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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Cole's team had a week-long away stretch with two games in New York and another up in Toronto. He and Alessandra had kept in touch through texts and late-night calls, but distance had made the week challenging.
Then, one morning, Alessandra woke up to her phone buzzing uncontrollably. Confused and half-asleep, she picked it up, only to be bombarded with notifications, texts from friends, news alerts, and social media updates, all about Cole.
Her heart sank as she scrolled through the messages. A blurry but unmistakable photo showed Cole at a club with another woman, their hands intertwined, and a caption that suggested something even worse. Headlines across sports tabloids hinted at scandal, with some even speculating that he and the woman had left together.
Alessandra felt the ground shift beneath her. She couldn't believe it. They had been building something real, something she thought was solid and genuine. She'd trusted him completely. Yet, the evidence was there in front of her, undeniable and heartbreaking.
Lost and desperate for comfort, Alessandra called Harlow first, needing a friendly voice. Harlow's voice was a balm of reassurance as she listened, helping to ground her.
"I'm coming over, okay? And I'll bring coffee, the strong kind," Harlow said. "And you know what? I'll call Joe. He'd want to be here for you too."
Before she could protest, Harlow hung up, and within the hour, she and Joe arrived, their faces filled with concern and quiet support. Joe's presence was steady and warm, and he simply wrapped Alessandra in a hug as soon as he saw her.
"Whatever you need, we're here," Joe assured her, his voice soft and comforting.
Harlow settled in beside her, listening as Alessandra struggled to make sense of the betrayal. "I just....I don't understand. I trusted him, you know? I thought we were solid."
Both Joe and Harlow stayed by her side, talking her through the mess and reminding her that she didn't have to face it alone. And though Alessandra felt shattered, their presence brought a glimmer of hope that maybe, in time, she'd heal.
Two days later, after the media frenzy had died down just enough, Cole returned to Cincinnati, asking to meet Alessandra in person. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear him out, but a part of her needed closure.
They met at a quiet park, a neutral space where she felt less vulnerable. Cole's face was lined with guilt and remorse, but Alessandra held her ground, her arms crossed defensively.
"Alessandra, I'm so sorry," he began, his voice thick with regret. "I was drinking, and I made a huge mistake. I was lonely and stupid, and I messed up. I don't even have an excuse for what I did. I hate that I hurt you."
Alessandra's voice was cold, her anger simmering beneath the surface. "So, what? You just.....forgot about us because you were lonely for one night? That's not what being committed is, Cole. I trusted you, and you threw it all away for nothing."
He looked down, unable to meet her eyes. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness. I wish I could take it back. I was a coward, and I hurt the one person who mattered most to me."
Though she felt some pity, Alessandra knew she couldn't ignore the betrayal. "I think it's best we end things here, Cole. I can't be with someone who doesn't respect our relationship. I need time to figure things out, alone."
Cole nodded, looking as if he wanted to argue but held back, sensing the finality in her words. She turned and walked away, her heart heavy yet resolute.
The next few weeks were hard, but with Joe and Harlow's support, Alessandra began to heal. Joe was her rock, and Harlow kept her laughing and distracted, helping her take small steps forward. Slowly but surely, she started to reclaim her independence and sense of self, knowing that she deserved so much more than Cole had given her.
Through all this, Joe's loyalty and quiet understanding became even clearer. He never pushed, never pressured her to feel anything she wasn't ready to. Instead, he stayed by her side, supporting her as a friend, letting her heal at her own pace.
