Two Minute Warning

Dinner for Two (or more)

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Twenty minutes later, I stood near the player's lot, a nervous flutter in my stomach. I kept smoothing down my hair and checking my reflection in my phone screen, mentally preparing for what felt like the most unexpected night of my life. Dinner with Joe Burrow, this wasn't something I had ever imagined happening after my second game as a Ben Gal.

I spotted Joe walking toward me, still wearing his team warm-up jacket, hair damp from a quick post-game shower. He looked relaxed, a huge contrast to the intensity he carried on the field. I hadn't realized just how tall he was until he was standing right in front of me again.

"You ready?" he asked, that easy smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice a little breathless. "Who else is coming?"

Joe hesitated for a beat, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well...I kind of didn't mention this earlier, but everyone kinda bailed last minute. Looks like it's just you and me."

I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. Just us? My mind raced, wondering if this was intentional, or if it really was just a coincidence. Either way, I wasn't about to turn down dinner with Joe Burrow.

"Oh," I said, trying to play it cool. "That's fine. I am up for it."

Joe's smile widened. "Great. Let's get out of here before any more fans show up. I know a place."

We walked side by side to the car, the quiet tension between us comfortable but loaded with anticipation. I could feel the energy crackling, like something was happening but neither of us knew how to acknowledge it yet. As we drove into downtown Cincinnati, I found myself sneaking glances at him, still half in disbelief that this was real.

Joe parked outside a cozy little restaurant, one that was low-key enough to keep him out of the spotlight but still had a nice, intimate vibe. When we walked in, the hostess smiled knowingly at Joe but didn't make a big deal of his presence, which I appreciated. She led us to a quiet corner booth away from the crowd.

The atmosphere was warm, with soft lightning and the hum of quiet conversations around us. It felt like the kind of place you'd go for a relaxed, casual night, but with enough charm to make it feel special.

"So, do you bring all the Ben Gals here?" I teased as I sat down, trying to shake off my nerves.

Joe chuckled, shaking his head. "Not exactly. You are the first actually."

My cheeks warmed at that, and tried not to read too much into it. "Lucky me, then."

"Maybe," he said, his eyes catching mine across the table. There was something unspoken in the way he looked at me, and for a moment the room seemed to shrink, leaving just the two of us.

Before I could respond, the waiter appeared with menus and we both ordered something simple, burgers and fries, nothing too fancy. As the waiter left, Joe leaned back in his seat, his eyes never straying too far from mine.

"So, how's the rookie life treating you?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"It's.....overwhelming, honestly," I admitted, relaxing a bit as we fell into conversation. "I mean, I am still getting used to the idea that I am on the field, cheering for a real NFL team. It feels like I am dreaming half the time."

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I get that. My rookie reason felt the same. It's like you've spent your whole life chasing this dream, and then when you get there, you realize it's just the beginning."

"That's exactly it," I said, feeling a little more understood than I expected. "But I guess that's part of the fun, right? The challenge of it all?"

Joe smiled. "Yeah, the challenge is what makes it worth it. That, and the people you meet along the way."

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Was he talking about me? Or was this just how he spoke, always with a deeper layer beneath the surface?

"So," I said, changing the subject before my heart could betray me, "What do you do when you're not, you know, winning games and being the face of the Bengals?"

Joe chuckled, clearly amused. "Well, I am not as exciting off the field as you would think. Mostly hanging out, playing video games, maybe hitting the gym. Pretty boring, honestly."

"I find that hard to believe," I said, laughing. "There is no way the face of Cincinnati has a boring life."

He shrugged, smiling a little shyly. "I guess that's up for debate. But what about you? What do you do when you are not out there dancing in front of thousands of people?"

I hesitated, suddenly realizing that my life was much less glamorous than it seemed. "Honestly, not much. I just moved to the city for the job, so I am still figuring things out. I like reading and going to the gym when I get the chance. Pretty low-key stuff."

"Sounds like we are both low-key then," Joe said, grinning. "Maybe we are not so different after all."

The conversation flowed more naturally after that. We talked about everything, his life growing up, my journey to becoming a cheerleader, even our shared love for quiet moments away from the chaos. It was easy, surprisingly easy, and the longer we talked, the more comfortable I felt around him.

As the night wore on and the restaurant started to empty I found myself laughing more than I expected. Joe wasn't just a football star; he was funny, thoughtful, and way more down-to-earth than I'd imagined. He made me feel like I wasn't just another face in the crowd.

By the time we finished dinner, it felt like the connection between us had deepened, but there was still something unspoken hanging in the air. As we walked out of the restaurant and into the cool night, Joe paused, his hands in his pockets, his gaze flickering over to me.

"Alessandra," he said, his voice softer than before, "I am glad you came tonight. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this....it was nice."

I smiled, feeling my heart race again. "I am glad I came too. It was...better than I expected."

We stood there for a moment, the city buzzing quietly around us, neither of us wanting to end the night but unsure of how to keep it going. Joe took a small step closer, his eyes locking onto mine.

"I'd like to see you again," he said, his voice steady but laced with something vulnerable. "Off the field, I mean. If that's something you'd want."

My breath caught in my throat. I hadn't expected this to happen so quickly, but I couldn't deny the pull between us. "I'd like that," I said softly, feeling my pulse quicken.

Joe's smile was slow, but it reached his eyes, brightening the quiet moment. "Good. I'll text you."

With that, we said our goodbyes, and I walked to my car, my heart still racing. As I drove home, the night replayed in my mind over and over again. There was no denying it now, something was happening between us, and for the first time, it felt like I was stepping into something new, something real.