I blink at him. “So, you know who’s in it?”

“Of course I do,” he says, sipping his coffee.

I cross my arms. “Then why don’t you, I don’t know, tell them to knock it off?”

Dad lets out a dry laugh. “You think the dean hasn’t tried? It’s Blackridge, Sienna. The Brotherhood’s practically part of the school’s legacy. They’re a pain in the ass, sure, but what can you do? It is what it is.”

“That’s bullshit,” I mutter.

He shrugs. “Welcome to college sports.” He points at me. “Language.”

I lean back in my chair, trying to piece this together. My school doesn’t have anything like this. No secret societies. The worst we’ve got is some frat bro puking on the quad after a tailgate.

“What’s on your mind?” Dad asks, narrowing his eyes.

“Nothing.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing.”

I wave him off. “Just thinking about how different Blackridge is from my old college.”

There’s a knock at the door, and Dad sets his cup down, frowning. “Who the hell is it?”

Before I can even process the sound, the door swings open, and Caleb steps inside.

My stomach lurches, and for a second, I swear I stop breathing.

“Hey, Coach,” Caleb says, his voice casual like I don’t exist.

“Caleb,” Dad greets him. “What’s up?”

“I needed to talk to you about the lineup for Saturday.”

I’m already pushing back from the table, grabbing my phone and muttering something about needing to grab my notebook.

“Sienna, where are you going?” Dad asks, frowning.

“Just—uh, I’ve got homework,” I lie, bolting to leave.

I don’t look at Caleb as I pass, but I can feel his eyes on me.

The second I’m out, I shut the door and lean against it, heart racing.

God, please don’t let him say anything about the library yesterday.

The last thing I need is father drama. And yet, I find myself standing here and spying, listening in on their conversation.

I’m barely listening to what they’re saying, my mind wandering, when I hear the softest whisper in my ear.

“What are you listening to?”

I freeze, every muscle in my body locking up. The deep, unmistakable voice sends a jolt through me.

I turn slowly, expecting to see one of the last people I ever wanted to see right now. And there he is. Eli with an infuriating smirk. Tall, handsome as hell, and muscular.

I’m caught off guard, but I try to keep my composure, narrowing my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

Eli grins, stepping closer, his presence making my skin prickle with irritation. “Thought I’d come check out what the princess is up to.”