complex. It was the first time he noticed how pretty she was. He didn’t mean to stare at her or make her uncomfortable, but it was obvious he made her feel self-conscious. And that unexpected embrace at the doctor’s office seemed to catch them both off guard.
If he had to analyze Sara, he’d say she was filled with bravado. But that’s all it was, just an act, a cover for her lack of self-confidence. He recognized it from personal experience.
Not many people knew this, but Philip was uncomfortable in the limelight. It took a lot out of him to give interviews and pose for pictures. He had to work at appearing to be at ease. The team had paid media trainers to teach the players how to handle themselves during interviews. That helped some, but it didn't change what was baked into his psyche, and that was insecurity.
Ah, he thought. That’s probably the reason he was intrigued by Sara. She reminded him of himself.
If he were honest with himself, he’d have to admit he didn’t always relish his fame. Philip wasn’t the public persona type. He was a simple guy from a rural farming community in Southwest Florida. He’d been overweight and overlooked as a kid, so he was totally unprepared when he found himself in the spotlight.
His father always gave him good advice, and to help him get past his insecurities, he said God gave Philip athletic ability, and that ability was what made him a local celebrity. Joe Mason advised Philip to appreciate it rather than avoid it. So Philip struggled to leave his insecurities at the door whenever a reporter wanted to interview him or take pictures.
And that’s what drew him to Sara. She wasn't your typical sycophant, she didn’t flirt with him or suck up to him. Philip had been with a lot of girls, some he liked more than others, naturally. But ever since he became a star quarterback in his freshman year, it was hard to tell whether their interest in him was sincere. Were the girls captivated by him as a person, or by his status as a player?
Where Sara was concerned, the fact he was a football player was more of a detriment than an advantage. She wasn't even a fan of football, and she gave the impression she hated jocks and resented athletes in general.
Interestingly enough, Philip wasn’t at all troubled by that or bothered by her prejudices. In a way, it amused him, and he challenged himself to show her that he wasn’t “just” a jock. There was more to him than met her eye.
Why it was important for him to prove himself to her, he wasn’t even sure—just that it was refreshing to be around someone who wasn’t a fan.
It made him a little sad, though, when he realized how insecure Sara was. From where he sat, she had a lot going for her. She was pretty and smart and sharp and witty. Maybe no one ever told her that. Maybe no one ever encouraged or supported her.
He thought about their drive home from the doctor’s office. She had opened up to him a bit, which helped him understand her a little better. Turned out she was a loner who didn’t have much of a relationship with her family. She felt ignored and unimportant to them, which probably explained the roots of her insecurity. Her parents never validated her, and that just plain seemed wrong.
When she said she preferred staying by herself on campus during the holidays, that just didn’t sit right with Philip. Here he was, planning to enjoy his winter break by spending time with his close-knit family, while Sara was going to be all alone on a deserted campus. For some reason, that thought bothered him. A lot. He didn’t like the idea of her being all alone.
His mind returned to the lecture hall when he heard the professor give the class some suggested reading for winter break. He was about to draw his stylus along his tablet to write himself a note, but he did a double-take when he saw that he’d scribbled Sara’s name there.
Chapter Eight
Winter break was nearing, and Sara was in the middle of studying for
If he had to analyze Sara, he’d say she was filled with bravado. But that’s all it was, just an act, a cover for her lack of self-confidence. He recognized it from personal experience.
Not many people knew this, but Philip was uncomfortable in the limelight. It took a lot out of him to give interviews and pose for pictures. He had to work at appearing to be at ease. The team had paid media trainers to teach the players how to handle themselves during interviews. That helped some, but it didn't change what was baked into his psyche, and that was insecurity.
Ah, he thought. That’s probably the reason he was intrigued by Sara. She reminded him of himself.
If he were honest with himself, he’d have to admit he didn’t always relish his fame. Philip wasn’t the public persona type. He was a simple guy from a rural farming community in Southwest Florida. He’d been overweight and overlooked as a kid, so he was totally unprepared when he found himself in the spotlight.
His father always gave him good advice, and to help him get past his insecurities, he said God gave Philip athletic ability, and that ability was what made him a local celebrity. Joe Mason advised Philip to appreciate it rather than avoid it. So Philip struggled to leave his insecurities at the door whenever a reporter wanted to interview him or take pictures.
And that’s what drew him to Sara. She wasn't your typical sycophant, she didn’t flirt with him or suck up to him. Philip had been with a lot of girls, some he liked more than others, naturally. But ever since he became a star quarterback in his freshman year, it was hard to tell whether their interest in him was sincere. Were the girls captivated by him as a person, or by his status as a player?
Where Sara was concerned, the fact he was a football player was more of a detriment than an advantage. She wasn't even a fan of football, and she gave the impression she hated jocks and resented athletes in general.
Interestingly enough, Philip wasn’t at all troubled by that or bothered by her prejudices. In a way, it amused him, and he challenged himself to show her that he wasn’t “just” a jock. There was more to him than met her eye.
Why it was important for him to prove himself to her, he wasn’t even sure—just that it was refreshing to be around someone who wasn’t a fan.
It made him a little sad, though, when he realized how insecure Sara was. From where he sat, she had a lot going for her. She was pretty and smart and sharp and witty. Maybe no one ever told her that. Maybe no one ever encouraged or supported her.
He thought about their drive home from the doctor’s office. She had opened up to him a bit, which helped him understand her a little better. Turned out she was a loner who didn’t have much of a relationship with her family. She felt ignored and unimportant to them, which probably explained the roots of her insecurity. Her parents never validated her, and that just plain seemed wrong.
When she said she preferred staying by herself on campus during the holidays, that just didn’t sit right with Philip. Here he was, planning to enjoy his winter break by spending time with his close-knit family, while Sara was going to be all alone on a deserted campus. For some reason, that thought bothered him. A lot. He didn’t like the idea of her being all alone.
His mind returned to the lecture hall when he heard the professor give the class some suggested reading for winter break. He was about to draw his stylus along his tablet to write himself a note, but he did a double-take when he saw that he’d scribbled Sara’s name there.
Chapter Eight
Winter break was nearing, and Sara was in the middle of studying for
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