Falling For My Best Friend’s Brother

ELARA'S POV I dropped the heavy cardboard box onto the hardwood floor, wiping sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. The impact sent a dull thud echoing through the empty living room. I stretched my aching arms and looked around the space. It was bare, messy, and entirely mine. "That's the last one," Sienna said, walking through the front door with a smaller box in her arms. She kicked the door shut behind her, dropping her load next to mine. "Thank you for helping me," I said, handing her a bottle of water from my backpack. "You don't need to thank me," Sienna replied, twisting the cap off. "You needed out of your parents' house. I had an extra room. It makes perfect sense." My stomach protested at the mention of my parents. I grabbed my water bottle and took a long drink. For twenty-one years, my parents used money and affection as leashes. Every gift came with a demand, and every compliment came with a threat. Moving here was my first actual choice. "I just want a quiet semester," I stated, sitting down on the edge of my box. "Go to class, go to work, come back here to sleep without any drama." Sienna avoided my eyes, suddenly very interested in her water bottle. She peeled the edge of the plastic back with her thumbnail. "About the quiet part," Sienna started in a voice close to suspicion. I lowered my bottle, staring at her. "What's wrong, Sienna?" I asked. "Nothing's wrong," she answered quickly, looking up. "It's just that rent is expensive, and we needed a third person for the lease." "You found a third roommate?" I asked, gripping the plastic bottle tighter. "Who?" I questioned. Sienna shifted her weight from one foot to the other, crossing her arms over her chest. "Rowan," she stated. My hands went cold. I stared at her, waiting for a punchline that didn't come. "Your brother," I whispered. "He got kicked out of his fraternity house," Sienna explained, rushing the words together. "He needed a place to stay, and my parents cut off his housing allowance because of his grades. I couldn't just let him sleep in his car, Elara. I had to offer him the extra room." I stood up as my heart rate skyrocketed. Rowan Hale was not just Sienna's brother. He was a walking disaster. He spent his college years ruining reputations, breaking rules, and treating people like disposable assets. He viewed every interaction as a transaction. He was exactly the kind of person I spent my entire life learning to avoid. "You promised me this place would be just us," I said, keeping my tone completely level. "I know," Sienna apologized, reaching out to touch my arm. I stepped back, avoiding the contact. "He'll stay out of your way. He's taking the bedroom at the end of the hall. You'll barely even see him. I promise." Before I could respond, the front door swung open and slammed against the interior wall. Rowan walked into the house, carrying a black duffel bag over one shoulder. He dropped the bag onto the floor and kicked the door shut with the heel of his boot. He wore a dark jacket and jeans, his hair was messy from the wind outside. He looked at Sienna, ignoring me entirely. "The lock on the back door is broken," he stated. "Call the landlord to fix it tomorrow." "I'll call him," Sienna said, taking a nervous step forward. "Rowan, this is Elara. She just moved her last boxes in." Rowan turned his head slowly and looked at me. His expression was completely blank. He didn't smile, and he didn't offer his hand. He stared at me for three agonizing seconds, his gaze analyzing every inch of my posture. My breathing turned shallow, but I locked my knees and refused to look away. "I know who she is," Rowan said, dismissing me and turning back to his sister. "Where's my room?" he demanded. "Down the hall on the right," Sienna answered, pointing toward the corridor. Rowan picked up his duffel bag and walked past me. His shoulder brushed against mine, a harsh and deliberate contact. I stumbled a half step to the side and I balled my hands into fists at my sides. "Watch where you're going," I said in a loud voice which was a contrast to the quiet room. Rowan stopped walking and stood perfectly still with his back to me. Sienna put her hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in panic. Rowan turned around slowly, dropping the bag back to the floor. He closed the distance between us in three long strides, stopping less than a foot away from me. I tilted my head up to maintain eye contact. My heart pounded against my ribs, but I didn't step back. "This is my house now," Rowan told me, leaning down until his face was inches from mine. "I don't watch where I'm going. Other people move out of my way." "I'm on the lease," I countered, keeping my voice entirely steady. "I pay rent. I'm not moving out of your way just because you demand it. You can learn to walk around me." Rowan stared down at me. His eyes darted to my mouth and then back up to my eyes. He stepped even closer, completely invading my personal space. The heat radiating from his body was intense and my throat went dry instantly. "You're Sienna's charity case," Rowan said, lowering his voice so only I could hear the harsh words. "You ran away from mommy and daddy, and now you're playing house. Don't try to play games with me, Elara. You'll lose." "I don't play games," I whispered back, my nails digging into the palms of my hands. "And I'm not afraid of you." "You should be," Rowan replied. He leaned back, picking up his duffel bag in one fluid motion, and walked down the hallway without looking back. His bedroom door shut with a loud, definitive crack. I stood in the center of the living room, my legs were shaking violently. I needed water. I grabbed my bottle and gulped down the entire bottle, which forced my breathing to slow down. Sienna walked over to me. "I'm so sorry," She apologized, rubbing her forehead. "He's just stressed, I know he doesn't mean it." "He meant every word," I stated, staring at the closed door at the end of the hall. "I'll deal with him," Sienna promised, picking up her empty box and walking toward the kitchen. "Just unpack your room. It will get better. We just need to establish some basic boundaries." I picked up my heavy box, adjusted my grip, and walked down the hallway to my bedroom, kicking the door shut behind me. I dropped the box onto the bare mattress and ripped the packing tape open. I needed to focus on organizing my life. I pulled out my clothes and began placing them into the dresser drawers, refusing to let Rowan ruin my first day of freedom. I reached into the box to grab my laptop charger. A sudden, heavy knock on the bedroom door startled me, making my heart race again. Before I could answer, my bedroom door opened and Rowan stood in the doorway, holding a silver apartment key dangling from his index finger. "You left this on the kitchen counter," he said, stepping into my room and locking the door behind him.