Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 39

**TITLE: The Night We Borrowed Fire from a Broken Star by Selvin Arlo Crest 39**

**Bailey’s POV**

The long-awaited final day of my internship had finally arrived. As I woke up that morning, a wave of relief washed over me, mingling with an exhilarating sense of excitement.

For what felt like an eternity, I had been dragging my feet to the office, each day blending into the next as I counted down the hours until freedom. And now, here it was—the end of an era.

Settling into my chair, I faced my computer screen, fingers poised over the keyboard as I typed the last few lines of my final report. The words flowed more smoothly than I had anticipated, and once I hit “send,” I leaned back, a sense of satisfaction enveloping me like a warm blanket.

“Finally,” I murmured to myself, the word barely escaping my lips.

Kaleb, who occupied the desk next to mine, remained silent as usual. I could feel his gaze darting toward me intermittently, though he didn’t utter a word. Ever since our little confrontation, he had adopted this strange, watchful demeanor. I had told him to stop pretending we were friends, and honestly, I was relieved that he seemed to take my words to heart.

At noon, our supervisor summoned everyone to the meeting room. As we gathered, he handed out our certificates, the tangible proof of our hard work and dedication. We returned our ID cards and laptops, a symbolic shedding of our roles as interns.

By the time the clock struck three, my desk was stripped bare, and my bag was neatly packed. The thrill of leaving was almost intoxicating, especially knowing that Kaleb would finally be out of my life for good.

I made my way to the bathroom, needing a moment to freshen up before stepping into the world outside. As I entered, I spotted Denise leaning against the counter, her focus on perfecting her lipstick. When she turned and caught sight of me, her face lit up with a bright smile.

“I’m going to miss you, Bailey,” she said softly, her voice tinged with genuine warmth.

I paused, taken aback by her sentiment. “I’ll miss you too,” I replied, trying to convey my sincerity. “It wasn’t all bad, right?”

She shrugged slightly, a hint of melancholy in her expression. “I actually asked Kaleb if he wanted to go out later, just to celebrate the end of the internship,” she admitted, her shoulders slumping a little. “But he refused.”

Somehow, that revelation didn’t shock me as much as it should have. Still, a pang of guilt twisted in my stomach. I had been the one nudging her to pursue him, encouraging her to take a chance, and now, seeing her disappointment, I wished I hadn’t said anything at all.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s okay,” she replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “So, what’s your plan for tonight?”

“I’m hanging out with a friend,” I answered, a hint of excitement creeping into my voice.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Wait… is it that hot guy who picked you up the other day?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I nodded. “Yes.”

“Oh my God!” she squealed, her enthusiasm infectious. “You’re so lucky!”

“He’s just a friend, but if it makes you feel better, you could join us too. The more, the merrier,” I offered, wanting to lift her spirits.

Ethan had insisted on taking me out to celebrate the end of my internship, and I had readily agreed.

Denise’s jaw dropped in surprise. “Are you serious? You’d let me tag along?”

“Why not? It’ll be fun,” I replied, a smile creeping onto my face.

Her expression transformed, and for the first time that day, she looked genuinely happy. “Yes! I’ll be there. Thank you, Bailey.”

I felt a sense of relief wash over me, hoping this would make up for encouraging her to pursue that complicated situation with Kaleb.

Later that evening, I met Ethan outside the arcade. He was leaning casually against his car, a broad grin plastered across his face as if he owned the world.

“Took you long enough,” he teased, crossing his arms.

Rolling my eyes, I shot back, “I’m not even late.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ve been standing here, mentally preparing myself to annihilate you at every game in there,” he declared, his confidence radiating.

I laughed, feeling the tension of the day melt away. “You wish! I promise you’re going to lose badly.”

He smirked and opened the door for me. “We’ll see about that.”

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