Chapter 57

Aria

Coach John leads me to his suite, punching in the code with an annoying level of authority. The door swings open, and he gestures for me to follow, already halfway inside like I’m some obedient dog.

I hesitate at the threshold, glancing around nervously. What the hell am I walking into? The room’s great, spacious but not as jaw-dropping as Lucas’ suite. And it’s cold. Like, emotionally and literally. I wrap my arms around myself and step inside.

Coach shrugs off his jacket and glances at me over his shoulder. “Sit down.”

I take a deep breath, planting myself on the couch and crossing my legs like a proper lady, even though I’m dying to kick something. He grabs the remote and flips on the TV.

The screen lights up, and there he is…a man with a face like granite and eyes that scream, “I eat people for breakfast.” Mid-fifties, maybe. Stern. Familiar. And then it hits me, oh shit, that’s Lucas’ dad.

“So, you’re Aria,” his voice booms throug