Page 85 of Butterfly

“An engagement ring, Mom,” I said helpfully.

“I know that, honey,” she said slowly. “My question is, who the hellgaveit to you?”

I started to answer, but Mason had just stolen the puck from the other team and was skating toward the net. He passed it to Emory, who passed it to Matt, who then passed it back to Mason—who shot it right into the net. Again.

Jumping up and down wildly, I forgot our parents for a second.

He was incredible. It was like he was dancing.

“Leslie. Answer me.” My mom’s hand was on mine, tight. “Honey, please.”

“Sweetheart, we know the answer,” Paul said, his voice as grim as his face.

Shock froze my mother’s beautiful face.

“Honey, you?—”

But Mason had the puck again, and we watched in silent awe as he scored a hat trick, just as horn sounded to signal the end of the second period.

Mason’s team was whooping and hollering. Mason, however, skated over to our side of the stadium. He pointed at me, then pointed at his father, then pointed at me again.

I held up my ring finger.

He nodded, waiting on the rink.

“Calloway!” his coach called.

“We’re together,” I told our parents, my voice trembling. I was proud. Scared of their reactions, but proud. “We love each other. I’m not asking for your permission—you know Mason won’t care—but I am asking for your acceptance.”

“Oh, honey,” my mom began.

Paul stood. “I don’t know what my son did to you, Leslie, but I promise, I’ll make it right.”

And then he was making his way down the stands as I watched.

“Calloway!” Mason’s coach called again.

Squaring his shoulders, Mason tipped his chin at me. I knew what it meant.

Are you okay?

I nodded.

That was good enough for him. Mason turned, following his team back into the locker room—where, I assumed, his father was going to find him.

34

MASON

There was a man waiting for me outside the locker room.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t my father.

Jack Feldman leaned against the wall about a foot away from the locker room door, his eyes trained on me. A few of the players spoke to him as they filed into the locker room, but I couldn’t hear what they said. Probably fawning all over him. He was a legend, after all.

“Nice hat trick,” he commented when he saw me. “Although you’re going to have to pick up your speed when you play Reina, or I’m going to be bored out of my mind.”

“Why are you here, Jack?” I asked, scanning the hallway for my father.

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