Marcy has brains and looks but is failing in the romance department.
Marcy is pursuing her PhD in chemisry but is unable to convince Ross, the university's star quarterback, that she is over Leroy Doyle. She had a crush on Leroy in undergraduate school. He's gone now, and married to Jody Stinson. When Leroy shows up on campus to give a lecture, Marcy must handle all the arrangements. Ross tells Marcy it is her chance to convince him she's over Leroy. After Leroy leaves she is convinced she's over Leroy but Ross isn't convinced. She will be getting her PhD the same day Ross is graduating from undergraduate school. They will be going their separate ways. Marcy rushes to the train station to see Ross off. She meets him and he tells her that he is convinced she's over Leroy and he will be taking a coaching job at the same university that Marcy will be doing her post doctoral work.
Excerpt
She couldn't hold back. "Ross, do you still have feelings for me?" He chest tightened as she finished the question.
"Let's not make our parting any more painful than it already is."
"I'd hoped you would classify the question as silly," she said, feeling her eyes water and her voice break. She watched him inhale deeply and then swallow.
"As I've said, there's too much standing in our way."
She saw the wrinkles between his eyebrows, and the straight line of his lips as he turned and walked away. She stepped into the hall to watch him go. He looked sideways and continued on.
