Page 307 of Playing Dirty

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He leaned back against the lockers again like his body didn’t know what to do with itself.

That was new.

Mason usually looked… controlled.

Even when he was irritated.

Right now he just looked tired.

Which was worse somehow.

“You always this dramatic before tournaments?” I asked.

He scoffed slightly. “No.”

“Then what changed?”

He hesitated.

That pause mattered.

Because Mason didn’t hesitate often.

Then:

“I don’t know.”

I nodded slowly.

That felt honesttoo.

Too honest.

I leaned against the opposite wall, giving him space but not leaving.

“You’re overthinking it,” I said.

“That’s what people say when they don’t know what else to say.”

“Yeah,” I admitted. “But I mean it.”

He looked at me again.

Longer this time.

And for once, it didn’t feel like he was analyzing me.

It felt like he was just… stuck.

MASON

She was too calm.

That was the problem.

Everyone else had opinions.

Coach had pressure.

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