Page 108 of Playing Dirty

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That was worse than if she had pulled away.

Because it meant we were both aware and choosing not to fix it.

That was new.

That was dangerous in a way I didn’t fully understand yet.

Rowan

I felt it before I decided what it meant.

Something behind me.

Not pressure.

Not obvious.

Just contact.

Small.

Accidental.

Probably.

My chair had shifted back slightly without me noticing.

Andnow—

there was something against it.

I didn’t turn.

Because I knew if I did, I’d make it real.

Caleb was still talking behind me.

Coach was still speaking.

Film still running.

But none of that mattered for a second.

Because Mason was there.

Close enough that I didn’t need to see him to know.

I adjusted my pen slightly.

Pretended nothing had changed.

But my back didn’t move the chair forward.

Neither did his knee move away.

That should’ve been normal.

It wasn’t.

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