Page 296 of Playing Dirty

ROWAN

I sat on my bed still holding my phone.

Serena had finally given up pretending she wasn’t listening and left the room dramatically like she was offended by my emotional development.

I should’ve been working on my portfolio.

Instead I was staring at Mason’s messages.

Mason:

Don’t do that again.

I frowned.

Rowan:

Do what?

Three dots.

Stopped.

Started again.

Mason:

Make me think you didn’t get home safe.

That one made my stomach tighten slightly.

Not in a dramatic way.

Just noticeable.

I leaned back against the wall.

Rowan:

You’re not my dad.

Almost instantly:

Mason:

Thank God.

I actually laughed.

Then stopped.

Because why did that feel… comfortable?

That was the problem lately.

Everything with him was starting to feel weirdly normal.

Like it had always been there.