In Love with The Rival

005

The Morning After

Sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting a soft glow over Joe's living room. He stirred first, blinking groggily as he tried to remember where he was. The warmth of Emma still tucked against him brought it all back. He glanced down at her, her face relaxed, her head nestled against his chest.

For a moment, Joe just watched her, unsure of what to do. It had been a while since he'd let himself get this close to anyone. With Emma, it had happened so naturally, so unexpectedly. He wasn’t even sure what this was yet, but whatever it was, it felt real—maybe too real, given the circumstances.

As if sensing his thoughts, Emma slowly began to wake, her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at Joe, her sleepy expression transforming into a soft smile.

“Morning,” she said quietly, her voice husky from sleep.

“Morning,” Joe replied, his heart doing that thing again—skipping a beat just by the sound of her voice. “You sleep okay?”

Emma laughed softly, sitting up and stretching. “Apparently. I didn’t mean to pass out on you like that.”

Joe grinned. “It’s alright. You looked comfortable.”

Emma ran a hand through her hair, smoothing it out as she glanced around the room, taking in the quiet surroundings. The reality of the morning seemed to settle in as she reached for her phone on the coffee table, noticing the time.

“I should probably head back soon,” she said, her tone more practical now. “My brothers are going to wonder where I disappeared to.”

Joe felt a small pang of disappointment but nodded. “Yeah, makes sense.”

Emma stood, grabbing her coat from the back of the couch. Joe stood with her, suddenly unsure of what to say. He didn’t want this to end awkwardly, but they were walking a thin line. The tension between their teams was always there, looming just beneath the surface, and as much as they’d ignored it last night, it wasn’t going away.

“Hey, about last night…” Joe began, but Emma cut him off with a soft smile.

“I had a great time,” she said simply, stepping closer to him. “No need to complicate it.”

Her words were like a breath of fresh air, cutting through the uncertainty that had begun to form. Joe smiled, grateful that she seemed to understand the situation as well as he did.

“Me too,” he said, his voice a little softer now.

Emma paused for a moment, as if debating something in her mind. Then, she leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before pulling back with a mischievous grin. “See you around, Burrow.”

Before Joe could respond, she turned and headed for the door, her laughter echoing softly through the room. He watched her go, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside him—relief, excitement, and just a hint of anticipation.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Joe stood there for a few moments, staring at the empty space she’d left behind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over.

---

Later That Week

Joe tried to focus during practice, but his mind kept drifting back to Emma. The team was gearing up for a big game, but despite the intensity on the field, his thoughts kept wandering. He hadn’t heard from her since that morning, and while part of him knew it was for the best—keeping things simple—he couldn’t deny that he wanted to see her again.

After practice, Joe found himself scrolling through his phone, debating whether or not to text her. He didn’t want to come off as too eager, but the urge to reach out was growing stronger by the day.

Before he could second-guess himself, his phone buzzed with a new message. His heart leapt as he saw Emma’s name pop up on the screen.

Emma: "Hey QB, you free this weekend? I might be in town."

Joe grinned, his fingers moving quickly to type a response.

Joe: "I think I can clear my schedule. What’s the occasion?"

A few moments later, her reply came in.

Emma: "No big occasion, just figured we could grab coffee again...if you’re up for it."

Joe stared at the screen, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. It was simple, just like their last meeting, but the potential behind it was unmistakable.

Joe: "Count me in."

As he hit send, he felt a surge of excitement. Whatever this was between them, he wasn’t going to fight it. Not yet, anyway. There would be time to figure out the complications, the rivalries, and all the what-ifs. For now, he was just looking forward to seeing her again.

And somehow, he had a feeling she felt the same way.