Chapter 1

James leaned against his car in the dorm lot, heart thumping as he scoped out Westbridge University’s campus. September air hit crisp, smelling like cut grass and new starts, but his gut was all nerves. Eighteen, skinny, rocking a navy hoodie and jeans, he felt like he didn’t fill out his own skin. College was his shot to ditch the shy kid vibe, find some real friends. Sigma Tau’s brick house, lit up with porch lights and bass thumping, looked like the place to do it.

He hitched his backpack and headed to the open house, palms sweaty. Inside, the place stank of beer and sweat, guys in snapbacks laughing loud, checking out the newbies. A blond dude with a red cup clocked him. “Yo, you here to pledge or just lost?” he asked, flashing a grin.

“James, pledging,” James said, barely loud enough over the music.

“Fresh meat!” The guy slapped his back. “I’m Nate, vice prez. Come meet the boys.”

Nate hauled him through the crowd to a couch where two dudes held court. “This is Liam,” he said, nodding at a skinny guy with a cackle, “and Cole, lacrosse stud.” Cole, built like a tank in a tight jersey, gave James a once-over, his smirk making James’s cheeks burn.

“Skinny little thing, huh, James?” Cole said, leaning close. “What’s your deal?”

“Just wanna fit in,” James muttered, scuffing his sneakers.

Cole chuckled. “We’ll see, kid. Don’t bail on us.”

The night was a blur, beers shoved in his hand, brothers ribbing him about high school. Nate kept his cup topped, Cole’s eyes catching his every time he talked. Felt good, like he was already part of something. Around midnight, Nate hopped on a coffee table, yelling, “Pledges! Time to show you’re Sigma Tau material. First challenge, let’s go!”

James’s stomach knotted as Liam rolled out a cart piled with pizza boxes. Five other pledges, all looking spooked, lined up next to him. The pepperoni stench was heavy, greasy, warm. Nate slid a large pizza his way. “Eat the whole damn thing, no breaks, no hurling. Finish, you’re in the running.”

“The whole thing?” James said, eyeing the steaming pie. His gut was already sloshy from beer.

“Yup,” Nate said, folding his arms. “You good, or you out?”

Cole dropped onto the couch beside him, thigh brushing his. “Don’t choke, pretty boy,” he teased, voice low, smooth like honey.

James froze, brothers staring, Cole’s grin daring him. He didn’t wanna flop on night one. He snagged a slice, cheese pulling in strings. It was good, too damn good, all warm and salty. First two slices went quick, but by the fourth, his stomach was tight, pushing his jeans, aching a bit.

“You feeling that yet?” Cole asked, leaning in, breath hot on James’s ear.

“Stuffed,” James mumbled, hand rubbing his gut, face red.

“Keep going,” Cole said, hand grazing his shoulder. “We’re all eyes on you.”

That vibe, Cole’s voice, hit him weird, like a spark. Made the ache feel less bad. He shoved down another slice, crust heavy, breathing rough. By the last slice, he was slumped, hand on his bloated belly, groaning low. Brothers whooped, but Cole’s look was different, sharp, sliding over James’s red face and tight hoodie.

“Damn, rookie,” Cole said, smirking. “You might just stick around.”

James nodded, stuffed silly but buzzing from Cole’s grin. He wasn’t sure what he’d kicked off, but that look said more was coming.