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.
Started: October 12, 2024
Finished: May 18, 2025
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The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Alessandra's apartment, casting golden streaks across her small writing desk. Papers were strewn everywhere, scribbled lyrics, half-finished verses, and a journal she used to jot down fleeting ideas. Her guitar leaned against the wall, waiting for its turn to speak.
Alessandra sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at her notebook with a pen poised in her hand. The words wouldn't stop swirling in her head, but she couldn't quite capture them. Her relationship with Joe was flourishing again, but balancing it with her music felt like juggling two worlds that demanded her entire heart.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was Joe.
Joe: Morning, beautiful. Breakfast at your favorite spot? My treat.
She smiled and quickly typed back.
Alessandra: Only if you let me pick the coffee. See you in 20.
Alessandra arrived at the small cafe downtown, her heart lifting when she saw Joe sitting in a booth, already scanning the menu. He looked up and grinned as she walked in, his blue eyes lighting up like they always did when he saw her.
"Hey," he greeted, standing to give her a quick hug. "You look like you didn't sleep much."
"Writing," she explained, sliding into the seat across from him. "I've been trying to finish this song, but it's....not there yet."
Joe studied her, his brow furrowing slightly. "Are you putting too much pressure on yourself? You've been non-stop since you got back."
Alessandra sighed. "I just want to prove I can do this. Balancing music and us.....it's harder than I thought."
Joe reached across the table and took her hand in his. "You don't have to prove anything to me. I just want you to be happy. If that means late nights writing songs, I'll support it. If that means taking breaks, I'll support that too."
His words sank in, grounding her. "Thanks, Joe. I just....I want to get it right, you know? For both of us."
Joe smiled. "We'll figure it out. Together."
Later that afternoon, Alessandra sat down at her desk with a renewed sense of purpose. Her conversation with Joe had clarified something she couldn't quite put into words until now. She picked up her guitar and started strumming a soft, haunting melody.
The lyrics came slowly at first, but then they poured out.
'You don't need to tell me you love me 17 times in a day I don't need to hear I'm your number one And everybody's second place.....'
The song was a raw reflection of her relationship with Joe. As the chorus built, her voice gained strength:
'Need a little less talk And a lot more touch I just want your two hands on me at all times, baby If you let go (I want your two hands) Better put 'em right back, fast Want your two hands on me like my life needs savin' Let 'em all know (I want your two hands) Can you do it like that? Yeah.....'
When she finished, her fingers stilled on the strings, and she let out a shaky breath. The song felt like a breakthrough.....a way to articulate the love and fear that had been battling inside her. She grabbed her phone and recorded a rough demo, her voice trembling with emotion as she sang.
That evening, Joe came over to watch a movie. They settled onto the couch, Alessandra tucked against his side. Halfway through the film, she muted the TV and reached for her guitar.
"I want to play you something," she said nervously.
Joe turned to her, his expression soft. "Always."
She started playing, her fingers steady despite the fluttering in her chest. As she sang, she glanced at Joe, who was listening intently. His eyes didn't leave her, and when she finished, he reached out to cup her face.
"That was beautiful," he said, his voice thick. "You wrote that about me, didn't you?"
Alessandra nodded, her cheeks flushing. "I just....I've been trying to figure out how to put everything into words. The tour, coming back to you...."
Joe pulled her into a tight hug. "You don't have to do it all alone, Ale. We're a team now."
In the weeks that followed, Alessandra and Joe settled into a rhythm. Alessandra spent her mornings writing and recording, carving out time for her music career, while her afternoons and evenings were reserved for Joe whenever their schedules aligned.
She also started working with a local producer to polish her demo of 2 Hands, hoping to release it as her next single. The process was exhilarating but exhausting, and Joe was her biggest cheerleader through it all.
One night, after a long studio session, she came home to find Joe waiting for her with takeout and a warm smile.
"Thought you might need this," he said, holding up a bag of her favorite Chinese food.
Alessandra laughed, exhaustion melting away. "You're the best."
When Alessandra came back to Cincinnati she talked to Coach Harper where they talked about Alessandra continuing to perform on game days. At first juggling practices and performances with her growing music career was overwhelming, but with Joe's unwavering support and her own determination, she found a way to make it work.
One particularly cold Sunday, Alessandra stepped onto the field with her squad, scanning the field until her eyes landed on Joe in his jersey. He was watching her with a proud smile, and she felt a surge of confidence.
After the game, Joe wrapped her in a blanket as they walked to his car.
"You were amazing out there," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
Alessandra grinned. "I've got two hands, remember? I can handle this."
As the weeks turned into months, Alessandra released 2 Hands, and it quickly gained traction, resonating with fans who connected with the lyrics. Her career was taking off in ways she'd only dreamed of, but what mattered most was the love she had found with Joe.
Balancing her music and their relationship wasn't always easy, but they were learning together. And as Alessandra sat on stage during her first live performance of 2 Hands, she spotted Joe in the front row, cheering louder than anyone else.
For the first time, she felt like she truly had it all, two hands, one heart, and a love strong enough to hold it all together.
