Page 19 of Hot Rucking Canadian

“Bowls?

“The Southwest Rice Bowl is good. I also like the Dragon Bowl.”

I quickly scanned the menu. Black beans. Uh, no. My digestive system didn’t do well with black beans—something I’d learned the hard way. “How are the fish and chips?” Something to be said for going simple.

“They’re good.” Mallow offered a shy smile. “So’s the French Dip. Have whatever you like. My treat.”

Cassandra sighed. “Almost like a date.”

I nearly scowled, but somehow managed not to. “I can pay my own way.” Because I could. This place wasn’t astronomical in price. I could fit it into the budget.

“I’m certain you can.” Mallow tapped his shoe to my boots. “But I want to thank you for coming to the game and getting soaking wet.”

He wasn’t wrong. My damp jeans clung uncomfortably to my thighs and a bit of my neck had gotten wet when I’d removed my slicker. My own fault—not paying attention. Nope, I’d been watching a certain fullback removing his jacket and showing off nice muscles beneath his tight T-shirt. “Yeah, okay. This time.”

Cassandra giggled. “That means you’re going out again.”

Becca turned to her daughter. “Are you meddling?”

“You mean like when I told Uncle Jason about the woman with the—”

“Cassandra.” Becca hissed the word under her breath, but still audible to said young woman as well as Mallow and me.

She just shrugged. “I thought you said we’re supposed to be honest.”

Becca sighed. “There is such a thing as too much honesty.”

Cassandra arched an eyebrow delicately.

Jesus, I can’t even do that. Now I’m jealous of a child.Well, she clearly verged on teenager hood, and I would’ve pegged her as slightly older. But then I knew nothing about kids.

“What are you having?” Mallow met Cassandra’s stare with one of his own. Clearly he was either braver than me or had done this before. Or needed his head examined. I wasn’t certain staring down that young woman was such a good idea. That being said, she could likely smell blood in the water.

“Tiki Tuna Poke Bowl.” She closed her menu.

I blinked.

“Some of it will come home in a container.” Becca smiled. “She doesn’t eat all of it.”

“Harumph.” Cassandra looked displeased, with a little furrow between her eyebrows. “I’m a growing girl.” She straightened and nodded to me. “I’m training.”

I blinked.

“I do track and field. I’m a runner. Building up speed and agility.” She crossed her arms. “I wish we had rugby at my school.”

“Uh…what grade are you in?”

“Seventh.”

I tried to do the math on that.

“I skipped a grade. School’s so boring.” More pouting.

Becca sighed. “Cassandra is…advanced. The school decided she might get up to less mischief if she skipped third grade entirely.”

“Didn’t miss it.” She ran her hand through her short hair. “I can’t wait to get to high school.”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah, I had the same attitude.” I considered my next words carefully. “I didn’t take school seriously. I was dumb anyway, so why bother?”

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