In which the rookie Ben Gal falls for Cincinnati's number one quarterback.
Now that football season is upon us I thought it would be fun to write a little Joe Burrow story.
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Joe couldn't shake his frustration about Alessandra dating Cole, and it gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit. Unsure of what to make of his emotions, he found himself texting Harlow, suggesting they grab a quick coffee after practice.
Harlow met him at a small cafe, her usual cheerful demeanor lightening his mood. But as soon as he brought up Alessandra, Harlow's expression turned knowing.
"So, you want to know how Alessandra's doing?" she asked with a smirk.
Joe ran a hand over his face, sighing. "Yeah, I guess....and about her and Cole. I don't know, Harlow, they seem....serious. I thought she was coming back to figure things out here, but it looks like she's moving on."
Harlow chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Joe, she is figuring things out, just not in the way you expected. You can't be mad at her for moving on, especially since you were the one who started dating first."
Joe looked down, almost embarrassed, but he knew she had a point. "I just....I don't know. I feel like I need to see her, but not in a serious way. Maybe a group thing?"
Harlow raised an eyebrow. "You mean, like, a double date?"
He nodded, a plan already forming. "Yeah. Alessandra and Cole, me and Sarah, nothing serious, just a chance to get to know each other's partners, you know?"
Harlow didn't look convinced, but she agreed, wondering what he might be trying to prove.
A few days later, the four of them met at a trendy downtown restaurant. Alessandra wore a simple but elegant black dress, her usual warmth lighting up her features as she introduced Cole to Joe and Sarah. Cole, dressed casually but with s subtle confidence, shook Joe's hand, friendly but clearly aware of the tension.
Throughout the night, Joe leaned into moments where he could subtly flaunt his relationship with Sarah. He'd laugh a little too loudly at her jokes, make a point of showing her affection, and occasionally steal glances at Alessandra, checking for a reaction. But to his dismay, Alessandra seemed unfazed, focusing her attention on Cole, whose easy charm kept the conversation smooth.
However, Harlow didn't miss the glint of hurt in Alessandra's eyes during a few of Joe's more pointed displays. She gently placed a reassuring hand on Alessandra's arm, giving her a supportive smile as if to remind her she wasn't alone.
The evening wrapped up with polite goodbyes, but as they left, Joe couldn't shake the feeling that his attempts at sparking jealousy hadn't worked. He felt a strange emptiness, realizing that whatever he'd been hoping to accomplish hadn't gone as planned.
Determined to get a reaction from Alessandra, Joe made another plan, he suggested that he and Sarah join Harlow and Alessandra for an upcoming Blue Jackets game to watch Cole play. Alessandra agreed, seeing it as a chance to support Cole and catch up with Harlow.
At the game, Joe felt even more out of his element. The intensity of the crowd, the fast pace of the game, and the fans cheering Cole's name made him feel like he was witnessing a part of Alessandra's world he hadn't fully understood. And when Cole scored midway through the game, the roar of the crowd was nothing compared to the brightness in Alessandra's eyes as she cheered with pure excitement.
Joe glanced over at her, noting the pride and joy on her face as she looked at Cole with admiration and affection. The sight hit him harder than he'd expected, stirring a sense of jealousy that he couldn't ignore.
When the game ended and they went to congratulate Cole, Joe tried to stay casual, but his irritation seeped through in subtle ways. Sarah noticed, giving him a pointed look as if to say 'what are you doing?'
Afterward, Alessandra pulled Cole into a hug, thanking him for an amazing game. Joe's jealousy flared as he watched their easy connection, realizing that the plan to make her jealous had only emphasized how far she'd moved on.
As they parted ways, Joe was left with an unsettling feeling, finally forced to confront the truth he'd been trying to avoid. Alessandra had found happiness, and it wasn't with him.
