Roll Against Discovery (3d20 Book 3) by Allyson Lindt Page A

out alone. For once, though, I didn’t care if people whispered and talked about the girl sitting at a corner table, dining by herself.
    I walked back into my apartment around nine. Dinner had been nice, but I wasn’t able to stretch it out long enough. Should I watch a movie? Fall asleep early? I wasn’t tired.
    My phone rang, and I jumped. I laughed at the empty apartment and my own skittishness. A smile threatened to split my face when I saw Evan’s name on the screen.
    “Hey.” Giddiness fluttered in my chest. “I thought you were working.”
    “I just got off.”
    “And you didn’t let me watch.” Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
    His laugh relaxed me. “You’re going to kill me with lines like that.” He sounded like he looked forward to it.
    I sat down, and pulled a throw pillow onto my lap. “I could apologize if that helps.”
    “Definitely don’t do that. I like knowing you meant it. Besides, I was thinking it, so I would be disappointed if you didn’t say anything.”
    I wanted to take the flirting further. Fall into the teasing. The excitement racing over my skin made me curious to see how far we could go over the phone. Except, something about getting too sexy with just Evan felt like cheating. It wasn’t a rational thought, but that didn’t make it any easier for me to feel otherwise. “What’s up?” That sounded casual, right?
    “Honestly? I just wanted to talk.”
    “And you called me? I’m flattered.” I tried to sound flippant, but the sentiment had me glowing.
    “You should be. I didn’t want to talk to anyone else…”
    Except Trevor. I almost heard the words buried in his unfinished sentence, and I didn’t know how to respond.
    “I wanted to hear your voice.” Evan’s tone firmed and took on the confidence I expected from him.
    I lost track of time as we fell into conversation, touching on everything from what movies we were waiting for to places we’d love to visit, to how we felt about karma.
    When I yawned for the fourth time in as many minutes, he said, “You need your sleep, Kitten.”
    Was it really almost two? I didn’t want to hang up, but we both had work in the morning, and mine promised to be horrible even without exhaustion looming over me. “Sleep is for the weak.”
    “Then that’s me.” His voice took on a somber tone. “I’ll see you this weekend.”
    We said reluctant goodbyes, and I barely remembered to strip out of my clothes before collapsing in bed.

Chapter Thirteen
    Waking up Tuesday morning was like grating my soul over a gravel pit. I forced myself to follow my routine. Go to work. Ignore the stares. Not yell at obnoxious customers. Head to the dojo.
    I was dragging by the time I made it home that night. I needed to unwind after my workout, and a shower helped, but experience told me my muscles would hate me in the morning if I didn’t sit up for at least a little while.
    I settled on the couch and grabbed the remote. My phone buzzed with a new text. A second wind of energy rushed through me when I saw a message from Trevor.
    What’re you up to? he asked.
    Deciding what to watch.
    Oh :(
    His frowny face drew a similar expression from me. How was I supposed to interpret it? I should be staring at the wall instead? I hoped he’d get the teasing in my response.
    No. I just wanted to catch you after class and before your shower.
    I adored that he’d messaged me, but unlike with to Evan, over the phone, I struggled to infer the tone of the conversation based on typed words. Because…?
    To give you something to fantasize about, while you rinsed off.
    Oh. Heat flooded my skin, and any doubt about his tone evaporated. You’re assuming I wasn’t already thinking about it. If I hadn’t been before, I was now. Slipping and sliding together in the shower. My pulse raced at the vivid images.
    His reply made my phone vibrate in my hand. Me stepping up behind you? Wrapping my arms around your waist. Both of us soapy and wet…
    Fuck.