Page 184 of Playing Dirty

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MASON

I saw her talking to him.

Luca.

One of the bench guys.

Not important on paper.

But close enough to be in the same orbit.

That was the problem with parties.

Everyone became closer than they should’ve been.

Jace followed my gaze immediately.

“Oh,” he said. “That’s new.”

“What is.”

“That guy doesn’t usually talk to anyone.”

“He’s talking now,” I said.

“Yeah,” Jace replied. “And you’re watching it like it’s a film you didn’t agree to see.”

I didn’t answer.

Because Rowan laughed.

Not loud.

Not obvious.

Just a small shift in expression.

But I noticed it anyway.

That was the issue.

I was noticing too much.

ROWAN

Luca leaned slightly closer so he could hear over the music.

“You don’t like this place,” he said.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

That made me glance at him.

He wasn’t wrong.

But he also wasn’t pushing.

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