My Bestfriend's Brother Shouldn't Know How I Taste
59

Bailey's pov

The ride was quiet but not awkward at all. It was strangely comforting.Half way through the drive, Kaleb had placed his hand on my thigh. Ihad no intention of pushing his hand off, but I could tell he was nervousthat I would with the tension I felt in his grip. However, as the time wentby without me pushing his hand off, he relaxed and gripped me morefirm.

"Where are we going?" I asked, sneaking a glance at him. We hadbeen driving for an hour and he showed no signs of stopping any timesoon.

I saw the quirk of his lips at the corner as he tried to resist a smile. *Hmmm, does nothing look familiar to you?" his eyes caught mine brieflybefore he brought his attention back to the road ahead.

I squinted out the window, trying to make out any signs that could giveaway our destination. Familiarity made me smile. I turn to him with awhip of my head, grinning widely. * Are we going to your parents beachhouse?"

Seeing the happy gleam in my eyes, Kaleb looked at me fondly, bitinghis lower lip and nodding to confirm my suspicion while his thumblightly tracing circles on my thigh. The gesture sent shivers down myspine.

Ten minutes later and the vehicle rolled to a top in front of a beautifulbeach house nestled against the backdrop of the sea. I unbuckled myseat belt, now less nervous and more excited to dip my toes into thesand. I could hear the waves crashing ashore from here and my heartsang.

It has been a while since I've come here with the twins.

We stepped out of the car and the sound of the waves grew louder.Kaleb looked at the beach and then looked at me over the roof of thevehicle.

I sucked in a shallow breath when the sunlight strikes in his irises,causing them to glimmer with warmth. " I had to bring you to myfavorite place for our first date.” There's something boyish about himnow that he was here, it made me smile.

" Come." He nudged his head to the beach, shifting away from thevehicle.

Kaleb took my hand when I am beside him, holding me close as he ledme to the pathway to the beach. The air smelt like saltwater and Isighed, curling closer to him.

“ This is where I could always be just Kaleb." He uttered, his wordstinged with a smile. I peeked at him through my lashes to see that hewas sporting a soft smile, as though lost in his own little world.

I nearly tripped when he suddenly turn to me, catching me staring athim. His eyes twinkle and his smile spread. " This is where I am mostvulnerable and I want to be vulnerable with you."

So occupied with staring at him, I hadn't noticed we had stoppedwalking. Turning to me, he gripped my hand and gave it a soft squeeze."I want to show you how I can be the guy for you Bailey. I really want tobe."

His confession made my heart skip a beat and a tingle rush down myspine. Knots form in my belly and I am tongue tied. Seeing this Kalebeyes soften and he tore his eyes away to look at the sea.

My gaze followed his and for a moment my mind went blank, unsure ofhow to react or know what to say.

In the close distance I could see a set up of a tent surrounded bycandles and flower petals that made a heart shape. This feels like itcame straight out of a dream and my heart swelled wondering if he setthis up himself.

I stood there captivated by the intimate setup he had arranged andgazed at the flickering candle lights that casted a warm glow around thetent. My heart thud.

This....this was beautiful.

Kaleb turns to me, his eyes searching for a reaction but I am so lost onthe sight before me I cannot seem to tear my eyes away nor sayanything as yet.

" After I dropped off Mira I went to buy some stuff and set this up." Hiswords made me peel my eyes away from the setup and look at him.He's scratching the back of his head with a pink flush on his neckleading to his cheeks.

Butterflies flutter in my belly and all I can think about was why I hadn'tagreed to be his sooner.

"It kind of took longer than I expected but I am happy I was able tocome pick you up before the time I had set.” He grinned, flashing hispearly whites in a boyish proud way.

I dragged in a breath, the salty scent of the ocean and Kaleb's colognepushing into my lungs. It made me feel a rush of tingles that I enjoyed.Seeing how quiet I am, the smile begun to drop and his eyes begun tolose that sweet warm glimmer I now realize he only showed me. It wasdifferent than the warmth he showed his parents, sister and friends. Itwas different...for me.

Finally I found my voice, it cracked with emotion but it still manage tocome out clear enough for him. "I love it."

I looked back at the set up, my eyes stinging. It wasn't because of theslight sand whirling around in the cool breeze, it was because I couldno longer hold in my emotions.

Kaleb had done this for me? Set all of this for me?

“1 love it." I whispered, more clearly now, my heart hammering behindmy chest as I return my gaze to his. His irises, they are warmer now,twinkling with the same emotion I felt.

"It's amazing Kaleb, absolutely beautiful.” I choked on my emotionsand he squeezed me hand, pulling me into a warm hug, squeezing meto him as I silently cry on his chest, soaking up his shirt.

"Why are you crying? Why does it feel as though you think you don'tdeserve this flower?" He croaked out, holding the back of my head andthen running his fingers through my strands in a gentle soothingmanner.

Because I don't.

I am keeping him a secret and have been such a bitch about himpursuing me. I don't deserve his efforts.

"Yes." I whispered but of course it is muffled because my lips ispressed to his shirt.

"Hmm?" He asked, continuing to soothe his hand down my head in acaressing manner.

I peeled my face off his shirt, sniffling as I lift my tear filled eyes to his.My heart beats quickly at the fondness he regarded me with.

"Yes. Yes I will be your girlfriend.”