Page 62 of Grumpy Puck

“Have you spoken to Orehov about this?”Tugev asks toward the end.

“Why?”

Orehov is a strange hockey player because there are persistent rumors linking him to the Russian mob.I have no idea if said rumors are true, but the one time he fought someone on the ice, the guy disappeared afterward.

“They say he has a lot of connections in Russia,” Tugev says.“Figure that might come in handy if you plan to help kids there.”

“I think I can get by without him,” I say.“I regularly get letters from Russian fans, so that’s who I’d ask for help.”Because the last thing I want is to mix helping children with even a hint of the Russian mob.

“Whatever works best for you.”Tugev goes into his inner jacket pocket to pull out his checkbook.“This is just the start.”He fills out the check and hands it to me.

When I see the number, my eyes widen.This is more money than anyone has ever contributed to my cause, even if you combine it all and add a few zeros.I guess this could’ve been expected.After all, Tugev is a billionaire, but?—

The loud gasp from Calliope’s mouth is weirdly sexy.She’s also noticed the obscene number.

“This will help a lot of kids,” I say solemnly, looking at Tugev.“Thank you, Mason.”

He hands me a business card.“Like I said, that’s just the beginning.Let’s touch base when you’ve grown the fund a bit, and I could make a more meaningful contribution.”

Stunned at the idea of an even bigger check, I nod and watch as he and Sophia leave to mingle with other people.

“Do you think he did that because he felt bad about missing the game?”Calliope asks.

I shrug.“If that’s the case, I’m glad he retired.This money changes everything.”

She squeezes my shoulder.“Let’s keep going while the going is hot.”

“Sure.”

The rat show resumes, and we return to our fundraising mode—which somehow goes a lot smoother now that I have that giant check.It’s like people can sense success and are attracted by it.That or I’m better at social skills when the pressure is off.In fact, I lose count of the checks I get, and then, just as the latest group leaves, a woman steps up to the podium in the front of the room and taps on the microphone.

“The dance-a-thon is about to begin,” she says.“But we’re short on dancers.Anyone want to volunteer?”She looks directly at us.“Particularly anyone who’s a viral sensation?”

I shake my head.

Calliope does the same.

“Oh, don’t be shy,” the woman says.“I’m pretty sure we’ll raise plenty of money if you participate—and it can go to the cause of your choice.”

“Even if it’s his?”Calliope points at me.

“Sure,” the woman says.

Shit.Are we actually going to do this?

Probably not.Calliope still looks uncertain.“I can’t leave my rats alone,” she says.

“I’ll watch them,” the woman says, and she must have a lot of Botox because she manages to wrinkle her nose without causing any wrinkles.

“I’ll make a pledge of a hundred grand if you do dance,” Sophia says, eyes glinting mischievously.“I’m sure other people will be even more generous.”She nods at her date.

Other people get into the spirit of pressuring us and also make pledges.Then, according to the instigator woman, there turns out to be additional money coming from the hoi polloi who will be watching the dance-a-thon online.

“We should do it,” Calliope whispers into my ear.“The kids could use that money.”

“Tugev’s check makes it so we don’t need to do anything we don’t want to do,” I whisper back.“You’ve done so much already.”I doubt I would’ve raised a fraction of this insane amount by myself.

Her lips brush softly against my ear as she whispers, “Dancing together would also help sell our charade.Real couples dance.”

---