He gave her his most dazzling smile, and it made her want to say yes in spite of herself. Stupid, stupid. She shook her head. “No, I’ve got to get home.”
He nodded solemnly. “Okay. Maybe tomorrow night. You know what? There’s a dance here at the park Sunday. The Jaycees are putting it on. Want to go with me?”
She shook her head a second time. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” A hint of irritation crept into his voice.
She bit her lip. “I’ll probably come with my friends.”
He gave a disgusted sigh. “You spend a lot of time with your friends, don’t you?”
She didn’t say anything.
He glanced past her and shook his head. “Why do you hang out with them, anyway? I don’t get it.” He was looking right at her now, facing her down. “It seems to me you’re wasting your time.”
Her lips tightened, but she still didn’t say anything.
“I don’t mean to be picking on them or anything, but just think about it. They’re weird, Nest, in case you hadn’t noticed.
Barbie Doll, Big Bertha, Joe Space Cadet, and Bobby the Mouth. Weird, Nest. What are you doing with them?”
“Danny,” she said quietly.
“Hey, I’m just trying to make a point. You’ve got a lot more going for you than they do, that’s all I’m saying. You’re one of the best runners in the state, and you’re not even in high school! You’re practically famous! Besides, you’re a cool chick. You’re nothing like them. I really don’t get it.”
She nodded slowly. “I know you don’t. Maybe that’s the point.”
He sighed. “Okay, whatever. Anyway, why don’t you stick around.”
“Hey, Danny, you’re up!” someone called.
“Yeah, in a minute!” he shouted back. He put his hands on her shoulders, resting them there casually. “C’mon, Nest. Tell me you’ll stay until I finish my at bat.”
She stepped back, trying to disengage herself. “I have to go.”
“One at bat,” he pressed. “Five minutes.” He stepped forward, staying with her, keeping his hands in place. “What do you say?”
“Abbott, you’re up!”
“Hey, Nest, take your shoulders out from under his hands!” shouted Robert Heppler suddenly. “You’re making him nervous!”
Danny Abbott blinked, but kept his dark eyes fixed on Nest. His gaze was so intense, so filled with purpose, that it was all Nest Freemark could do to keep from wilting under its heat. But she was just angry enough by now that she refused to give him the satisfaction.
“I have to go,” she repeated, keeping her eyes locked on his.
His hands tightened on her shoulders. “I won’t let you,” he said. He smiled, but the warmth was missing from his eyes.
“Take your hands away,” she told him.
A couple of the boys who had been standing around the backstop started to drift over, curious to see what was happening.
“You’re not so hot,” he said quietly, so that only she could hear. “Not half as hot as you think.”
She tried to twist away, but his grip was too strong.
“Hey, Danny, pick on someone your own size!” shouted Robert, coming forward a few steps.
One thing about Robert, he wasn’t afraid of anyone. He’d been in so many fights in grade school that his parents had taken him to a psychiatrist. He’d been suspended more times than Nest could remember. His problem was that he wasn’t very careful about choosing his opponents, and today was no exception. Danny Abbott looked over at him with undisguised contempt. Danny was bigger, stronger, quicker, and meaner than Robert, and he was looking for an excuse to slug someone.
“What did you say, Heppler?” Robert held his ground and shrugged. “Nothing.” “That’s what I thought, you little creep.” Robert threw up his hands in exaggerated dismay. “Oh, great! I’m being called a creep by a guy who wrestles with girls!”
Half-a-dozen ballplayers had congregated, and a few snickered at the remark. Danny Abbott dropped his hands from Nest’s shoulders. His hands knotted into fists, and he turned toward Robert. Robert gave him a very deliberate smirk, but there was a shadow of doubt in his eyes now. “Robert,” Cass called in a low, warning voice. “I’m going to wipe up the park with you,” Danny Abbott said, and started forward.