Page 67 of Playing Dirty
Gone.
“Don’t do that,” he said.
“What?”
“Act like I’m the problem.”
I let out a short breath. “You are the one acting weird.”
“I’m not acting anything.”
“You are right now.”
He stepped forward slightly.
Not aggressive.
Just closer.
Instantly, everything in the hallway felt smaller.
“I had shit going on,” he said.
“Okay.”
That should’ve ended it.
It didn’t.
Because he didn’t move away.
And I didn’t either.
“What kind of shit?” I asked.
His eyes flicked briefly over my face.
Like he was deciding whether to answer honestly.
Then:
“Family.”
That word changed something.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
I softened slightly before I could stop it.
“Oh.”
A pause.
Then I added, quieter: “Is it bad?”
His mouth twitched like he almost smiled at that.
