Page 21 of Broken Butterfly
Fallon is messing with you like he always does.
I dribble the ball to the end of the court. “Hey, Fallon. If I make the shot from here, we win.”
“What do you say, boys? Think she can do it?”
“No way!” Seamus, Devon, and Butch call out. Trevaughn only gives me a nod of encouragement.
“Watch and learn, Nutter Butter.” I bounce the ball twice, side grip it, and throw it as hard as I can. We watch in trepidation as it hits the top of the backboard and drops in.
Devon exclaims, “Holy shit!” while Seamus says, “She actually did it!”
My teammates run over to me and we hop around and chant in celebration.
“That’s my girl,” I hear Fallon tell the others. Ryder and Jayson used to call me their girl. Fallon must notice the sadness that suddenly appears on my face because he walks over, putting one arm around my shoulders.
“Thanks, guys, for the game.” Fallon fist bumps all four boys and picks up our coats and gloves from the ground.
“Will you come back again and play hoops with us?” Butch asks, childlike hopefulness sparkling in his eyes.
“I’m taking Elizabeth on a long vacation, but you know what? I promise we’ll stop back by on our way home. How does that sound?” That seems to appease the boys. They wave bye then go back to playing. Fallon helps me with my coat, and I put my gloves back on.
“You are such a big softy, Mr. Montgomery.”
“Don’t tellanyone.”
“I heard you donated money to the center. You work fast.”
“They need new equipment, beds, and books for the library. A few million should cover it.”
I pull Fallon to a stop. “You gave them three million dollars?”
He shrugs and shoves his hands in his coat pockets.
“Holy shit!”
“It’s nothing, Elizabeth.”
It is something. It’s a big something.
“Thank you for agreeing to come here today,” I go on when he remains quiet. “It opened my eyes to so many things. Being able to talk to women like Hailey and myself, women who have been hurt and scared but found a way to fight and survive. It means a lot that you came with me.”
Fallon still doesn’t respond. Instead, he offers me his arm and I loop mine through his as we stroll down the sidewalk.
“Can we go ice skating at Bryant Park later?” I ask.
“You’re shitting me, right? Me on ice skates?”
“Have you ever done it before?”
“No. Can’t say I ever wanted to try.”
“I remember going a few times with Hailey when we were younger. I still can’t believe she’s gone; that they’re all gone. I can’t believe that I forgot them. She was like them—the women at the center,” I tell him. “They reminded me of Hailey. The guy that killed my family, he abused her for a long time before that night. There were signs. I was so stupid because I saw the warning signs. I saw the bruises. I allowed her to convince me they were nothing important. Casual bumps into doors or falls during PE class. What kind of sister was I to not see what was right in front of my face?”
“You were a great sister, Elizabeth. You and Hailey were close and you both loved each other. I wish I could say the same about me and my siblings. Things are good between me andTatiána, but Trevor? I wish I had with him what you had with Hailey. Remember the good times with her.”
“Trevor is a good guy, Fallon. You should sit down and talk to him. Get to know him better. Do you mind if I talk to you about Hailey?”
“Whenever you want to talk about her or your family, I will always listen.”
