Page 203 of Playing Dirty

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And suddenly I couldn’t see her clearly anymore.

That hit harder than it should’ve.

ROWAN

The crowd swallowed everything.

Music.

Voices.

Thoughts.

Luca moved easily through people like he belonged in places like this.

I didn’t.

That became obvious immediately.

“You’re stiff,” he shouted over the music.

“I hate this!”

“You’ll survive!”

Easy for him to say.

He laughed again and stepped closer so I could hear him.

One hand briefly touching my waist to keep someone from slamming into me through the crowd.

That contact lasted maybe two seconds.

Still—

I noticed it immediately.

Not because of him.

Because I suddenly became aware of someone else watching.

And when Ilooked—

Mason was there.

Across the crowd.

Eyes already on us.

MASON

That was mistake number two.

Watching too openly.

Because the second Rowan looked up—

she caught me.

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