Page 84 of Playing Dirty

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It was easy.

Jace kept talking. “You know what’s funny?”

“No.”

“You’ve been ignoring her for three days.”

“I haven’t.”

“And now you’re watching her like you’re about to lose something.”

I stopped walking.

Just slightly.

Not enough to be obvious.

But enough that Jace noticed.

“Keep moving,” I said.

He laughed under his breath. “Yeah, sure.”

We kept going.

But I wasn’t listening anymore.

Because Rowan shifted slightly toward Caleb again.

And something in my head went quiet in a way I didn’t like.

Not calm.

Not peace.

Just… focus narrowing.

Too much focus.

“Reed,” Jace said, lowering his voice now. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what.”

“Don’t turn this into a thing.”

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t know what “this” even was yet.

Later that night, I was alone in my apartment.

Too quiet again.

Phone on the table.

Buzzing occasionally like it had opinions.

I didn’t touch it.

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