Page 10 of Falling For My Best Friend's Brother

“Why don’t you just hire a chef like you’re used to and save yourself the trouble? Because if you’re trying to prove something to me, then you’re wasting your time.”

Fury gnawed at the edges of my constraint. Who the hell did he think he was?

“Get over yourself. You’re not important.”

Knox snorted, letting his eyes trail around the kitchen before darting back to me. “Doesn’t look like it. Next, you’ll be wiping out cabinets and cleaning bathrooms to prove you’re not a spoiled little princess.”

I scowled. “Fuck you.”

His lips curved into a sneer. “I’m not interested. Look, if we’re going to live together, then I have some ground rules.”

I was ready for war. Tossing the rag, I crossed my arms over my chest. I didn’t miss how his gaze followed the movement. “Not in my house, you don’t. In fact, if anyone should be making rules, it’s me. So get off your high horse.”

Knox glared at me. “As I was saying… it’s important to set some boundaries when sharing a space. I hope I don’t have to explain to you what that means.”

My hands fell from my chest. Jesus Christ. How old did he think I was? I went from angry to shocked to enraged in a split second. My chest heaved and my eyes burned with the intensity of my fury.

“You fucking exasperating, aggravating—”

He yawned in an entirely patronizing manner. “Wow. You know some big words. Good for you.”

Oh, my fucking— I was going to kill him. Chop him up into tiny pieces and throw him at the bottom of the ocean. Best friend’s brother be damned. He was hands down the most infuriating piece of shit I’d ever had the misfortune of meeting.

“Right. If you’re done showing off your big vocabulary,” Knox scoffed, “we need to set some ground rules.” He folded his massive arms across his chest, that stupid compression shirt displaying his bulging muscles as he fixed me with his classic heated gaze. “First off, I do not enjoy walking into a messy kitchen. Since you say you’re not a child, clean up after yourself. Second, I would like to use the bathroom without being assaulted by your… underwear lying around.”

The look I gave him screamed,I don’t care, bitch. If he didn’t want to see my thongs, then he should find somewhere else to shower. Or live. Whichever worked for him.

“Third,” he went on, “whenever I’m in the house, I prefer complete silence. No giggling or crying while watching chick flicks. Also, chore rotations must be imposed. I refuse to do all the work while you rest your pretty head.” His eyes scaled down my body. “Last, for fuck’s sakes, cover up. You’re practically naked.”

I looked down, frowning. How the hell was I naked? I glowered at him. “Iam‘covered up.’”

“Oh, so this is on purpose?” He raised a brow. “Those shorter-than-short shorts and that scrawny piece of fabric you call a top that barely covers anything were worn to what, seduce me?”

I blanched. “I…” I struggled for words to explain myself, even though something told me it was pointless. “You’re… You’re disgusting! I’d sooner eat hot charcoal.”

But now Knox’s eyes were filled with mirth. “Of course you would. In the meantime, wear some actual clothes. You look cheap.”

My cheeks were burning now. Redder than the tomato I’d just cooked, I was sure. I did not know what his problem with me was, but for some reason, he hated my guts. Which was ridiculous because he’d known me for years, and he’d only just started to actually speak to me. What could I possibly have done to deserve this?

“Anything else you’d like to add, Your Grace?” I scoffed. “Do you want me to lie flat on the ground so you can walk all over me? Clean your shoes with my tongue every morning before you run off to your little job to do whatever the fuck it is old men like you do in their spare time?”

His jaw clenched, and his sapphire orbs darkened.

Hmm.I sent him a cocky smile.Hit a nerve, did I?All I’d done was throw his own words back at him. Give him a taste of how it’d felt when he’d said those mean things to me.

If Knox was going to be petty enough to attack me with my age, then I wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to him. This was war, and I was out for blood.

“I have no idea why she’s friends with you,” he spat, and I instantly tensed up. My friendship with Lindsay was a tough topic for me, especially since we were so glaringly different.

Knox noticed my discomfort, and his eyes gleamed with mischief. “She’s so well put together, organized—the very things you’re not. You’re still the same disorderly, insecure, immature little girl you used to be all those years ago, desperately gripping onto anyone who will show you a tiny scrap of affection. Apparently, money can’t buy love.”

My eyes welled up.Goddammit!Don’t cry, Nina. Don’t let him see you break. He’s not worth it.

But the pep talk wasn’t working. My vision was getting blurry and my skin felt clammy. Angry veins pulsed in my neck as my chest tightened.

How dare he? Who the fuck did he think he was to speak to me like that? This was my house! Mine. I was… fuck.

One tear fell. I quickly swiped it away, averting my gaze so I wouldn’t see the smug look on his face. The worst part was, something told me Knox wasn’t being mean to win some stupid war. No. It was ingrained in him, this blatant cynicism. I doubted he knew how to be nice to anyone after years of dwelling in a constant state of morose ignorance.

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