beautiful mistake - joe burrow

63

They talked briefly with Zac, Paul and Mike alone, deciding that the staff would get the news via email, while they would tell the players in person at today's team meeting later this afternoon.

Mike assured them that he would be there to show that the club really was fully behind the decision to allow the relationship and that players who had a problem with it could still contact him personally.

Elle knew that if they told the players, it would go well, but still, nervousness rose in her as they stood together with Nick, Paul and Mike in the back of the large meeting room that reminded Elle a bit of a very large classroom.

All of the Offense, Defense and Special Teams players plus the entire practice squad were sitting on wooden chairs with a built-in table where they were taking down important news or information on their pads.

All the coaches and coordinators sat at a long table that looked like an elongated teacher's desk, also taking down important aspects, while usually one or two of them stood in front of the big screen showing the presentation they were commenting on. Occasionally a large tactical board or a flipchart board was brought in to help clarify what was being said.

Normally only Paul or Dan was present to represent the ATs, and only when Zac or one of the other coaches asked for it, but no one seemed to notice that there were a few too many ATs plus the President present today.

When the coaches had finally gone over the topics the meeting was supposed to cover and the players had no more questions either, Zac stood up and cleared his throat. Immediately, he had the attention of all the players.

"We're not quite through yet. There's one thing missing, but for announcements I'll ask Joe and Elle to come forward."

A confused murmur went through the players as Joe rose and with a confident gait pushed his way forward through the tables. Elle hesitated a little longer until she felt the nudge from behind. As she turned, Nick grinned encouragingly at her and raised his crossed fingers in the air.

Elle smiled back before taking a deep breath and walking forward. She stopped next to Joe, who looked at her with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked. Elle nodded. "Are we going to do it?" she nodded again before lifting her gaze, nervousness only growing as she saw everyone, really everyone, staring at her excitedly.

"Okay, so...." Joe began to speak and his voice immediately triggered a sense of calm in Elle. Still a little awkward, she looked at him. He should keep talking, she wouldn't be able to get a sound out. Without words, Joe immediately understood what Elle meant, nodded to her and turned back to his colleagues.

"We have something to tell you" he said smiling as he took Elle's hand and squeezed it lightly, making Elle smile. For a brief moment there was dead silence in the room, everyone stared at the two of them in surprise.

But suddenly it broke loose, Elle couldn't tell who started it, but everyone broke into clapping, whistling, cheering. The whole room went wild. The first clear words she heard were C.J.'s. "You're really together? Like, really together?"

The room went silent again, everyone staring intently at Elle and Joe, who just grinned at each other before both nodded. Immediately, the noise started up again. Elle didn't even know what was happening as she was suddenly closed into countless hugs, everyone congratulating her and telling her how happy they were. She was told again that they had speculated for a long time that something was going on, and so on.

Elle was totally overwhelmed, almost overpowered with all the encouragement and joy about the announcement and just mumbled a thank you to everyone, while she realized that she was beaming up to both ears.