Pass Interference by Natalie Brock

the road, Sara glanced over at Philip. His broad smile was infectious. He was so pumped during the drive home that Sara could actually feel his joy. He was like a new man.
    “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy,” she observed.
    “That’s because you haven’t exactly seen me at my best,” he admitted. “It’s been a rough six weeks, not knowing what was gonna happen.”
    She glanced at him again before turning her attention back to the road. “You said the doctor told you that you can start back slowly in another few weeks, right?, but the season will be almost over.”
    “Yeah.” He sighed. “I sort of suspected I’d be down for the count. But at least now I have a realistic goal. I have hope again.”
    “Hope for…um.” Sara searched for a way to say it tactfully. “Are you saying you didn’t think you’d be able to play again?”
    “Yeah, thought crossed my mind. Or even walk again,” he muttered quietly. He shook off the negative thought. “The team has a good shot at the post-season, so maybe…”
    “I bet you’ll get drafted by a good team,” she said enthusiastically. She wanted to see that smile again.
    “I probably wouldn’t be taken in the first or second round like I would have been if not for getting sidelined,” he explained. “But the rainbow is, the later the pick, the better the team.”
    Sara’s brow knit. “Okaaaay. That makes no sense.” Before Philip could explain how the draft worked, Sara asked, “What was that about a rainbow?”
    “Oh. Ha. I didn’t even realize I said that.” He laughed. “I picked up that phrase from my mother. She always says where there’s rain, there’s a rainbow. Kind of her way of saying that ‘things happen for a reason,’ and life has a way of working out, even when bad things happen.”
    “A rainbow. I like that.” Sara smiled. She decided she liked Philip’s mother, sight unseen. Then she thought about the draft again. “Wait. Don’t jocks usually have an agent that shops them around? Or a player representative or something?”
    Philip appeared impressed. “Very good,” he said, briefly placing his hand on her shoulder. “Yup. In my case, my dad is my agent, at least for now.”
    Sara tried to ignore the little thrill she felt when Philip touched her. “Your dad? Really?” Everything about Philip fascinated her lately. “Is that his job? Like Jerry McGuire?”
    “No.” Philip chuckled. “It’s not his job, but my father knows a lot about business and he knows a lot about football. He played football in college for a couple years. Plus, he knows a lot about me. There’s no one I trust more with my future.” Philip suddenly clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Oh man, this is gonna be such a great Christmas present for my parents.”
    Christmas? Sara hadn’t even given any thought to winter break at all, and it surprised her to hear Philip mention it. She wasn’t close with her family, so holidays didn’t have the same importance for her as they did for most people. She looked at Philip and a sudden panic washed over her at the thought of not seeing him for weeks. “Are you—” When she started to speak, her voice was squeaky, revealing her anxiety. Clearing her throat, she repeated, “Are you gonna be seeing your parents at Christmas?” She hoped he didn’t catch the dread in her voice.
    “Of course. Aren’t you?”
    “Um. No,” she said, hating to admit it. “I’m staying on campus.” She gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.
    “Seriously? Why?”
    She kept her eyes on the road, but she could see out of the corner of her eye that he was looking right at her, making her feel self-conscious. She pressed the button to roll down the window on the passenger side, hoping to divert his attention. No such luck. “I um…I prefer not having to deal with my families.”
    Philip squinted at her. “Did you say families?”
    “Oh um. Yes. My parents are divorced and they each have