Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 67

**Bailey’s POV**

The clock ticked away, marking the time with each passing second, and finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived. My dad was being discharged from the hospital. After a long, grueling week spent by his side, I couldn’t believe we were finally leaving. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be outside those sterile, white walls.

My mom had packed a bag filled with essentials for both of us, her love evident in every item she included. I watched intently as the nurse gently wheeled my dad out of his room, a mix of relief and apprehension swirling in my chest. Mom walked beside him, her fingers intertwined with his, providing a silent promise of support.

David, my younger brother, was busy carrying a bag filled with clothes and the leftover medications the hospital had provided us. The sight of him, so focused on his task, brought a slight smile to my face. Yet, there was an undeniable heaviness in my heart. I felt as if I was walking on a tightrope, balancing between joy and the lingering fear of what had transpired.

When Dad turned to me, his tired eyes lit up with a smile that instantly melted my worries away. “You don’t need to look so worried, Bailey,” he spoke, his voice warm yet weary. “I’m fine now, and in just a few days, I’ll be back to work without any support. The doctors assured me that all I need is some rest.”

I nodded, though my heart still raced with concern. “I know, Dad. I just… I can’t shake off the fear of something bad happening again. I was terrified, and I never want to relive that nightmare.”

He reached out, patting my hand gently. “It won’t happen again. The police are on it. They’ll find out who shot me, and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

The word “shot” sent a shiver down my spine. Each time I recalled that fateful night, my stomach twisted in knots. But the most important thing was that Dad was alive. That was what truly mattered.

Yet, a small part of me ached with disappointment. Kaleb, my friend, had not returned to the hospital after the first day. I had waited and hoped he would show up, but he never did. I wanted to ask Dad about him, but when I did, Dad’s expression turned serious.

“Let’s not discuss Kaleb for now,” he warned gently. “He’s dealing with a lot right now. Even if you can’t see it, just give him space, alright?”

I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of frustration and understanding. “Yes, Dad. I get it.”

As I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed back to school, the hallways were alive with noise. Lockers slammed shut, footsteps echoed, and chatter filled the air. It felt overwhelming, especially after missing so many days. But then, I spotted Selena standing by the door, her hair flipping in the air as she always did.

“Bailey!” she shouted, her voice brightening the atmosphere. She dashed toward me and enveloped me in a tight embrace that nearly knocked the breath out of my lungs. “Oh my God, you’re back! Do you have any idea how boring life has been without you?”

I chuckled softly, feeling a warmth spread through me. “I missed you too.”

She pulled back, scrutinizing my face with a concerned look. “You look exhausted. Like, really exhausted.”

“I’ve had a lot on my plate,” I admitted, feeling the weight of the past week settle on my shoulders.

Selena raised her eyebrows, her curiosity piqued. “You have to tell me everything. Come on, spill! You disappear for weeks, and now you show up looking like you’ve been through three soap operas.”

With a sigh, I leaned against the nearby locker, grateful for the momentary distraction. “You have no idea how wild it’s been.”

“Alright then,” she said, her voice dripping with drama as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’ve got time. So, what happened?”

Taking a deep breath, I began, “It all started with Kaleb.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Of course it did! That boy is always causing trouble for you.”

I chose to ignore her teasing tone and continued, “He actually confessed to me and asked me out.”

“What?” she almost shrieked, her excitement palpable. “He asked you out? Like, Kaleb, the Kaleb?”

I nodded, feeling a flush creep up my cheeks at the memory. “Yeah, he was serious about it.”

Selena gasped, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. “And? What did you say?”

“I didn’t really give him an answer before… before everything else happened, but we are technically dating now.”

“Everything else?” she echoed, a hint of urgency in her voice.

I whispered, “My dad… he was shot, Selena. Someone actually shot him.”

Her expression turned pale, disbelief washing over her features. “Wait… what? Bailey, are you serious?”

I nodded, my heart heavy with the memories. “We almost lost him. He was in the hospital for an entire week.”

Selena instinctively reached for my hand, squeezing it tightly as if to share my pain. “Oh my God, Bailey… why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve been there for you.”

“I couldn’t even breathe, Selena,” I confessed, my voice trembling. “I didn’t know what to do. Each day felt like a battle against fear.”

She pulled me into another embrace, her warmth comforting. “I’m just so relieved he’s okay now.”

“Me too,” I said, managing a faint smile. “The police are investigating, but this has been the hardest week of my life.”

Selena leaned back, shaking her head in disbelief. “Girl, your life is literally a movie.”

I laughed weakly, shaking my head. “I don’t want it to be a movie. I just want things to be normal.”

“Okay, enough about the scary stuff,” she said, sitting up straighter. “Do you know what’s been happening with me?”

I smirked, playfully raising an eyebrow. “Let me guess, you got a new boyfriend?”

Her eyes lit up, excitement bubbling over. “Yes! How did you know?”

“Because you always do,” I teased.

She laughed, swatting my arm playfully. “Okay, okay, but this one is different.”

“Selena, you said that last week. And the week before that, and the week before that,” I reminded her, unable to hide my grin.

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