Arizona Sunsets - Sam Hubbard

XIX

"I really have to say, I'm pretty happy that it actually worked out that you guys came here to play golf" grinning, Sam raised his wine glass and toasted to Nick Bosa and Joe Burrow, who were sitting at the table with him, pushing the empty plates away from themselves.

The three friends, who had met at Ohio State University, where they had played football together before Joe transferred colleges, maintained their close friendship despite their pro careers.

Well, since Sam and Joe played on the same team, that wasn't hard to do, but Nick, who didn't exactly live around the corner, in San Francisco, was also an instant member of every men's trip, especially in the off-season.

Often Nick's brother Joey, player for the LA Chargers and what a wonder, also a former OSU football player, was also there, but at the moment he preferred to spend time with his girlfriend Amanda, with whom he was currently chilling at his new home in Nick and his hometown of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. That's also where Nick had traveled from to spend the weekend a Scottsdale and play golf.

"Well, I'm always up for golf and besides, it's a perfect fit this weekend. Elle has some event in Phoenix today that she needs to attend for her foundation" Joe waved off before taking a sip from his wine glass.

The other two nodded slightly before Sam looked at Joe. "How is your first off season together?" he asked curiously. Elle had been employed as an AT by the Bengals since last season and after a long back and forth, Joe and her had finally managed to get together after all.

Elle, who had gained overnight fame through a TikTok and had had to endure some sexist backlash as a result, had quickly founded an organization called the future is female, which now advocated for more women in sports.

"Oh, pretty good. The first time was really relaxed. We were on vacation together, then she was away with her friend. We visited our families and did a lot with friends. Then when the appointments slowly started again, we tried to plan everything so that we still had enough time for each other or just come along to the appointments and do our own program, like now for example" Joe explained.

"So she didn't want you there on the red carpet?" Nick questioned. Joe shook his head. "While we have made our relationship public, we still want to keep a pretty low profile. No joint appearances and so on, we don't want to commercialize our relationship" he replied.

"Glad things are going so well for you bro" Nick patted him lightly on the shoulder while Joe leaned back with a grin, crossing his arms and looking at Sam. "Not the only one, huh?" he winked. "Are you going to introduce us to your girl while we are here?"

"She's not my girl" Sam mumbled. "oh, you're talking about the local girl Sam hooks up with?" a grin spread across Nick's face. "Tell me dude, is she how you picture the girls around here? A cowgirl? Does she ride?"

"For someone who was offended in college when asked if he surfs just because he's from Florida, you're pretty prejudiced against people from Arizona" Sam shook his head with a grin.

"I'm just kidding bro" Nick just grinned even more. "I mean, you know what they say 'good whiskey, bad decisions'. Just wanna make sure it wasn't too much whiskey on you" he winked at Sam while Joe just shook his head next to him.

Sam rolled his eyes with a grin. "Believe me Nick, the whiskey is good but I make the decisions without it" he assured his friend. "And pretty bold words for someone who's just hanging out with a bunch of college grads because he caught one of them in his brother's pool and thinks she's very attractive and cute" Joe muttered.

Surprised, Sam looked at Nick. "Wait, what did I miss?" he asked in shock. "You didn't tell him?" Joe also looked at Nick, who immediately ran his hand nervously over his hair. For the intimidating size of this man, he could be flustered pretty quickly.

"Well..." he stammered. "I figured Sam was busy enough with his own thing. Besides...no offense, Sam...but well, Joe, you're in a functioning relationship, I'd rather trust your word on that. Since Elle came along, you've become...more empathetic" he shrugged.

Joe suppressed a grin. "Don't mention that to Elle. There was an article in the press recently that they blame Elle for the fact that I'm soft now and stand for something like ProChoice and they're sure Elle is talking me into the feminist stuff. Well, let's put it this way, Elle didn't think the article was that great"

"understandable" Nick mumbled. "Were you able to stop her before she ended a reporter's career again?" Sam asked, amused. Elle was known to be fond of clarifying her opinions about untruths about herself, which nearly cost two established TV anchors their show.

Joe shook his head. "As much junk as the press is printing about us these days, she wouldn't have time for anything else, and she decided she'd rather put her energy into her organization" he explained.

"But enough about Elle and me. I'd rather know why you don't introduce us to Liz. As far as I know, she introduced you to her friends when you were together at that western night, didn't she?" Joe changed the subject and elbowed Nick, who grinned a soft "yeehaw," in the ribs without taking his eyes off Sam.

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "Sure she did, but that was just because she wanted to show me around town a bit and well, her friends were there. I..." he stopped for a moment, trying to think of the best way to put it into words.

"I don't know if it's serious enough between Liz and me to introduce her to you, you know?" he sighed. Joe eyed him for a moment. "Don't you guys see each other every day? Don't you work out together?" he asked.

"Yeah, we do, but...we've only gotten close once so far. That's it. I thought it might happen again on Thursday and for a while it really looked like it, but suddenly she was distant" Sam mumbled a bit disappointed at the memory of the evening at the art walk, where Liz had almost sprinted back to her booth on the way back and seemed changed.

"Besides, I won't be here in two weeks anyway. Maybe I should quit before I get my hopes up too much" he added quietly, but his two friends shook their heads vigorously.

"Don't give up, Hubbard" Nick raised his finger warningly. "Bosa's right" Joe confirmed. "Don't think of it as just two more weeks, think of it as two more weeks. Use the time and worry about the after when it's over"

this time Nick was the one nodding in agreement. "If I've learned anything in the last week Sam, it's to take advantage of the time you have and take everything else as it comes"

Sam sighed. "sounds logical" he mumbled.

"And now let's finally get the subject away from girls, even if this is the first time since my freshman year at Ohio State that all three of us have had a girl at the same time" Joe suggested.

"Well, I don't know if you can compare my girl in the pool and Sam's coffee shop cowgirl to your Elle. After all, unlike us, you're practically married already" Nick grinned. Joe laughed out loud. "All in good time, Bosa"

"To our current and maybe future relationship" Nick raised his glass in the air with a grin. "To the girl in the pool, coffee shop cowgirl and future Mrs Burrow" Sam added grinning before all three of their glasses clinked together.

Took some time to write this chapter...sorry for not posting for some time ☹️

I bet you already figured out (well, ofc only if you know my first Joe story i posted) but this Sam story takes players in the same fictional world as beautiful mistake so Elle and Joe from that story exist in this story as well (like mentioned in this chapter). This is also first hint for the second part of beautiful mistake and takes place after the first part ends (few days after the Super Bowl loss) and before the sequel starts (probably training camp/ pre season 2022). Im really excited to start working on the story soon!!

But this part also contains a small spoiler for another story I have planned and also already started to write (not sure if I will post it) about Nick Bosa and the girl in the pool. This story (in case I decide to post it) will also take place in the same world/ universe as beautiful mistake and Arizona Sunsets so there's the possibility that some characters of these stories will come up in another one.

Hope youre having an amazing weekend, cant wait to show you all the projects Im working one (there's still one that I haven't mentioned yet 🤫)

WHO DEY 🧡