My feet were getting cold against the floor.

I wiggled my toes around, trying to warm them up.

Made up my mind - first thing he's buying me is two pairs of socks!

I pressed my ear against the door. No response.

Maybe he was too... occupied to hear the knocking.

I got my phone ready, opened the camera app, then turned the doorknob.

The door suddenly pulled open from the inside.

There stood Andrew Brook in his silk pajamas, water still dripping from his hair.

Looking down at me like some ghost.

Creepy as hell.

His ice-cold eyes traveled from my bare calves up to my thighs, then he spoke in an equally frosty voice: "Jordan Pierce, what is it now?"

So much shade in that one sentence.

First off, using my full name - ever since his real brother came back, he made me drop the Brook name and go back to Pierce. Just his way of reminding me I'm an outsider.

Second, what's with the "what is it now"? It's not like I'm always knocking on his door at this hour!

"Speak up. What are you upset about this time?"

Andrew Brook's impatient voice came from above.

My heart twinged. I squeezed past him into the room.

"I wanted to see what you're doing. It's my birthday and you didn't even show up or get me a present. Didn't you say you'd take care of me for life? Is this how you do it?"

I curled up on his couch, hugging my knees with my chin resting on them, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes.

Andrew Brook hissed, striding over with his long legs: "Why aren't you wearing shoes? I just had the couch cleaned. How many times do I have to tell you about my germaphobia?"

Here we go again. La la la, not listening! He only lectures ME about this stuff.

Is it because his real brother always wears shoes inside?

Oh right, his precious brother rarely comes to Andrew's room anyway.

Hah. What a proper young master he is.

Usually, I'd snap back at Andrew Brook about now.

Every time I did, his dark eyes would just stare at me, his chest heaving, unable to get a word out.

Then it hit me.