Page 168 of Playing Dirty

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That stayed in the room longer than anything else tonight.

Mason

She didn’t respond immediately.

Just looked at me.

Like she was trying to understand something that didn’t translate easily.

I’d seen that look before.

Not often.

Not from many people.

Rowan didn’t look away quickly.

That mattered.

The room felt quieter again.

But not empty.

Just paused.

Then she said:

“That sounds lonely.”

I didn’t answer immediately.

Because it was.

But I didn’t say that.

Instead:

“It’s just how it is.”

That should’ve ended it.

It didn’t.

Rowan

He said it like it was weather.

Not choice.

Not identity.

Just fact.

I didn’t like that.

Not because I disagreed.

Because I didn’t.

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