Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 40

**The Night We Borrowed Fire from a Broken Star by Selvin Arlo Crest 40**

I was still in the midst of adjusting my blouse when the unmistakable sound of the door creaking open broke the silence of my room. My heart raced as I turned around, a surge of excitement flooding through me.

“Selena!” I squealed, my voice ringing with joy as I dashed across the room, my feet barely touching the ground.

She dropped her bags with a thud, her own voice rising in a delighted scream. “Bailey!”

In an instant, we collided, enveloping each other in a warm embrace that echoed with laughter so loud it seemed to shake the very walls around us. Her arms wrapped around me so tightly that I felt as though I might burst from the sheer joy of the moment.

“I missed you so much!” I exclaimed, cupping her cheeks in my hands, my eyes searching her face for all the little details I had missed.

“I missed you more!” she replied, her voice vibrant with emotion as she rocked me gently back and forth before finally releasing me from her grip.

I bent down to pick up one of her heavy bags, the weight of it reminding me just how much she must have brought along. “Let me help you with these. Gosh, you said you were coming in the evening!”

A mischievous grin spread across her face as she brushed a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, settling down on the edge of my bed. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Well, you certainly succeeded,” I said, placing her bag carefully by the desk. I perched myself beside her, and we shared another quick hug before finally settling into a comfortable silence.

She tilted her head, her eyes softening with curiosity. “So, how have you been? And why on earth haven’t you gone back to your apartment?”

I cast my gaze downward, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my blouse. “I’ve been… fine.”

“Just fine?” she probed, her brows arching in concern. I could see her fingers beginning to twirl together, a familiar habit of hers that always signaled she was about to delve into something serious.

“You haven’t gone home. I’m assuming you’re still fighting with Kaleb?”

The moment his name slipped from her lips, a tight knot formed in my chest, rendering me momentarily speechless.

“Bailey?” she asked, her tone cautious, as if she were testing the waters.

“Don’t tell me you two are still quarreling. Didn’t you… intern together?”

I shot my eyes up to meet hers, surprise evident in my expression. “How do you know we interned together?”

Her eyes widened, and her hand flew to her mouth in shock. “Oh.”

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, my heart racing. “Selena.”

**Chapter TU**

The guilt was palpable on her face, a clear indication of her inner turmoil.

She shifted uncomfortably on the bed, her lips pressed tightly together as if she were trying to hold back a flood of words. Finally, she whispered, “I… might have told him the company you were going to work for.”

My jaw dropped in disbelief. “What?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you!” she exclaimed hurriedly, reaching out to grasp my arm in a gesture of sincerity.

“He asked, and I just… I told him. I thought maybe it would help you both fix things.”

“Help?” I pulled my arm away, feeling a mix of frustration and betrayal.

“Selena, do you even realize what you did? You gave him information about me without asking me first!”

Her expression crumpled, and she looked genuinely remorseful. “I’m sorry. Please, Bailey, forgive me.”

I stood up, crossing my arms defiantly. “You know what? It doesn’t matter anymore.

We have nothing. Kaleb and I… we’re done. I’m moving on with my life this semester.”

She stood up too, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace. “I’m sorry. I just wanted you to be happy, and he made you happy.”

With a sigh, I patted her back, trying to ease the tension between us.

We lingered in that embrace for a moment longer before finally letting go, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air.

My first class was later in the day, so we spent some time chatting about lighter topics—food, our roommates, and our plans for the upcoming semester.

Eventually, the clock reminded me of my responsibilities, and I packed my books, preparing to leave for class.

The campus buzzed with energy, students darting around like busy bees, each of us caught in our own whirlwind of thoughts and expectations. It was my first class of the semester, and nerves fluttered in my stomach.

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