path of heal - j.b.

9

The next day went better for Elle again. She was able to complete her workday without incident. As Joe had predicted, Aaron Donald came to her and apologized for what had happened yesterday on the field. Elle explained that he shouldn't feel guilty about it and that she was fine again, so everything was okay.

Chelsea also gave her a relieved hug when they met in the weight room and told her how glad she was that she was okay. Apparently the action had given the Rams' players quite a scare, too.

By now she was back home, it was after seven o'clock and she was sitting on the sofa her laptop on her lap. She was allowed the honor this year of giving the rookies the lecture on sexually transmitted diseases and contraception.

It was normal for the organization to require the rookies to go to these lectures. Due to their sometimes sudden fame and status „NFL player" they would have to watch out not only for Gold Diggers but also for scandals and the NFL was sure that this could be handled with a presentation.

However, each organization was responsible for organizing it themselves. Actually, a unified doctor had been educating the rookies every year at the beginning of the seasons, but due to Covid, the last two years had been cancelled and now the Bengals organization wanted to handle it internally.

Their first suggestion, Elle. Apparently they believed that as a woman and close ally of the team, especially with leaders aka Joe, she had a better chance of players taking her presentation seriously.

However, due to the cancellation of the last two years, rookies from the last two years were also encouraged to attend the lecture and since both Joe and Ja'Marr were part of those classes, they had already announced with a big grin that of course they couldn't miss Elle telling them about contraception.

Was it ironic that she was lecturing her boyfriend about it? Probably it was. Did she have no desire at all to stare for the duration of the lecture into the smirking face of Ja'Marr, who was just waiting to expose her somehow? Definitely, but she'd get back at him somehow.

"Laptop off and get ready" Joe came straight down the stairs and raised his finger warningly before dropping down on the couch next to her and pulling her laptop towards him, rather quickly pushing it back with a disgusted look after all. "Give me a heads up next time you're working on that lecture, please. I don't want to see the pictures"

"this is what happens when you don't pay careful attention during intercourse" Elle closed the tabs on the various sexual diseases. Luckily she had gotten at least some material that was already there from the doctor, so she just had to take some notes on everything.

Joe screwed up his face once again. "So if I can't perform later in bed because the picture is still in my head, it's your own fault" he shook himself. Elle laughed before slapping him on the thigh and standing up. "Don't worry, I'm sure you can handle it" on the landing of the stairs she turned back to Joe once more. "Otherwise your tongue will just have to work overtime today" she winked at him.

A dirty grin spread across Joe's face as he watched his girlfriend climb the stairs until she was out of sight at the top. It was date night, the two of them had worked it out that way in the off season.

Even though they lived together now and saw each other every day at work and had also spent the entire off season together, they didn't want everyday life to creep into their relationship where at some point they would just take everything for granted. That's why they would set aside time every Thursday night just for each other.

Ja'Marr also knew not to come over that night, which he accepted, and so far they had really managed to keep it every week. Of course, when Robin was still here and Joe couldn't do as much after his surgery, it had turned out easier, a movie night on the couch or just cuddling in bed.

For tonight, Joe had made reservations at a fancy restaurant on the Kentucky side of Cincinnati and they would have to leave soon if they wanted to get there on time. Since it was quite warm for mid august, Elle decided to put on her lavender cami dress. She slipped on her sneakers, put on some jewelry and combed through her hair one last time before grabbing one of her small handbags.

As she ran down the stairs, Joe was already standing impatiently at the door, looking at his watch. "I'm here, I'm here" Elle called out as she arrived at his house, throwing her keys into her bag. "Finally" Joe muttered softly.

"Beauty takes time" Elle grinned and pressed a kiss to Joe's lips before opening the door and pulling him out of the house with her. "I know. Although you always look beautiful" he caught up to her and put his arm around her before she opened the passenger door to his Porsche. "What a gentleman" she grinned at him.

They arrived at the restaurant just a few minutes late, which wasn't a problem, and were immediately shown to their table on the terrace. While Elle was still enjoying the view of the Ohio River and the lit up city of Cincinnati, even the Great American Ball Park and Paycor Stadium could be seen from here, they were already being handed the menu cards.

Elle gave the waiter a grateful look before opening the menu and gasping aloud. The prices were more expensive than her week's groceries at college. "Joe, you know you don't always have to take me to expensive restaurants like this. You know I'd be fine with a burger from any drive through" she looked at him with a sigh.

Joe shrugged his shoulders. "And you know I don't have a problem taking you out fancy, besides, I'm sure Erin wouldn't approve of me eating junk food this close to the season" he grinned.

Elle sighed. She had long since given up the fight against Joe paying her own share of the bill. He always brought up the arguments that after all, he earned a lot more and that he would like to take her out. Still, Elle was always uncomfortable with Joe paying for everything for her.

Of course, the food was exceedingly delicious and Elle had already fallen a little in love with the chocolate soufflé in particular when Joe suggested they go for a walk after dinner before they went home.

With his arm wrapped around Elle, they walked along Ohio River for a bit before coming back to the street where restaurants and hotels lined up. Of course they felt the stares of others on them, they were aware that Joe had been recognized, but they still let them spend their time together in peace.

Arriving back at Joe's car, they got in and Joe parked out before making their way home. "We're going to take a short detour, okay?" he asked as he put on his blinker and pulled off the road home.

"Okay, where are we going?" Elle asked, surprised. As far as she knew, Joe had only planned on dinner at the restaurant tonight. After all, they both had to be back at work in the morning and sleep was important to them both.

Factoring in that they wouldn't be going to bed to sleep right away at home, but would be spending the time doing other things....they couldn't make much of a detour now.

"I mean, if my girlfriend is happy, I'm happy. That's why..." Joe stopped in a parking lot and pointed to the large lighted sign. Elle's eyes grew wide as she clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Chipotle."

"I hope you have some room after you ate at the restaurant?" Joe grinned as he saw how happy Elle was. Energetically she nodded. "For Chipotle always" she sighed while looking at the logo of her favorite restaurant.

SHOULD I WRITE ONE SHOTS?

Okay, some of you know that i sometimes feel really stuck in this stories that i write. I have ideas and plots and those transform into a chapter sometime. But there are days were i dont have plots or they don't fit the story im writing rn so I have to stop writing for a few days until i figured something our.

Rn its pretty okay with being able to switch between stories cause I manage to write at least one of them until I continue writing the other?

Why am I telling you all this? I thoughts about doing one shots about Joe, Sam, other players form other teams idk yet. One Shots would give me the opportunity to post plots i have that dont fit in stories or that I can take inspiration from you and turn it into small stories.

Would you like that?

WHO DEY 🧡