Page 350 of Playing Dirty

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Just… cleanly.

Like something had been placed where it didn’t belong.

Mia made a low whistle. “That’s going to be… interesting.”

I didn’t answer.

Because “interesting” wasn’t the word I was thinking.

MASON

Coach didn’t even explain it.

He just threw the printed sheet onto the bench.

“Media pairings came in,” he said.

That alone made everyone tense up.

Media meant exposure.

Exposure meant pressure.

Luca grabbed the sheet first.

Then laughed.

“Oh no.”

I looked up immediately. “What.”

He didn’t answer.

He just handed it to me.

My eyes scanned once.

Stopped.

REED, MASON — FEATURE INTERVIEW / NYC PRE-PLACEMENTMEDIA SERIES

Assigned journalist: ROWAN (INTERN)

Silence.

Not loud silence.

Worse.

Locker-room silence.

Andre broke it first. “Oh that’s actually insane.”

Jace snorted. “That’s scripted. That has to be scripted.”

Coach walked past us. “It’s not.”

Luca looked at me carefully.

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