Craving My Brother's Best Friend (Bailey and Kaleb) novel Chapter 69

**Bailey’s POV**

Perched on the worn couch in Kaleb’s apartment, I found myself fixated on the clock that hung on the wall—a relentless reminder of the time slipping away.

The rhythmic ticking was becoming unbearable, each tick echoing in my mind like a countdown to something inevitable. The hands moved with a deliberate slowness, each second a cruel reminder that he was still absent.

Evening had settled in, casting shadows across the room, yet Kaleb had left early that morning, and here I was, trapped in a cycle of waiting.

His phone remained off, and there were no messages or calls to ease my worry.

I bit down on my bottom lip, wrapping my arms tightly around my knees, curling up as if to shield myself from the anxiety that clawed at my insides.

“Where the hell are you, Kaleb?” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper, filled with a mix of frustration and concern.

Five text messages later, and all I had to show for it were those infuriating single ticks indicating he hadn’t seen them.

With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself off the couch, realizing that moping was not going to bring him home any sooner.

Staring at the door like a lost puppy waiting for its owner was doing nothing but amplifying my worry.

Then, just as I was about to lose myself in my thoughts again, my phone buzzed, jolting me. Selena’s name lit up the screen.

“Coffee?”

A flicker of a smile broke through my anxious façade. Selena had an uncanny ability to sense when I was drowning in my own thoughts.

I grabbed my bag, gave myself a quick once-over in the mirror, and made my way out of the apartment.

The café was a warm haven, filled with the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans and the comforting scent of freshly baked bread as I stepped inside.

Selena was already there, her bright figure seated by the window. The moment she spotted me, she waved enthusiastically, nearly leaping out of her chair.

“Bailey!” she squealed, her excitement palpable. “Finally! I thought you were going to stand me up!”

I offered her a weary smile as I slid into the chair opposite her.

“Sorry. My head’s been all over the place today,” I admitted, feeling the weight of my worries pressing down on me.

She tilted her head, her gaze piercing as she studied me, sensing the turmoil I was trying to hide. Leaning forward, her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Okay,” she whispered, her tone conspiratorial. “Spill.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Spill what?”

Her expression was one of playful accusation. “Don’t play with me. You’ve been acting weird for weeks. Either you tell me now, or I’ll just guess loudly until you admit it.”

With a groan, I covered my face with my hands, overwhelmed. “Selena…”

“Don’t ‘Selena’ me!” she laughed, her joy infectious. “Come on. What’s going on?”

Peeking at her through my fingers, I finally relented.

“Fine. But you promise you won’t scream?”

Her eyes widened in mock horror. “Oh my God. You’re pregnant?”

I dropped my hands on the table, exasperated. “What?! No!”

“Then what…”

“I’m dating Kaleb.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them, the admission hanging in the air like a fragile balloon.

Selena froze, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Then, in a burst of excitement, she screamed, “WHAT?!”

“Selena! Shh!” I flailed my hands, panic rising as heads turned our way.

She clamped her mouth shut, but her eyes were wide with disbelief.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!” she whispered, practically bouncing in her seat. “You’re serious?”

I nodded, biting my lip in nervous anticipation.

She squealed again, shaking my hand across the table with uncontainable joy. “Finally! Finally! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this? I always knew something was going on with you two!”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “It’s… new. I mean, very new. And I can’t even believe how clingy he’s become. He used to act so nonchalant, like I was just… there. Now it’s like he can’t let me breathe.”

She gasped, leaning in closer, her excitement palpable. “So he’s whipped?”

I chuckled softly, a hint of amusement bubbling up. “I don’t know if I’d call it that, but… yeah. I guess so.”

She slammed her hand on the table, grinning from ear to ear. “This is the best news ever!”

Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile, but then her expression shifted to something more serious.

“Wait,” she said slowly, her tone cautious. “Does your family know? Like… does David know?”

My smile faded instantly, replaced by a sudden heaviness in my chest. I shook my head vigorously. “No. And I’m not telling them. Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” I leaned in, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “David sees Kaleb as his brother. He’s been around forever. They’d all think it’s wrong. Or messy. Or… I don’t know. They’ll make it a problem. I’m scared, Selena. I don’t want to lose him.”

Her eyes softened with understanding, and she reached across the table, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “You won’t lose him. But okay… I get it. You want to keep it quiet.”

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