welcome to the jungle|| joe burrow ✔️

•a day full of surprises•

August 10, 2023

Joes pov:

I woke up to my alarm beeping and Claire groaning beside me. My tired eyes fluttered open as I reached for my phone and hit the stop button. I sighed as I rubbed my hands down my face. I did not feel like going to practice today at all.

Claire and I had just gotten back a couple days ago from our second trip to Arizona. Our first trip out there was in May. We stayed in Phoenix with her parents. While we were there I got to meet her family and even her college friends, who are just as sweet as her. Claire showed me all of her favorite places in Arizona while we were there. I don't think I've ever seen her that genuinely happy before. She told me she misses Phoenix sometimes, but everyday she falls in love with the city of Cincinnati a little bit more.

I like to think it's because of me, of course.😉

As I was pulled the covers off of my body, Claire wrapped her arms around me and entwined her legs with mine, holding onto me like a koala.

"I don't want you to go." She huffed, nuzzling her face into my neck.

I chuckled and draped an arm around her body, "I don't want to go either," I planted a soft kiss to the top of her head, "but you know I have to."

She craned her neck up, a frown on her face as she looked at me, "but I just want to hold you."

I pulled her close to my body, "I know sweets," I said, frowning, "but you can't."

I gave Claire one last kiss to the top of her head before I let go of her. Although my hold on her loosened, her hold on me didn't. I let out a sigh.

"Claire."

No response.

"Claire sweetheart," I rubbed her arm that was wrapped tightly around my torso, "you gotta let me go."

She just sighed and nuzzled herself closer to my bare chest. I let out a sigh of defeat as I just laid in bed and let my girlfriend cuddle me for a few more minutes. Claire held on to me as if I was going to disappear if she let go of me. Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy cuddling with Claire, especially in the morning. But I know she enjoys her space too, especially in the morning. So this clingy, koala type
hold she had on me, as much as I enjoy it, is a little strange. I figured I wouldn't think too much of it. We've spent almost every day together during the offseason. It's going to be difficult to be away from her and Bean while I'm at practice.

"Baby, as much as I'd love to hold you all day," I spoke gently, kissing her head once again before I continued, "I have to go. If I don't go you know Zac will be on my ass."

Claire sighed loudly and pulled herself off of me, giving me her signature sad look. I frowned and grabbed her right hand, kissing it gently before I got out of bed. She watched with sad eyes as I walked out of my bedroom and out into the living room to get Bean. As I walked out into the living room, our goldendoodle Bean greeted me with a wag of her little tail as her high pitched puppy bark rang out through the apartment.

"Morning Beanie girl." I greeted, chuckling as I grabbed her pink leash off the counter and took her out of her gated area in the living room. I latched her leash and took her outside. She quickly did her business and I brought her back into the apartment, rewarding her with a treat and her breakfast. As I put the dish down on the ground for the puppy, I heard sniffles coming from the bedroom. I furrowed my eyebrows together and cautiously walked into my bedroom. My heart broke at the sight in front of me.

Claire was holding her head in her hands as her shoulders shook. I frowned and immediately rushed over to her side. She must have been clingy because something was bothering her. I sat down on the bed and wrapped my arms around her body, pulling her close to me. Her cries turned into gut wrenching sobs as soon as I pulled her close to me.