Page 382 of Playing Dirty

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“Yes,” she said. “Congratulations, you’re learning.”

My phone buzzed.

Mason.

Mason:

Coach thinks we’re unstable.

I stared at that.

Then replied:

Rowan:

He’s not wrong.

Three dots.

Stopped.

Started again.

Mason:

I hate this week.

That felt simple.

Human.

Too human.

MASON

Luca sat beside me on the bleachers after we left the gym.

“You’re quieter,” he said.

“I’m thinking less.”

“That’s worse.”

I looked at him. “Why?”

“Because you’re not actually thinking less,” he said. “You’re just not saying it out loud.”

That was annoying.

Because it was accurate.

My phone buzzed again.

Rowan.

Rowan:

People are starting to askme questions.

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