Page 67 of Pucking Wild

“And you think this place is the right fit?” asks Caleb, glancing around.

“I think it’s the rightprice,” I correct. “And anything can be the right fit with a little polish.”

While Ryan and I were up late watching TV last night, I was feverishly looking up ideas for simple office makeovers. I’ve already got a few things ordered, and as soon as Mars gets back from this trip out to Vegas, I’ll drag him over to IKEA to help me pick out some furniture pieces.

“Trust me,” I say. “You give me a week, and you won’t even recognize this place.”

“I’d hope not,” Caleb replies.

I glare at him. “You wanna take the stairs back down to the car, or you want me to push you out this window? ‘Cause I’m not picky.”

Still wearing his smirk, he slips behind Mars, using him as a shield.

I turn my attention to our patron. “Mars, what doyouthink? I have all the specs right here,” I say, whipping out my phone. “I can walk down the leasing terms with you if you want. I’ve already asked the landlord for a couple adjustments. He was charging a huge fee for phone lines, and who needs that when we can just use a cellphone? Want me to email you the rental contract or—” I huff when I glance up and see he’s walked right past me and is now looking out the window. “Or I guess I can keep looking for locations,” I call over to him. “But Mars, we really need to get this ball rolling so—”

“I hiredyouto make these decisions, did I not?” he says at last, his tone icy.

I go still, eyeing him warily. “Yeah, but I just thought you might want to—”

He turns sharply around. “Don’t bother me with this kind of thing again, Tess. If you think it needs to be done, do it. I put you in charge for a reason.”

Even Caleb looks surprised as he stomps past us, heading for the door.

“So, you just don’t care, then?” I call after him, flapping my arm in exasperation. “You’re gonna front all this cash, and then just wash your hands of all of it?”

He stops at the door, shoulders tense, not turning around.

“I suppose you don’t care about Joey or Nancy or Cheryl either,” I shout. “No, frigid Mars Price, Mr. Man of No Freaking Words, haszeroopinions about how the nonprofit he’s single-handedly funding will operate. You don’t want anything to do withanyof it—”

“Ican’thave anything to do with it,” he shouts, spinning around. He glares from Caleb to me. “What the hell am I going to do?” he says, glancing between us again. “I have no college education, Tess. I never even graduated secondary school before I went pro. You’re all pushing me to think about what comes next after I retire, but there is no next. I play hockey. It’s theonlything I know. I have no expertise in conservation or dune restoration. Caleb is more qualified to assist than I am,” he says with a wave of his hand. “At least he has a degree in chemistry.”

Caleb blinks at his partner. “Mars—”

“Don’t” Ilmari glares at him. “Don’t make light of this.”

“I would never,” Caleb says gently.

“I am useless to you in this endeavor,” Mars says at me. “I gave you the only thing I can offer: capital. The rest is up to you.”

“Mars, you have so many gifts, so many talents—”

“Don’t patronize me,” he snaps. “I don’t need your pity.”

“Mars, I don’t—”

“I hired you to do the work I am wholly unqualified to do,” he says over me. “I need you to do this for me. Will you?”

Slowly, I nod.

“Good. Then, moving forward, you need not include me in every detail of your planning. Agreed?”

I nod again.

His gaze darts to Caleb. “Come. We must go.” Not waiting for Caleb’s reply, he spins on his heel and leaves the office.

Caleb glances at me, his usual asshole smirk firmly tucked away. “We knew he was stewing about something, but we didn’t know what or why. Don’t be angry with him?”

I shake my head. “No. No, never.”

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