no strings attached - j.b

family

Phoebe was quite nervous when she rang her grandparents' doorbell the next noon. She had no idea what to expect when talking to her Aunt Katie, who was after all Vice President and wanted to talk to her about quote "the incident of Joe" and her, and that worried her a bit.

"Phoebe, hey," Liz, actually Elizabeth, Katie's daughter and thus Phoebe's cousin, who sat on the Bengals board like her mother, her father Troy and her younger sister Caroline, opened the door smiling and pulled her cousin into a warm hug.

"And you brought Tris already, too" Mike Brown's only male grandson was also pulled into a hug. "We weren't expecting you yet, Tris" Liz explained as she let them both into the house.

"Well, his car is still being repainted, so I'm his chauffeur" Phoebe explained. "But he's driving back..." she tossed Tris the keys. "...Which means I can drink"

"That means I'll fix you a glass of wine and you'll get it as soon as mom and you finish talking?" Liz laughed. "You're the best" Phobe grinned.

"And please, a big one, depending on how the conversation goes, I might need it" she added. "Don't worry about it. Mom's in a good mood" encouragingly Liz patted her on the shoulders.

"That's all right then. I think she's in the office?" Phoebe asked. Liz nodded. "Well, you know the way. Tris, will you come with me? I'm sure we can help Grandma and Caro in the kitchen some more" she looked at Tris, who nodded and followed her.

Sighing, Phoebe made her way to the office that had once been Tris and her room. She had spent a lot of time here after her parents' divorce and was more or less raised by her Grandma Nancy, since her father was busy with his law firm, which he ran with Tris' dad.

Tris had also been here most days, as his mother was also a successful businesswoman, which also meant in his case that the parenting was done by Grandma Nancy.

Phoebe and Tris had grown up like siblings as a result, and also had a very good connection to Caro and Liz, who lived in the house anyway, which made the cousins a very close family alliance.

When Phoebe and Tris had been old enough to be home alone the time their fathers were working, Katie had had their room converted into her office.

You could still see the glue residue where the letters P and T once hung on the door as Phoebe took a deep breath and knocked. Katie was probably expecting her anyway, which is why she didn't wait long for an invitation, but stepped right into the office.

"Phoebe, glad it worked out" Katie immediately stood up and came around the desk to pull her niece into a hug before pointing to the chair in front of the desk. "Have a seat"

Phoebe dropped into the chair while Katie sat back in the large office chair on the other side of the desk.

"so..." she crossed one leg over the other as she folded her hands in her lap. "You know why I called you here, don't you?"

Phoebe nodded. "The incident of Joe Burrow and me. Katie, I don't know what you heard, but whatever, there's an explanation. It is stupid, I acted without thinking and it was really unprofessional. Joe is not to blame for this. It was all my doing" it just burst out of Phoebe.

"Slow down, Phoebe. Without thinking? Unprofessional? Joe isn't to blame? What were you guys talking about that he came storming out of Paige's office and, by statements, yelled at you that he hoped you'd seen the last of each other?" Katie asked.

It took Phoebe a moment to understand what Katie was talking about. Suddenly, she felt stupid. Her aunt didn't know about her one night stand with Joe. She had no idea what she had pulled, and here sat Phoebe, almost giving it all away.

"Oh, yeah that...uh, we...we had a disagreement about the video that Paige and I made about his recovery. He wanted one part changed and it pissed me off so much because it was my first video and I put so much effort into it and thought it was really perfect..." she tried to make an excuse.

Katie sighed. "Okay, I understand that it upset you, Phoebe. But you have to respond to the criticism. These videos are about the players and if they don't like a part, then you should find a good compromise with them. Even if you've already put a lot of effort into it."

Phoebe nodded. "I know, Katie. It was the last time, I promise. We've already worked it out, too. I was with Joe yesterday and we talked about it..... It's all okay."

"You went all the way to Joe's? On a Saturday?" Katie asked, surprised. Phoebe nodded. "Sam was there...as a neutral source. Ask him. everything is settled between Joe and me"

"I'm glad to hear that" Katie smiled. "And you really yelled after him that he could bet his ass?" she giggled.

Phoebe sighed "Next time I'll make sure no one else is around when I'm yelling after players"

"Aw shucks, they need something to talk about once in a while. And as long as it's just something like an argument between Joe and you, that's okay" Katie shrugged.

"Go figure, there were even a few who claimed they were sure there was something going on between you two" Katie laughed. Phoebe's features slipped, but she quickly caught herself and joined in Katie's laughter.

"What, I can't imagine that. Where did they get that absurd idea?" she asked, trying to sound as surprised as possible.

Katie shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Paige told me. She thought you and Joe would make a great couple, after all. But I told her that you certainly wouldn't get involved with a player from the club and Joe certainly wouldn't get involved with a granddaughter of the president" she laughed again.

"Yeah, imagine that" Phoebe mumbled. "Although I have to say, I like that Joe. A decent, polite young man. And that ambition he shows. Really a very good player. I could already see you and him getting along very well. Just like you and Sam!" Katie pondered.

"Who knows, Katie, from what I've gathered, Sam and him are pretty good friends, too. I've been golfing with both of them and a few others. Sam always invites me to things like that. Maybe Joe and I will become friends" Phoebe put on a smile to cover the nervousness this conversation brought.

She had a feeling her aunt might find out at any moment that Joe and she were really getting along already. Physically! While they were really ok with each other now, they were still very far from getting along well and becoming friends. But Phobe didn't exactly have to tell Katie that.

The ringing of the doorbell interrupted the conversation of the two. "Oh, that's probably your dad" Katie smiled. "I think we're done here too, aren't we? By the way, I think it's great that you worked it out with Joe on your own, Phoebe. Now go say hello to your old man, I'll be right there" she shooed her niece out of the office.