Jess had only lasted until the fifth inning. After he'd walked the leadoff batter and the next two hitters, Lou Harding had jaunted to the mound and relieved him of the ball. Kendra and I had exchanged worried glances but neither of us formed the words we both were thinking. I had questioned Kendra about Jess’s shoulder but she could only shake her head helplessly at me. “He’s never said a word,” she assured me. But the concern in her eyes had mirrored mine and it was a minor relief that I wasn’t the only one worried. “How was your party?” my mother asked in a cheerful voice. “Samantha is evil,” I muttered as I stalked toward the stairs. “Samantha Roper? That nice girl?” Reaching out, she took hold of my arm, smoothly preventing my escape. “Did you argue with her?” “She’s not a nice girl, Mother. She’s an evil, conniving wench.” I shook my arm loose and charged up the stairs two at a time. Slamming my door shut, I flopped on the bed. I snatched the remote for my television off the night stand and flipped through the stations until I found a sports channel.
