus today.”

She rolled her eyes, dismissing me with a flick of her wrist, and quickened her pace. I opened my mouth to try again, but a voice rang out from behind me.

“Oh my God! Kaleb! Kaleb, you’re here!”

I groaned internally. Denise.

She rushed over, her eyes wide with excitement, blinking far too obviously.

“I had no idea you were on the verge of becoming a pro footballer!” she squealed, her enthusiasm palpable. “What on earth are you doing interning here?”

She reached out to tap my arm, her fingers lingering just a moment too long for my comfort.

I grimaced, already exhausted by her persistent flirting.

“Denise…” I started, but my gaze was drawn past her.

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