Page 18 of Hot Rucking Canadian

I was intrigued.

"Fuck off. You're a mallow... just fucking teach me about rugby so next time I come to your game I can understand what you're doing out there..."

“Just kiss him already.” Johnnie joined us, standing where he could put his hands on both our backs and try to squeeze us together.

Badarse and I were strong enough that Johnnie had to really strain.

In the end, I moved forward first.

My companion, of sorts, moved closer as well.

Becca appeared on the other side and stuck her arm between us, wagging her finger at Johnnie. “You leave them alone. If they want to kiss, then they’ll kiss. If they want to be left in peace, then we’ll damn well leave them in peace.”

Then, as if this wasn’t all crazy enough, Cassandra wormed her way between Badarse and me. She glared at Johnnie. “You need to be respectful.”

My teammate appeared immediately contrite, as he bowed his head a bit.

“Consent is important.” She put her hands on her hips. “They have to give permission first.”

Jesus, we’re getting a lecture from an eleven-year-old who is apparently smarter than all of us.

“You’re right.” Johnnie stood taller. “I apologize.”

“You’d better.” She held the serious expression for another moment before glancing up at me. She gestured to Badarse with her chin. “I like him.”

I held her gaze for a moment longer before meeting his eyes. “I think I might like him too.” Especially if he was willing to learn about rugby.

Becca grabbed my hand. “Why don’t we head out for a quiet dinner together?” She eyed the gaggle of guys hanging with wives, girlfriends, or just by themselves. The rowdy bunch.

I usually went with them, but I wasn’t a drinker and didn’t always fit in. I met Becca’s gaze. “I’d be up for that.” Then I met Badarse’s eyes. “You? Or do you want—”

“I want.” He held my gaze with those mesmerizing blue eyes. “I’d really like.”

Not knowing what was coming next, but willing to give it a shot, I held out my hand. “Let’s go.”

Cassandra clapped, then hugged Johnnie around the waist. “You’re coming too, right Uncle Johnnie?”

For a moment, he looked longingly over at the other guys who were heading out to our favorite pub. He ruffled Cassandra’s hair—in a way he knew drove her nuts. “Of course.” He glanced at me. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

Chapter Nine

Travis

Can an eleven-year-old be a matchmaker?

That question swirled in my mind as I sat across from Mallow at Brown’s Social House. Fortunately, the place was somewhere between dive bar and five-star dining. Perhaps a little closer to the latter, but I’d survive. Everyone else wore jeans with various types of footwear. We’d all shed our outerwear, and now I was pleased I’d put on a clean henley.

Dodge, my friend at work, claimed the color matched my eyes.

Well, our coworker, Annabelle, had pointed it out, and Dodge repeated it, so that meant two people liked it.

Right?

I just didn’t know.

Cassandra sat primly next to me and pointed to the menu. “They really do make amazing burgers, but their bowls are exceptional.”

Exceptional?I wasn’t certain I’d ever used that word in my life.

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