Page 35 of Honey Undone (The Hornets Nest #5)

“You know a lot about sports?” Ella asked with a smile but it was obvious how annoyed she was about losing.

“I grew up in a household where any sport was a good sport. It was the only channel ever played. “ I explained as Jensen’s fingers tickled across my thigh, I spread my legs letting him sink deeper and closed them over again, trapping his touch against mine without thought.

“You’re quick,” Ella said, “I hate losing but I like her. Todd get your shit together, if we lose this because you’re eighty percent liquor I’m going to make your life hell in physio tomorrow.”

Todd shuddered and set down his half consumed glass of rum and coke. “It’s not my fault she’s a living breathing sports fact machine,” he grumbled.

“I’m embarrassed to admit that baseball is my weak spot,” I said, “I know the least about it.”

“It’s a tough sport to follow,” Todd said, his eyes barely lifting to meet mine. It was clear that he wasn’t exactly as welcoming as the rest of the group. He seemed like he didn’t even really want to be there and unfortunately for him, I enjoyed arguing with grown men.

“Not that tough,” I said, “just not really that interesting.”

Todd stiffened, and Jensen laughed, turning his head into my hair to cover the sound but the warning to leave it alone never came from him like I had expected it too.

“Are you serious?” Todd’s glare deepened and he sat up a little more. It was almost surprising how much life he suddenly had in him.

“Well your games last two hours and a half hours? Sometimes longer and a lot of the time the defense is so strong that it’s just two hours of pitching. In rugby it's a matter of seconds before something happens and it’s never just a one off, we run that field for eighty minutes straight.” I said.

“You’re glorified soccer players,” Todd argued. "And don't you play sevens. You play for fourteen minutes." I'd give him that win, but I wasn't backing down.

“Our pitch is bigger than a soccer field,” I countered with a smile and everyone at the table waited with small laughter and smiles for Todd’s rebuttal. “Just admit that rugby is the better sport,” I said.

“Never,” Todd was quick to respond to that, “because it’s not. It’s a sport where the main objective is to hurt the other guy, there's no tact to it. No skill.”

I leaned forward on the table, and Jensen’s grip on my thigh tightened gently.

“So you’re saying anyone could play it?” I asked.

“A toddler could play rugby,” Todd said, taking back the rest of his drink. Everyone watched as he slammed his empty glass down. “It’s not that hard.”

“What’s the average age of a college baseball player?” I asked, but the question was directed at Ella who just laughed.

“Twenty two,” she said, “in Todd’s case, thirteen?”

“Traitor,” he mumbled, “I could out play you in any sport, you’re a girl. By nature, I’m bigger and stronger than you.”

“Fair,” I said, the smile creeping back to my face as I fought to ignore his egotistical insult. He had no idea just how strong I was, and given his addiction to booze and his lazy plays on the field. He wasn’t an athlete, he was barely a man. “Prove it then,” I said, taking it a step further .

“What?” Todd asked, his voice laced with confusion.

“If you think you’re a better rugby player than me, prove it .”

Jensen’s chest rumbled with laughter.

“Hillcats VS Hornets,” I said, turning to look at him.

“Hey now,” Cael was the first to protest. “How did we get dragged into this? I didn’t say shit, you’re plenty strong and very smart, very—” Clementine dug her elbow into his side to shut him off. Her face was full of amusement at the challenge.

“Playing against just Todd would be an unfair advantage,” I said, “If he’s going to prove his point, he needs a team… Unless you’re scared.”

Van chuckled, “I’m in. Cosy’s been trying to pull something like this together for years.”

“Me too,” Jensen kissed my shoulder, his lips lingering.

“Next Friday,” I said, “we have practice but I’m sure Coach won’t mind some hands-on time. You need fifteen guys,” I told them.

“How do we convince ten more guys to play?” Dean asked, looking around the table.

“Just tell them that I called them pussies, that should do it,” I smiled and the laughter that tumbled from the girls at the table was infectious.

“This night got infinitely better when you arrived,” Ella said.

“Agreed,” Zoey said, leaning into my side.

“This is fucking stupid, you guys are going to get hurt,” Todd said to me.

“Have you ever seen a single game of rugby?” I laughed, my brows coming together tightly. “Or are you just bull-shiting because your manhood was threatened by a pretty girl?”

Jensen snorted, his face still pressed to the side of my head.

“This will be a piece of cake,” Todd said with unbridled confidence.

“Friday, six o'clock.” I said, I would need to shoot a text to the team but there’s not a chance any of them would back down from tossing around the baseball team.

“Have you seen the size of Rhea Drake? She’s like Van with boobs!” Cael interjected, trying to talk some sense into them. “She alone proves Todd wrong,” he said.

“I can take Rhea,” Todd slurred and the entire table erupted into laughter.