I didn’t answer.
Because she wasn’t wrong.
And that annoyed me more than anything.
MASON
Coach pulled me aside after practice.
Not the office this time.
Just the empty sideline.
“That interview,” he said.
I already knew what was coming.
“You gave them something.”
“I answered questions.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
I waited.
Coach looked at the court instead of me.
“You said ‘distractions.’”
I didn’t respond.
He continued.
“Media doesn’t forget words like that.”
I exhaled slowly.
“I didn’t mean her.”
Coach finally looked at me.
“That doesn’t matter.”
That landed heavy.
Because it was true.
ROWAN
Serena was sitting on my bed when I got home again.
“I watched the campus gossip forum,” she said.
I stopped. “Why?”
“Because I’m curious and bored.”
“That’s not a reason.”
