Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 5

**The Night We Borrowed Fire from a Broken Star by Selvin Arlo Crest**
**Chapter 5**

**Bailey’s POV**

“I got into college, and you’re treating me to a Chipotle bowl,” I mumbled, my teeth sinking into the warm, savory goodness of my food.

David, my ever-irreverent brother, replied with a smirk, “I promised you a party tomorrow, didn’t I? And let’s not forget, you’re the one who insisted we eat here tonight.”

I chose to ignore him, my focus entirely on the delicious meal before me. Across the table, Kaleb sat, his elbows resting casually on the surface, taking his time with his food while observing our playful bickering with a soft smile. His tousled brown hair fell just enough to obscure his eyes, and I hated how my stomach fluttered every time he glanced in my direction.

Chipotle at Berry’s was a cherished tradition for me; I had been coming here every summer for as long as I could remember, and, as always, the food was incredible.

“I’m really glad you’re here,” David said, pointing his fork at Kaleb. “I can’t handle her anymore. Her tongue gets sharper with every passing year.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically at my brother, shoving another bite into my mouth.

“Don’t blame me for speaking the truth,” I muttered through a mouthful of rice and beans. “You lost the bet, and all you’re buying me is food? How cheap can you be, David?”

The bet had been simple: he wagered that I wouldn’t get accepted into Brown University, a challenge meant to motivate me to hit the books harder. And now, in a stroke of luck, I had gotten in, but his grand gesture of celebration was just a meal.

Kaleb chuckled softly, his gaze lingering on me, and I felt my cheeks flush. I quickly averted my eyes, swallowing hard. It was becoming painfully obvious that I was losing my ability to think rationally around him. My thoughts spiraled into a whirlpool of memories, particularly that kiss we shared at the beach—the way his body had pressed against mine, the imprint of his firm length against my stomach, the heat that had stolen my breath away.

I shouldn’t be thinking about that here, at Berry’s, in the middle of dinner with my brother. But the memory clung to me like a stubborn shadow.

“Kaleb!”

The sound of her voice sent a jolt through me.

In unison, we turned to see Lila—the quintessential queen bee—gliding toward us as if the restaurant were her personal runway. Her glossy hair swayed with each step, and her lips were painted a perfect shade of pink. She locked her gaze on Kaleb first, then shifted to David, barely acknowledging my presence as if I were a mere ghost.

“You’re back in town?” she beamed, her smile wide enough to light up the room. “Mind if I join you?”

My fork froze mid-air, caught in a moment of disbelief. Join us? At our table? This was supposed to be our summer tradition—me, Kaleb, and David.

“Yeah, of course,” Kaleb said, his voice warm and inviting, as she slid into the booth right next to him with a satisfied grin.

“Hi, David,” she greeted casually, her gaze flicking toward me.

“And… is that Bailey? Snotty-nose Bailey?”

A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and my cheeks burned.

I nodded stiffly, unable to meet her eyes, looking anywhere but at her.

“You look…” She tilted her head, scrutinizing me as if I were a curious specimen. “Human now.”

Human? Did I really look like an animal before?

Lila turned her full attention to Kaleb, brushing her hand against his arm in a way that made my stomach twist.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming back,” she said, her voice dripping with familiarity.

I clenched my fork tightly, feeling a cough rise in my throat. David noticed my discomfort and slid a glass of water in front of me, which I gulped down hastily.

There had always been something between Lila and Kaleb. Every summer, they would flirt, share fleeting moments, then stop talking, only to rekindle their connection the following summer as if nothing had ever happened.

They had supposedly broken up five years ago, or so I thought. But the way she leaned into him, the way he smiled back at her, made me question if they had ever truly ended. It felt like she had a claim on him, and the realization gnawed at me.

Her gaze landed on a piece of paper David had carelessly tossed onto the table earlier, the list of supplies he needed for the party.

“What’s this?” she asked, picking it up delicately between her perfectly manicured fingers.

“We’re throwing a party tomorrow. Bailey got into college,” David announced proudly.

Lila’s eyes flicked to me, then back to him. “A party? That sounds like fun.”

“You should come,” David added nonchalantly.

“Yeah,” Kaleb chimed in, his eyes momentarily meeting mine. “You should definitely come by.”

Of course, he invited her.

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