Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Baileys POV

I couldn’t stop laughing.

My stomach hurt from how hard I was laughing, and tears almost rolled down my face. Selena was beside me, laughing just

as hard.

“What the heck was that, Bailey?” she managed to say between her giggles.

I covered my mouth, still laughing. “I don’t even know, Selena! I can’t believe I acted like that.”

Her eyes widened as she shook her head, her ponytail bouncing. “Your brothers looked so apologetic and so cute when you were going off on us.

Oh my God, the way they stood there! It was priceless.”

I laughed louder, remembering their guilty faces, the way he stared at the ground like little boys caught stealing cookies.

“He really did,” I admitted, holding my chest.

“Like he had done something terrible, when all I did was raise my voice a little.”

Selena’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer. “Honestly, Bailey, you should’ve seen yourself. You were fierce.

But the best part? The face! I swear, I almost melted. Cute and guilty at the same time.”

I grinned. “I couldn’t agree more. He looked adorable and I felt sorry for being mean.”

Her laughter slowed, and I tilted her head at me. “So… nothing between both of you right?”

“He is cute but no I like red flags he is too good for me.”

“So what of you?” She asked.

The question hit me and I blinked at her, confused for a moment, before I realized she meant Kaleb and me.

I swallowed, biting my lip. “You mean… Kaleb?”

She nodded, her smile playful.

I hesitated, my cheeks warming.

“So…. nothing happened?” She asked, almost whispering.

“No we are just friends.” I said.

“Can you do that… can you be just friends with him.”

Before I could reply, my phone rang loudly on the table. I glanced at the screen.

“It’s Ethan,” I said, surprised.

Selena arched a brow, grinning mischievously. “Ohhh, Ethan. What does he want?”

I stood up, already answering the call. “I don’t know, but he asked me to come out with him. I think I’ll go.”

09:00 Thu, Nov 27

Chapter 45

Selena crossed her arms, smirking.

“And what about Kaleb? Don’t you two have some… unfinished business?”

Her teasing tone made me laugh nervously. I shook my head firmly. “No. We decided to remain just friends.”

Her mouth dropped a little. “Just friends?”

“Yes,” I said, more confidently this time. “That’s all we’re going to be. Friends.”

She stared at me like she didn’t believe me, but then shrugged. “Fine, Bailey. But I’ll want the full gist later.”

I nodded quickly, grabbed my bag, and hurried out

The mall was bright, noisy, and crowded with people walking in and out of shops. I spotted Ethan near the fountain, leaning casually against the railing.

He was dressed neatly as always, his shirt perfectly ironed, his hair styled like he had just stepped out of a magazine.

“Bailey,” he called, smiling when he saw me.

“Hey,” I said, walking up to him. “What’s going on? Why did you ask me to come?”

He smiled wider and spread his arms, almost like he wanted to show off the entire mall.

“I need your eyes.”

I blinked, confused. “My… eyes? Are you an organ harvester.”

“No eww,” he said seriously. “I want to shop and you have good taste, so you’ll help me.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You dragged me all the way here just to shop?”

“Not just shop,” he corrected, his grin playful. “To spend. And you’ll tell me what looks good.”

I rolled my eyes but followed him anyway.

The first store we entered was massive, full of suits and designer clothes. Ethan immediately began pulling out jackets and shirts, holding them against his chest, then turning to me like he was on a runway.

“What do you think? Too much?” he asked, spinning around in a navy–blue/blazer.

I tilted my head, pretending to think deeply. “Hmm… it’s giving… rich uncle vibes.”

He burst out laughing. “Rich uncle? Really, Bailey?”

“Yes,” I said firmly, giggling. “Try another one.”

He sighed dramatically and went back into the dressing room.

This became the routine. He tried on one outfit after another suits, shirts, jeans, shoes.

And each time, he asked for my opinion. I gave him honest answers, sometimes playful, sometimes serious. He listened to me every single time.

“This one,” I finally said when he stepped out in a black jacket, simple but sharp.

“This is it. You look amazing.”

Chapter 45

He checked himself in the mirror, his expression softening. “You really think so?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “It suits you perfectly.”

He smiled, and before I knew it, he told the attendant, “We’ll take it and all the others too”

My jaw dropped. “All the others? Ethan, are you crazy? That’s like ten outfits!”

He shrugged casually. “So what? I like them.”

I shook my head, speechless, as he handed over his card like it was nothing.

But then he surprised me even more. In the next store, he turned the attention to me.

“You’re not just here to watch me shop,” he said firmly. “You’re getting something too.”

I tried to protest, but he ignored me and started picking out dresses, tops, and skirts, holding them against me with a serious look.

“Ethan, no,” I said, tugging his sleeve. “You don’t need to buy me anything.”

He looked at me, eyes narrowing playfully. “Don’t argue, Bailey. Just try them on.”

I sighed but gave in. The dresses were beautiful, and Ethan’s approving nod made me blush. But I thought it’d be cute if I had come with Kaleb.

“That one,” he said firmly when I tried on a cream–colored dress. “It’s perfect.”

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