“Keegannnn.”A Bayshore local and hockey fan we affectionately call Jersey Dick shoots his hands in the air as I walk in.Others follow suit.Weak clapping follows.
But I only see one person.
My Book Rec Bartender.
Casey is deep in conversation with a customer, and from how animated they both are, I can tell they’re really excited about whatever they’re talking about.Casey’s gaze swings my way next, and her face lights up as she gasps.
“Here he is!”she says, gesturing to me and looking back at the customer.
The other lady swings her head my way.She’s older, with thick, dark glasses and a smart blazer.I’ve never seen her before, but she certainly seems happy to see me.I head to the bar and slide onto the barstool next to her.
“Hello, ladies.”
“Griffin Keegan, am I glad to see you.”The lady touches my bicep, but not in a weird way.Not like most women at a bar would.I’m getting grandmotherly vibes here.“You don’t know me, but I sure know you.I’m Renee Frankel.”
She holds out her hand, and I shake it.“Nice to meet you, Renee.What can I do for you?”
“I’ve been chatting with the lovely Casey here.Brainstorming, really, and she suggested that you might be able to contribute to an upcoming fundraiser I’m putting together.My organization is planning to raise funds for Lakeside Children's, the pediatric wing at Bayshore General.We've been raising money for a new family resource center—a proper space where parents can stay close when their kids are inpatients, not just a row of plastic chairs in a hallway.We're about forty thousand short of our goal."Renee fixes me with the kind of look that has probably gotten her everything she's ever asked for.“And you know, I've been doing this for thirty years.If you want people to give generously, you’ve got to give them something worth showing up for."
I crack a grin, looking between Renee and Casey.“And how do I fit into this?”
“She wants your sexy body,” Casey blurts.
Renee waves her hands in the air like shooing the words away.“I never saidthat.However, Griffin Keegan, I would love to have your name on something.You’re the hometown hero, and people follow you wherever you go.I was hoping we could collaborate a little bit.”
Casey reaches for something beneath the bar and a moment later my favorite beer appears, uncapped.I grin at her before looking back at Renee.“Okay.I like doing events to raise money for kids.What are you thinking?”
“An auction,” Casey says, her eyes lighting up.
“Like win a date with the hockey pro?”I grimace, shaking my head.“I don’t know about that.”
“Maybe you could donate your time for some lessons or coaching,” Renee suggests.“The winner will get, I don’t know, a one-on-one consult with you.”
I tip my head back and forth.“A little niche.But doable.”
“Oooh, what about a hockey game?”Casey says, eyes going big.“You and, I don’t know, a bunch of your friends play a game.I bet a bunch of people would show up for that.”Then she pauses, thinking.“And shirtless.”
I snort.“I wouldn’t say no.”
Renee gasps, holding up a finger.“What about a friendly hockey game where it’s the pros versus some other group?Kids?Or, wait, no…” She snaps her fingers, eyes lighting up.“First responders!”
Casey gasps.“Hockey players and firefighters facing off!Who wouldn’t show up to that?”
Renee claps.“This is the stuff record-breaking fundraisers are made of!Friendly, wholesome, and quite the draw.”
“It sounds like a great idea,” I tell Renee.“I’ve got some buddies I can call.A few guys from my team live not too far from here.I know they’d be willing to help.”
Renee’s entire face transforms.“Now that,” she points at me, “is how you raise forty thousand dollars in an hour.”
Casey is beaming from behind the bar, looking so pleased with herself that I could haul her across the bar and kiss her.I restrain myself.
"When are you thinking?"I ask.
"Two weekends out."
I do the mental math.That puts the fundraiser the weekend before Claire’s wedding.Fundraiser, wedding, Casey moves to Chicago.I can’t unsee this calendar in my head.The end of summer is coming for us fast, and these next few weeks are going to be breakneck and full of good times.
Until the mother of all bad times hits us like a freight train.
