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starsinthesky5 · 8 months ago

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dating joe burrow (headcannons) || joe burrow x reader

description: little things about you and joe’s relationship 💗💗

a/n: this was a request I got! (request can be found here) i haven’t tried this before so im feeling it out :) the fact that it took me the whole week to write this is wild 😭 let me know if you guys like this or have any thoughts, ideas, whatever 💗

side note- almost had a heart attack because i thought none of this saved. this is what i get for writing directly in my tumblr drafts and not google docs first like usual

word count: 4.1 k

warnings: allusions to smut

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he’s a total gentleman. he's always opening your doors for you, carrying your bags, and you never have to ask him to. he just does it on his own, it was a sweet unspoken rule. he says that he knows you’re incredibly capable of doing things on your own and he loves that about you, but he says you always deserve ‘the princess treatment’ and no princess should ever break a sweat or struggle with anything

he’s always holding your hand when you two are walking together. he hated when you couldn't hold hands because it made him feel far away from you (even if you were right next to him). holding your soft hand, running his thumb along your soft skin, and having your fingers intertwined was the best feeling in the world for joe

when you're out on the streets, he's always watching out for anything you might step on or walk into such as puddles, uneven surfaces, or grates where your heel may get caught in. you joked that he was like your personal bodyguard, and he took on that role and title proudly. he said that guarding you was a more important job than being a quarterback for a billion-dollar franchise--that's how much he cared for you

he wasn’t a big touchy-feely guy, but with you? with you it was a completely different story. his hands were always on you, his lips were always pressing sweet kisses around some part of your body, and he was so addicted to you. when he was with you, touching you was all he could think about and when he wasn't with you, he was always fantasizing about the next time he was

he loves kissing your neck. sometimes a little roughly to leave a few pretty marks so 'everyone knew who you belonged to' but sometimes very sweetly & gently. so many sweet kisses. his soft lips left no part of your body untouched. he was so soft around you compared to the way he was around friends, his teammates, and family. the second it was just the two of you, he became a little baby--your little baby--and was the most precious thing on the planet

you two could be watching a movie on the couch and somehow his head would end up in the crook of your neck, all his focus on kissing your soft skin instead of what was happening on the TV screen

this would happen when you were trying to finish up some stuff for work too. you would be typing away on your computer and he'd be sitting next to you, so bored and in need of attention from you. he'd start pressing light kisses around your collarbone, and then move up your neck, his kisses getting rougher and more alluring. next thing you knew, your computer was on the floor along with a pile of both your clothes

he loves it when you thread your fingers through his soft hair while he lays his head on your chest, which he also loves. he loved laying his head on your chest because something about hearing your heartbeat made him feel safe, feel at peace. his arms always wrapped around your middle and his cheek was always squished against your breasts. he just adored it--maybe even for a few other reasons too ;). seeing him like that after a hard day at practice or after a rigorous workout brought you so much satisfaction. you made him feel like that. he didn't need anything else to make him feel like that, just you. it was that simple

he’s always giving you his full attention when you’re talking. it’s like you’re the only person in the room for him. you two could be on the sidelines of paycor right before kickoff, surrounded by thousands of fans and football players, but you’re the only person he’d be able to see and hear. the rest of the world disappears around him whenever he hears your pretty voice

your family love love loves joe.

initially, when you told them you were seeing someone and that someone was joe burrow, they didn’t believe you. they couldn’t believe that you bagged a football player, specifically the star quarterback, and you were slightly offended for a second but their initial reaction made the look on their faces even more enjoyable when you brought joe to your hometown for the first time with no warning

joe was so nervous to meet your family, it was honestly so cute. he was so quiet and trying to keep calm the entire way to your parents' house. joe was the most confidant person and the most shy person you knew. the cool guy persona he sported every game day was there, but so was the adorable little shy baby that got in his head about things sometimes. he just wanted to be perfect for your family, wanted to show that he was the right man for their perfect & special daughter

your family loved him as soon as they saw him carefully help you out of his car, holding your hand tightly, and leading you to the front door all while making sure that your dress wasn't showing too much because of how intense the wind was that day. he was an absolute gentleman for you, and they loved that

he hit it off with your family within 10 minutes of being at your house, it was insane. he had so much in common with your siblings and even had great conversations with your parents. there was no silence in the house that day because everything was just constantly flowing naturally

he was most anxious around your dad but all of his nerves disappeared once he called joe out to the porch for a drink after dinner. joe thought he was about to get the 'you're a professional athlete, I know how they roll and I'll make your life hell if you break my daughter's heart' talk, but it was the complete opposite. your dad told him how thankful he was to joe for being in your life, for putting that everlasting smile on your face, for making you feel loved in a way you never had been loved before. that's what joe needed to hear, that he was doing good with you. doing good for you

he’s so respectful to your parents and even addressed them as ‘sir and ma’am’ for a good second. you tried to tell him it was alright to refer to them by their first names, but he felt awkward about it because of how much respect he had for them even though this was his first time meeting them

eventually, he started calling them by their first names. you could see that he was getting more and more comfortable around them and didn’t feel the need to hold up a super suave act. he could be himself around you and your family, they felt like home to him. you felt like home to him

joe's parents loved you as soon as they met you as well

they were so thrilled that joe had a woman like you in his life. someone who showed him so much love, care, and support

you weren't super nervous to meet them, mostly because he gave you no time to be. he knew that if he told you in advance that you were going to Athens, you'd freak the hell out. so that's why he told you about 30 minutes before you reached his parent's house. you figured that he was just taking you someplace like a park to go on a walk or something simple like that, not to meet his freaking parents

joe loved that he could bring you home to his family. he loved that he could show you around Athens and experience all the things he did growing up but in a new light because you were with him

he brought you to his favorite spots to eat, his favorite places to go on walks, his favorite shops, and places he spent a lot of time while growing up. he even snuck you into the football stadium--his football stadium--at the high school one night. joe remembered feeling his heart explode at the sight of your beaming smile once you stepped onto the field and saw his name plastered around the stadium. you just felt so proud of him and your entire body showed that. that's the moment he knew he loved you

he said those three special words, those eight letters, to you first. it came out so nonchalantly one night like it was something that was meant to roll off his tongue that easily. hearing those three words come from his mouth for the first time felt so right, like the stars and planets aligned specifically for you both in this moment.

the funny thing was, he said it as you guys were stargazing. you were lying on a big blanket in his backyard and watching the planets & stars together

you were looking up at the sky and there was a big smile on your face as you counted how many stars you could see. joe also had a big smile on his face, but not because of the stars. it was because of you. he was looking over at you, thinking about how he was genuinely the happiest he had ever been in his life at this moment, how things finally felt right in his life. it was all because of you

"the stars make me think about how infinite the universe is, but even with all that endless space, the thing I want most in the world is right here next to me. being with you makes everything else feel small, like all I need is right here," he said to you

and then he ended his sweet small speech with an adorable, sorta quiet because he felt nervous, 'i love you'

you felt your heart explode when you heard him say those three words. the same three words you wanted to say to him since the day you met. you had never loved someone like you loved joe, this was so special and you both knew it

his house was so clean and organized, the exact opposite of what you thought it'd be like when you first came over. you thought it would be full-on bachelor pad, messy, boy vibes. but it really wasn't. it was clean, organized, well-decorated, and it stayed like that. it really felt like a man lived there, not a boy. and joe was a man all right, that was very clear

joe loved to send you cheesy football puns. his personal favs were "you're the touchdown to my game-winning drive", "you've intercepted my heart and I'm not even mad about it", and "you're the MVP of my heart"

lots of late-night snack runs after prime-time games. it was honestly insane to you at first because you thought he'd want to get home ASAP, but he wanted his sweet treat--and he wasn't just talking about you ;)

he even brings you to practice sometimes. you loved to watch him from the sides, doing his thing and watching him in his element. he sometimes even through the ball back and forth with you before or after practice--always showing off a little to make you laugh

your form had definitely gotten better ever since you started throwing with him. you are learning from the best of the best

joe's closet is your closet. he loves it when you take his shirts and hoodies. you love how big his stuff is on you and also how everything smells just like him. it's even better when he's away and you're missing him. his scent is always on you no matter what

joe's always there for you whenever you come home from a hard day at work or are just having a shitty day in general. he's always there, holding you against his chest, letting you soak his shirt with your tears while he presses soft kisses on your forehead and listens to you vent about everything

he knows how hard you work, so it breaks his heart to see you crack under pressure or feel like you weren't doing enough. he gave the best advice and was the best listener, having him in your corner was the best thing that could've happened to you

it was also the best thing that could've happened to him. you were his escape from the pressure that the football life brought. his peace after all the chaos that transpired on the field. his calm within the storm

joe likes to get up early, like early early. he says that he likes to get the most out of the day, which is fair. but it's honestly so bad because you hate getting up early, but his adorable morning smile makes up for it. it's the first thing you're graced with when you get up

when he wakes up, you wake up (even if you feel like dying because it's so early). he always ends up laying his head on your chest as he presses kisses along your skin, your fingers lightly scratching his scalp at the same time. it's the best way to wake up in all honesty. in each other's embrace, all warm, cozy, and secure

he's so cute in the morning. his hair is all messy and he has this raspy voice that makes you want to pounce on him, even if it is still a little dark outside as the sun isn't even fully up.

during the off-season, he made it a rule that he'd cook you breakfast at least twice a week. joe wasn't the best cook (he was learning) so his attempts at cooking breakfast were always so sweet to watch

also because watching him cook breakfast half-naked was like personal porn for you. his tan, bare, muscular back was the star of the show

he'd attempt to make you french toast, pancakes, waffles, literally anything your heart desired. he got better each time he made you food, but also because he'd help you out whenever you made dinner so he picked up on a few skills

it was pretty funny whenever he'd have breakfast fails. like the first time he tried to make french toast, he burnt them and one piece even caught on fire. it was so funny to watch him run around frantically trying to make sure he didn't burn the house down

he loved to help you out when you made dinner. he made himself your little sous chef, helping you out in any way he could. he'd turn on some music so you two danced around in the kitchen as you cooked together, it was something so simple but it brought you two so much joy

your favorite songs to dance around to together were disco by surf curse, my girl by the temptations, angeleyes by abba, heavenly by cigarettes after sex, apocalypse by cigarettes after sex, hunger by ross copperman, pretty boy by the neighbourhood, and lover by taylor swift

sometimes you were so caught up in dancing together that you completely forgot about the food on the stove. the dancing sometimes led to some other things, so naturally, you got distracted. you would end up ordering some chinese takeout and calling it a night whenever that happened

joe loves kissing you. like a lot

sure, he loves kissing spots around your body, but nothing could compare to the feeling he'd get when your lips were pressed against his

that man loves his sloppy, sexy, slow makeout sessions more than anything. noses brushing against each other, his hands wandering around your perfect body, tasting each other...it was so good. especially because 90% of the time they led to some other things ;)

joe was so careful with you in that sense. he always made sure you were alright before you two did anything. he never pressured you for anything, everything would be done on your terms

he's too good in bed. like it's insane. he quite honestly takes your breath away. he can do it all. slow lovemaking & hair-pull worthy, sheet-gripping sex. the way he worshipped your body was truly something out of a fairytale. you'd lose track of time whenever you two got in bed like that, and it was honestly worth it. he was just so damn good. you wanted to stay like that with him as long as you could

he's a lowkey blanket hogger too. he wraps himself in a little burrito blanket, looking all cozy and soft while you stare at him with a straight-lipped face. buttt he caves and lets you into his little blanket burrito. it's so comfy, especially in the winter. the combined heat coming from his body and the blanket made you feel like you were in a soft cocoon

joe loves it when you call him joey, J, burrito (a funny play on 'burrow'), or JB. you didn't really use his other nicknames such as shiesty, joe cool, or joe brr because it felt wrong. those were all football joe names. your nicknames for joe were just joe names

he loved that he was just joe to you. he made sure when you first started dating, you got to know just joe. not Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback joe burrow. just joe

you always found joe doing the most normal things super hot and sexy. he could just be sitting on the couch and doing something on his iPad and you'd find yourself drooling (it was definitely because of that man spread that sent you into orbit)

bringing in bags of groceries out of your car, washing the dishes, putting away your laundry for you, cleaning up the kitchen. it was all so fucking hot. he was just so hot

sometimes while he was doing these things, you'd have an epiphany. you'd realize that he was all yours. nobody else's, just yours. he'd laugh whenever he caught you like this. it was so enchanting to him how you'd randomly become hyperaware that you were his girlfriend and he was your boyfriend

you and joe love flowers so much. you always surprise him with random flower deliveries (especially after a loss) because you know his face will automatically light up once he sees the beautiful plants. he also scheduled weekly flower deliveries for you. a vase of flowers would be at your door every monday morning, the perfect way to start off the week

he loves to pamper you as well

he's always buying you things without reason. clothes, jewelry, books, random little knick-knacks. he just loved to show how much he loved you in every shape and form possible

all of your daily jewelry was given to you by him. your two necklaces (one being a necklace with his initial), your 3 bracelets, your 4 rings (two on each hand, one being a promise ring), and your anklet which had 9 citrine orange gemstones in it along with multiple diamonds

proper date nights are a must in your relationship. even during the season, he made sure you had one night in the week where you two went out for dinner together. but you'd also have the best date nights at home

sometimes you just ended up building legos on the floor & watching a silly movie as a date night, but you two loved doing simple things like this. sometimes you'd just eat dinner outside in the backyard together as a date night. sometimes you'd just go on a night stroll together. simple things like that were special because it kept you two grounded. you didn't need to go out and drop $200 on some fancy dinner when you could have the same level of enjoyment by sitting on the floor, building a lego set from 'the office', and stuffing your faces with takeout. as long as you were together, you didn't really care what you did

he never fails to tell you how amazing you are. those sweet nothings he'd whisper in your ear every night before bed were the things you craved the most in your previous relationships. just being told how much you brighten his world, how pretty you are, how easy it is to love you, and other things like that made your day. he never skipped out on telling you those things

you love hearing his laugh. whenever he laughs around you, he laughs with his whole body. it's such a sweet sound, a sound you wish you could hear forever

you were so obsessed with joe’s body. his thick thighs, large muscles, veiny hands, and gorgeous face. he was a literal greek god, it was so hard to believe this man was real. he was equally as obsessed with your body too, and he made sure to show you that almost every night ;)

your friends love joe so much. they always call him your prince charming, the man who made all your dreams come true and the man who treats you like you're a real-life princess. they always tease you because of how down bad you act for him too. whenever you're with them and joe isn't there, they have to keep a tally of how many times you bring him up or say 'i miss joe'. they find it precious that you act that way for him

when he first met your best friends over dinner, he was lowkey intimated by them. they're so protective over you, so they had this tough front on. the entire dinner was like a test for him, and he passed it with flying colors

they watched as he paid such close attention to everything you said, how he was holding your hand under the table, how he subtly checked in on you to see if you were comfortable, offering his jacket in case you were cold, stayed off his phone the entire time, his nonchalant & genuine compliments towards you, making sure you were included in all the conversations, actively engaging with your friends and making a genuine effort to get to know them, his gentle touches like placing his arm around you or lightly rubbing your arm, how he spoke so highly of you, how he took care of the small things such as filling your water glass without you even having to ask, the little inside jokes you two had, and noticing and responding to your little signals when you got anxious that only your friends knew about until now

after the dinner, your girls pulled you over and they had the biggest smiles on their faces. they told you to send them a save-the-date invite ASAP because they knew you were going to marry that man. they saw the way he acted around you and that alone was enough to seal the deal

his friends loved you too. they instantly noticed how perfectly you matched joe's vibe, how happy you made him, and how you were practically made for one another. they called you two peanut butter & jelly; you went together so well

game days were always so fun for you two

you grew up in a football family so you were already a big football girl before you even met joe. being a football players girlfriend was written in the stars for you

joe didn't believe you initially when you mentioned to him how much you loved football. he thought you were just saying that to impress him. he found out the hard way that you were being serious

you two were watching a MNF game (prior to actually becoming boyfriend/girlfriend) and your (then) favorite team was playing against one of their longtime rivals. joe's jaw was on the floor the entire game because of how you were screaming at the tv, jumping onto your feet at every bullshit flag & call, and so locked in on everything that was going on

your keenness towards football made your relationship even more exciting. you'd get to watch your boyfriend do what he loved, which happened to be one of your favorite things in the world

seeing you in his suite every week gave him an extra boost. he knew you were watching him and he wanted to make you proud & happy at all times

he also loved to see your game-day outfits. seeing his name, his number, his colors all around your body did some unspeakable things to him. sometimes he wondered how fast it would take for anyone to notice he was missing. the storage closet seemed like the prime quickie spot on game days ;)

you had a routine before kickoff too. you'd go down to the sidelines before the start of the game to give joe a little pep-talk and it always ended with a passionate kiss and little handshake you two made up on your first date (a sort of good luck manifestation tactic). at the end of the game, win or loss, you'd be waiting in the tunnel to give him his post-game kiss and a singular rose (as you know, he loves getting flowers)

the orange rose you gave him after the 2021 AFC championship game (the super-bowl sending game) sits in his office. he got it pressed and plated by a professional, a way to preserve the special memory that the flower held

the love you two shared was truly something that only came around once every few lifetimes. it was so special, so rare, so exciting

“every time I look at you, I feel like I’m falling in love all over again. the way you laugh, the way you move, even the way you think—it’s all so beautiful to me. i could spend the rest of my life just watching you be yourself and never get tired of it. i can’t stop thinking about you. you’re always on my mind, like a song stuck on repeat. every time I’m with you, it feels like the world fades away, and all I can see, hear, and feel is you. i’m completely mesmerized with everything about you," he said to you

--The End--

#joe burrow #joe burrow x reader #joe burrow fic #joe burrow fan fic #joseph lee burrow #joe burrow bengals #joeyb #joe burrow imagine #nfl imagine #headcanon

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honeydippedfiction · 24 days ago

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No Huddle, No Strings {JB9}

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Synopsis: When rising R&B star Y/N meets star quarterback Joe Burrow during her tour stop, neither of them is looking for love — but tension, temptation, and a no-strings arrangement change everything. Between city lights, stadium crowds, and stolen moments, they learn that sometimes the best plays are the ones you never planned.

Warnings: Suggestive/Spicy Scenes, Strong Language, Alcohol Use, Mature Themes, Mild Public Attention.

Themes: Slow Burn to Situationship, Fame & Performance Pressure, Flirtation & Tension, Modern Romance, Group Dynamics, Female Empowerment, “No Strings” Situationship, & Luxury Lifestyle.

WC: 17.5k

A/N: Yup I have once again started a new mini series just bc I can.

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• you DO NOT have my permission to copy my work, upload as your own, translate, or repost on any other website •

Part 2

Y/N was already carving her own lane in the industry.

An upcoming Black singer and actress, she was right on the edge of her breakout. Her name had started to bubble up on music blogs and casting directors' shortlists. She wasn’t a household name — yet — but people were definitely paying attention. One minute she was uploading covers and original tracks to Instagram from her bedroom, and the next, she was being flown out for meetings with record execs and reading scripts for pilots backed by major streaming platforms.

Her voice — rich, emotional, laced with soul — had that kind of depth you couldn’t teach. It was the kind of sound that made people stop mid-scroll. And her acting? Natural, raw, and full of range. She brought characters to life like she’d lived a thousand lives before this one.

She’d recently wrapped her first supporting role in an upcoming drama series, and the early buzz around her performance was glowing. The media had started to call her “one of the voices to watch in 2024,” and brands were already knocking, hoping to catch her on the rise.

Still, none of the glitz changed who she was — a Baltimore girl at heart. Which is why, when the NFL reached out and asked her to perform the National Anthem at the Ravens vs. Bengals game, she didn’t hesitate. Singing for her hometown team? It wasn’t just another stage. It was a full-circle moment.

And she wasn’t going to miss it for the world.

She came to the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals game to support her Ravens — her hometown ride-or-dies. This was personal. Singing the National Anthem under the lights, in front of a packed stadium, was a full-circle moment. One that little Y/N would’ve dreamed about while wearing her oversized Ed Reed jersey in front of the TV.

Before the performance, she got the chance to float around the sidelines, guided by a PR handler who seemed just as excited to introduce her as she was to be there. “Y/N, this is Marlon Humphrey,” the handler said, motioning to the Ravens cornerback.

Marlon gave her a dap and a warm smile. “Oh, you the voice we heard warming up earlier? Yeah, that gave me chills.”

She laughed. “Just tryna do right by the city.”

Another player called out, “Make sure y’all don’t cry when she starts hittin’ them high notes!”

She grinned, clearly in her element.

But then came the surprise — a detour to the Bengals sideline. She wasn’t here for them, but when she was introduced to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow, it felt like the game paused for a second.

Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, standing casually near the Bengals bench, all suited up, pads on, helmets off. They looked like walking Nike ads. It was disrespectful how good-looking they were, honestly.

Yo,” Ja’Marr said with a nod when she approached. “You the one singing tonight?”

“That’s me,” she said, trying to stay cool.“

“You got that 'bout-to-break-the-Internet look going already,” Tee joked, eyes scanning her fit.

Joe stepped forward, offering his hand. “Joe. You probably already knew that.”

“I’ve heard,” she said, shaking his hand. His grip was warm, confident. His blue eyes locked on hers for a second longer than necessary.

Ja’Marr grinned immediately. “Okay, so who told y’all to bring a superstar over here?”

“I think she brought the spotlight with her,” Tee said, giving her an obvious once-over — not in a rude way, just appreciative. “Y’all know she’s in that new Amazon show, right?”

Joe stepped forward. “Big fan already. I saw the trailer last week.” His voice was calm, low, smooth. Eyes locked onto hers like he wasn’t just saying it to be polite.

“Appreciate it,” Y/N said with a soft smile. “But tonight, I’m just the anthem girl.”

“You sure about that?” Joe asked, one brow raised. “'Cause you’re stealing the whole show and it hasn’t even started.” She couldn’t help the little laugh that escaped. “You Bengals boys are real smooth.” Tee nudged Ja’Marr. “Man, let her sing. She’s gonna have us all emotional before kickoff.”

“Y’all acting nervous,” she teased.

“Nah,” Ja’Marr said. “Just starstruck.” “You nervous?” Ja’Marr asked. She smirked. “Not at all. You?” He let out a laugh. “Aight, bet.” Joe tilted his head slightly. “You’re from Baltimore, right?”

“Born and raised.”

“So you’re rooting against us tonight.”

“Obviously.”

Tee leaned in. “Damn, she bold.”

“Just honest,” she shot back, grinning.

“Alright, we need a pic with the star of the night,” Ja'Marr said, already motioning to one of her media team members.

They lined up — her in the middle, flanked by Bengals, all smiles. Joe rested a hand gently on the small of her back. The camera flashed. “You’re gonna kill it,” he said under his breath as they broke apart. She looked back at him over her shoulder. “Watch me.”

The roar of the stadium was still buzzing in Y/N’s ears long after the National Anthem ended and the Ravens-Bengals game had kicked off. She stood on the sidelines for a few minutes longer, soaking in the energy, the cheers, the tension. She was there to support her Ravens, of course — she was Baltimore born and raised — but her purpose tonight was bigger than the scoreboard.

She’d just delivered a soulful, goosebump-worthy rendition of the anthem in a fitted black trench coat that sparkled like the night sky under the stadium lights. Her team had snapped photos of her belting the final note, the flag behind her, and a few more candid ones — her laughing with some of the Ravens players, then a couple with Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. And, to her own surprise… a photo with Joe Burrow.

She wasn’t blind. The Bengals’ QB was easy on the eyes — tall, calm, with a smirk that could melt screens. But still. Y/N wasn’t here for all that.

Her Instagram feed lit up minutes after the game with a carousel her media team posted: 📸 National Anthem moment. 📸 Laughing with a couple Ravens. 📸 Standing between Ja'Marr and Tee, both grinning. 📸 One with Joe, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back, both of them mid-laugh.

The tags were there. The captions were simple. The internet, predictably, went nuts.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Back at her hotel, the post-game adrenaline still thrumming through her, Y/N was in her suite's bathroom, putting finishing touches on her edges and lip gloss before dinner. She was humming something new she’d been writing, when—

“Y/N!!”

Her best friend Kayla’s voice came slicing through the suite like a siren. “What?” Y/N called, not even turning around. She expected another over-the-top comment about her voice cracking the internet. “You got a DM, girl. Guess who.” Kayla’s voice was already reaching a pitch of scandalous excitement.

Y/N stepped into the bedroom, one brow raised. “From who?” Kayla held up the phone, her eyes wide, glowing like she’d seen Beyoncé herself. “Joe. Freaking. Burrow.”

Y/N blinked. “Nah.”

“YEAH.”

“Nooo…”

Kayla turned the phone toward her with all the drama of a movie reveal. “And I quote: ‘You sounded amazing tonight. Think I just became a Ravens fan… but don’t tell the guys. 😉’”

Y/N covered her face with her hands, groaning. “Girl, no. Nope. I am not about to get distracted.”

Kayla, undeterred, unlocked the phone with Y/N’s passcode and read the DM again, grinning hard. “Girl if you don’t climb this white boy like a TREE—”

“I do not have time for this!” Y/N said, laughing despite herself. “I’ve got rehearsals tomorrow, soundcheck, a whole damn show!”

“And what better way to unwind after the show than with a cute little flirt session?” Kayla flopped on the bed. “At least invite him to the soundcheck. That man looked like he’d be on time. Respectful. Fine.”

Y/N gave her a look.

“And his friends too,” Kayla added with a smirk. “That number 5? Tee? He looks like he knows how to give it good.”

Y/N burst out laughing. “You are wild.”

Kayla shrugged. “I’m not wrong.”

The phone buzzed again. Another message from Joe popped up: “No pressure. Just thought I’d shoot my shot. You crushed that anthem.” Y/N stared at it for a second, chewing on her bottom lip. Then she sighed, snatched the phone from Kayla, and started typing.

“Thanks, Mr. QB1. You clean up alright yourself. If you’re still in town, pull up to my show tomorrow. I’ll save a spot for you and your boys.”

Pause. She added a wink emoji. Hit send. Kayla squealed. Y/N shook her head. “I’m not catching feelings.”

Kayla winked. “Nope. Just catching flights and flirting with quarterbacks.”

Joe’s phone buzzed as he sat back in his hotel room, one ankle crossed over his knee, game tape playing quietly in the background — not that he was watching it. Not really.

His mind kept drifting back to earlier that night — the game, yeah, but mostly her. Y/N.

He wasn’t usually thrown off by much. Being a quarterback, especially this quarterback, meant staying cool under pressure. But something about her on that field had stuck with him. The confidence. The voice. The way she didn’t fawn over him like most people did when they recognized him. She was real. Funny. Sharp.

And beautiful? Yeah. But it wasn’t just that.

She had presence.

He’d seen the photos she posted — the one with him, Ja'Marr, and Tee included. He didn’t even hate the way he looked in it, which said something. Still, he almost didn’t send the message. He wasn’t the type to slide into DMs. But after running through the “should I/shouldn’t I” loop for a full hour, he figured: screw it.

No pressure. Just thought I’d shoot my shot. You crushed that anthem.Sent.

Then, silence. He set his phone down and tried to refocus, flipping through the playbook, but glanced over every few seconds. The screen stayed dark. His brain taunted him: Told you.

Then — buzz.

He grabbed it faster than he meant to.

Thanks, Mr. QB1. You clean up alright yourself. If you’re still in town, pull up to my show tomorrow. I’ll save a spot for you and your boys. 😉

A grin tugged at his lips. He leaned back, letting the phone rest on his chest, eyes still on the message. Smooth. Confident. Just like her. He opened a new message.

I wouldn't miss it. And if you're saving spots, I’m calling dibs on front row. Just for research purposes. Gotta see if the voice hits just as hard live. 😉

He hit send, chuckling to himself. Joe may not have planned on being in Baltimore past the game, but after that message? Yeah… He was definitely extending the trip.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The next day moved fast — soundcheck days always did. Y/N was in full go-mode, bouncing between vocal warmups, makeup touch-ups, and outfit approvals while her best friend/dancer Kayla kept the energy high.

“Okay but why is this bodysuit giving superhero?” Kayla said, twisting in front of the mirror in the green room.

Y/N smirked as she pulled on her thigh-high boots. “Because we are about to shut it down. I need all the bad bitch energy tonight.”

Kayla nodded, flipping her hair dramatically. “Say less. We’re giving power, pussy, and precision.”

Y/N laughed but refocused, pacing the room softly as her soundcheck crew called in updates through her in-ear. She was used to the routine by now, but today felt different. Her body was still carrying the buzz from last night — the stadium, the crowd, and… that DM from Joe Burrow.

She hadn’t told anyone she invited him — not even her manager. Kayla knew, obviously. Kayla always knew. But Y/N didn’t want to give the media, or her own imagination, anything more to feed off. Still… she couldn’t deny the way her stomach fluttered just thinking about him showing up.

Her music wasn’t shy — it was bold, playful, sexy. A blend of Doja Cat’s slick confidence, Latto’s grit, and Sabrina Carpenter’s sugar-laced sensuality. She didn’t just sing about desire — she made it a performance. This was her power, and she was stepping into it fully.

Out front, Y/N’s manager, Carmen, greeted a group walking in through the venue’s side door.

Four men. All tall, all dressed down but still unmistakable. Joe, Tee, Ja’Marr, and Sam Hubbard.

Carmen’s brows raised slightly — she had no idea this was happening, but she recovered quickly.

“Hey! I’m Carmen, Y/N’s manager.” She reached out to shake Joe’s hand, then the others. “I heard she extended an invite, huh?”

Joe gave that cool half-smile. “Yeah. We didn’t want to miss it.”

“Well, she’s in the green room getting ready, but you’re welcome to hang here at front of house,” she said, gesturing to the open space by the soundboard. “You’ll get a great view. She’s about to start soundcheck.”

As they walked over, Tee leaned in to Ja’Marr. “You think she’s actually gonna remember us?”

Ja’Marr smirked. “I think she remembers him.”

Joe said nothing, just looked out at the stage — empty for now, lights low. But he could already picture it. Her. Mic in hand. Owning the room.

Sam chuckled, nudging Joe. “You nervous, bro?”

Joe rubbed the back of his neck. “Just here to support the music.”

“Sure,” Tee muttered, grinning. “Support. Uh-huh.”

Carmen looked over her shoulder. “She’ll be out in two.”

Back in the green room, Y/N checked herself in the mirror one last time — her curls in a half up half down style, light makeup, a black crop top paired with a leather skort hugging every curve like it was designed just for her.

“You look like a damn problem,” Kayla said, leaning in the doorway.

Y/N shrugged with a smile. “Good.”

Because she knew who was waiting out there.

And this? This was just the beginning.

From backstage, Kayla leaned just enough around the heavy black curtain to get a peek at the front of house.

She spotted them immediately.

“Whew. Girl,” she whispered dramatically, pulling back with wide eyes. “Your man is here.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, fixing the strap on her bra. “He is not my man.”

Kayla grinned. “Mmhm. Joe Burrow, just casually standing out there lookin’ like an NFL ad — all calm, tall, and white-boy-seasoned. And the rest of his Avengers squad’s with him.”

Y/N groaned, but her smile gave her away.

“Come on,” she said, grabbing Kayla’s wrist. “Let’s go say hi before you start narrating this like it’s a Wattpad story.”

They weaved through the maze of black cases, cables, and crewmembers toward the open space at the front of house, where the guys stood chatting with Y/N’s sound engineer, Malik, laughing about something none of them would probably admit to later.

As soon as the group noticed Y/N and Kayla approaching, the conversation paused like someone had hit mute.

Joe’s eyes landed on her first. He smiled — slow, real — and stepped forward instinctively, hands tucked in his jacket pockets.

“Didn’t want to miss the pre-show magic,” he said.

Y/N raised a brow. “You mean soundcheck? This is the part where I pretend I’m not sweating under this outfit.”

Tee laughed. “You make it look easy.”

Y/N gave him a playful side-eye. “That’s the point.”

Kayla chimed in, “Be honest, y’all just came to see her in this skirt.”

Ja’Marr grinned. “I mean… you’re not wrong.”

Y/N shot him a look. “Didn’t your team just lose to mine last night?”

Ja’Marr held up both hands. “Damn. Friendly fire.”

Joe chuckled, and Sam gave a low whistle like he’d just witnessed a flag-worthy play.

“But really,” Y/N said, smoothing a hand over her curls, “I’m glad y’all came. I’m gonna run a couple songs, test levels, in-ears, all that fun stuff. You’ll see the whole thing.”

“You think we haven’t heard your music already?” Tee asked.

Y/N tilted her head. “Have you?”

Before anyone else could answer, Ja’Marr cut in with that trademark smirk. “Us? Fake fans? Please. We’re not you, Miss Baltimore turned Bengal.”

The whole group laughed, even Joe, who shook his head slowly like he saw that one coming.

Y/N pointed at Ja’Marr, amused. “You got jokes, huh? Keep playin’ with me, I’ll make you my backup dancer tonight. You got rhythm or just routes?”

“Ooooh,” Kayla chimed, fanning the air.

Ja’Marr bowed in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave.”

“Good,” Y/N said with a wink. “Now, enjoy the free preview. We start in five.”

She turned with Kayla, heading back toward the stage entrance.

Joe watched her go, and for a moment, he forgot there were other people around him.

Tee nudged him, muttering under his breath, “Yeah… you real lowkey about this one, huh?”

Joe just smirked. “I’m just here for the music.”

As Y/N turned to head backstage, her best friend, Kayla, couldn't help but catch the way Joe’s eyes followed her. Even as she walked away, his gaze stayed locked on her, a little too intent, a little too… lingering.

Kayla raised her brows, a teasing grin spreading across her face as she nudged Y/N. "Ohhh, girl, you see that? His eyes never left you."

Y/N rolled her eyes, trying to stay composed as she walked faster, but Kayla kept up with her, now practically bouncing with excitement.

“Definitely thinking about something,” Kayla added with a mischievous wink. “Something real... fitting for that little outfit of yours.”

Y/N shot her a look. “Kayla, please. You need to chill.”

But Kayla only shrugged, letting out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, I’m just saying, you might wanna check if the man’s about to throw a touchdown or a date proposal your way.” She looked over her shoulder toward where Joe stood with the guys, his expression still unreadable but totally locked on her.

Y/N pinched her best friend’s arm hard enough to make her yelp. “You’re wild.”

Kayla pouted but couldn’t hide the sparkle in her eyes. “You’re welcome. Just keeping you aware, in case he’s ready to make moves.”

Y/N groaned, but even she had to admit — that look from Joe? It felt different than just a casual fan thing.

“Whatever,” she muttered, trying to focus on the soundcheck. "Let’s just get this over with. I need to hit these notes, not flirt with quarterbacks."

But Kayla didn’t let up. “You’re not fooling me, Y/N. I see you about to score in more ways than one tonight.”

Y/N shot her a side-eye. “I’m seriously not catching feelings.”

Kayla winked. “Nah, you’re just catching flights and flirting with quarterbacks. It’s cool, I got you.”

Y/N shook her head, finally breaking into a smile. “Okay, you’re so extra.”

The lights dimmed in the venue, and the stage was bathed in soft, cool blue hues, giving everything a sleek, almost ethereal glow. Y/N stepped back onto the stage for soundcheck, every inch of her commanding attention. Her boots clicked on the stage floor, sharp and steady, like a countdown to something major.

As the band set up, Kayla was already in position, her body language giving away the anticipation. The dancers stretched and prepped, glancing over at Y/N with nods of encouragement.

The moment the beat dropped, Y/N swayed effortlessly into the opening bars, her voice a perfect blend of silky and fierce. The first song was a banger — a blend of playful confidence, unapologetic energy, and sultry, pop-driven sensuality. It was electric. And it was all Y/N.

Her voice floated seamlessly, layering with the bass and smooth melodies while her body moved with precision. The choreography was tight — sharp, sultry, and fierce all at once, each movement calculated to bring out the best in the song. Her dancers were synchronized perfectly, as if they were extensions of herself, amplifying the energy.

She nailed the high notes effortlessly, sending chills through the room. Kayla was in the front row, her eyes glued to her best friend, watching Y/N like she was watching a star in her element.

“Yes, girl!” Kayla called out, her voice echoing off the walls. Y/N shot her a quick wink, then turned to the mic again, belting out another verse with full power.

Everything — the choreography, the vocals, the entire performance — was pristine. Perfect. Just the way she liked it.

Malik, her sound engineer, nodded approvingly from the side, keeping an eye on the monitors. “You’re killing it, Y/N. Keep that tempo, keep that energy.”

Y/N gave him a quick thumbs-up, confident but focused. This wasn’t the first soundcheck, but it was one of the smoothest. Everything flowed effortlessly, like she was born to do this.

As the last note of the song echoed out, the beat faded into the silence of the venue. She paused, eyes scanning the space as the dancers took their last position. The crowd wasn’t here yet, but Y/N felt that invisible pull — the same rush she got every time she hit a stage, every time the music swirled around her and she lost herself in it.

The team clapped, cheering her on.

“Perfect, as always,” Kayla said, coming up to her side.

Y/N let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “This one’s gonna be fire. I’m telling you.”

Before she could say anything else, Joe, Ja'Marr, Tee, and Sam appeared at the edge of the stage, quietly watching, their eyes glued to her every move. Y/N could feel the weight of their gaze, especially Joe’s, but she kept her focus sharp.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t break a sweat.

"You guys good?" she asked, casually walking over to the edge of the stage where they were standing.

Joe gave her a slow, appreciative nod. “More than good. That was... wow.”

Tee grinned. “Man, you should definitely go on tour with that energy. You made this look easy.”

Ja'Marr added with his signature smirk, “I’m just saying, this show already beat last night’s game. And that was supposed to be the highlight of my weekend.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but smiled, letting the light teasing slide. “I’d argue, but you’re right. My performance’s gonna be way better than that Ravens/Bengals game.”

Sam, ever the quiet one, just gave her a nod of approval, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes softened, though, as if he was seeing her in a whole new light.

“Damn,” he said quietly. “You’re about to make this crowd lose their minds.”

Y/N smirked, glancing over her shoulder at Kayla and the crew. “That’s the plan.”

Joe, still watching her, spoke up again. “You mind if we stick around for the show?” His voice was casual, but there was something deeper beneath the surface — something like... anticipation.

Y/N met his gaze, a hint of a smile curling on her lips. “Of course. Grab a seat. Just don’t expect to be able to breathe by the end of it.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The clock was ticking down. The show was getting closer to starting, but before Y/N could hit the stage, there was one more thing to do: the VIP meet-and-greet.

She was in her green room, quickly checking herself over in the mirror one last time. The bodysuit was still on point, her makeup flawless, and her energy was electric. She wasn’t nervous—that wasn’t her style—but there was always a little extra buzz before she interacted with her die-hard fans.

The VIP package included a photo session, a Q&A, a game (nothing too crazy, just fun), and a special acoustic performance that she’d prepped for. Y/N loved the intimate moments with fans — it was one of the few times she could really connect and see the impact her music had on people. But today, she had a special request for her football friends.

She turned to Kayla, who was sitting in a chair, scrolling through her phone. "Hey, I’m about to start with the VIPs. You think the guys can come hang in here, chill out for a bit?”

Kayla raised an eyebrow. "You want them in here, dodging your fans?"

Y/N shrugged with a mischievous smile. "Why not? They’ll get a break before the madness kicks off. They can hide in here, watch me handle my business, and then get a front-row seat for the show."

Kayla chuckled, shaking her head. “You’ve got the right idea. Bet Joe’s down for that.”

A few minutes later, Joe, Tee, Ja'Marr, and Sam made their way into the green room, careful to avoid the maze of fans that were already starting to line up outside the venue. The room instantly felt a little more laid-back with them there — even with the energy of the show buzzing through the walls.

"Nice hideout," Joe commented, looking around at the cozy green room filled with Y/N’s crew, a couple of comfy chairs, and a couch. "I thought you’d be drowning in fans by now."

Y/N grinned. "They’re out there, but I’m gonna let them wait a bit longer. You guys need anything before I head out there?"

"Some food would be nice," Tee joked, but Ja'Marr elbowed him, his eyes dancing with mischief. "He’s always hungry. You’re not fooling anyone."

Sam smiled softly from his corner, hands still in his pockets, but his eyes were alert, taking everything in.

Kayla stood up, already reaching for the snacks table in the corner. "We’ve got chips, candy, protein bars, the works. You know, the real backstage essentials."

Y/N rolled her eyes. "Yeah, real gourmet stuff."

Joe shrugged, settling onto the couch with his legs spread comfortably. "Gourmet or not, I’ll take it."

Y/N flashed him a knowing smile. "No one’s judging you here, Mr. QB1. Take a load off. It’s gonna be a few minutes before the chaos hits, so you might as well get comfortable."

Just then, her manager, Carmen, knocked on the door, entering with a quick smile. "Alright, we’re about five minutes out. VIPs are ready for you, Y/N."

Y/N nodded, her pulse picking up just a little. The Q&A session and acoustic performance always gave her a rush. It was personal, it was raw, and it was a reminder of why she did all of this in the first place — for the fans who supported her.

She turned to the guys. "Alright, well, you guys get to chill here. Feel free to hang out, watch the madness, but don’t get too comfortable. You’ll want to be front and center when I hit the stage."

Joe raised his eyebrows, looking around at the group. "I think we’re already comfy enough."

Ja'Marr nodded, looking like he was mentally preparing himself. "We’ll make sure we’re ready for the show, don’t worry. But I gotta say, watching you run things like this? Pretty impressive."

Y/N gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, but her mind was already moving on to the next thing. "Appreciate it. Now, I gotta go give these fans a little magic."

Kayla followed her out the door, but before she did, she turned back to the guys. "No funny business, alright? If she comes back here and y’all are missing, I swear I’ll make you run a lap around the block."

The guys all laughed, and Joe gave a mock salute. “We’ll behave. Promise.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Y/N grinned and walked out into the VIP area, where her die-hard fans were ready and waiting to meet her. She was ready for them, and ready to leave an impression on them just like she did with the guys.

The moment Y/N stepped into the VIP lounge, the energy shifted.

Cameras were already out. Her fans — a group of maybe 30 lucky ones — instantly erupted into soft gasps and whispers, a few louder cheers breaking through.

“OMG she’s so pretty in person.” “She’s wearing the boots from the video!” “She smells like expensive skin care and success, I just know it.”

Y/N smiled and waved, radiating confidence. “Hey y’all,” she said, voice sweet but commanding. “Thank you for coming early — y’all are real ones.”

They ate it up. One girl in the front clutched her signed vinyl like it was a sacred object. A couple fans had even made shirts with her lyrics printed across the front.

“Y’all really showed out,” Y/N said, pausing in front of one of the shirts. “‘Talk to me nice or not at all’? Okay, that’s a deep cut!”

The girl beamed. “It’s my favorite! That song got me through the worst breakup of my life.”

“I love that,” Y/N said, her tone softening. “That’s why I do this.”

After a round of photos — all angles, all poses, peace signs and fierce pouts alike — they shifted into Q&A mode, her team setting up a mic in the center aisle.

Someone asked about her songwriting process. Another wanted to know which music video she had the most fun filming. Someone else asked what cologne she made the male lead in her last video wear (that one made her laugh for a full minute).

But then came a question from a girl in the back, clearly nervous. “Um… is it true that you were at the Bengals game last night? Like… with Joe Burrow?”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her smile tight but amused. “With Joe Burrow? Girl, I was singing the anthem. I was with America.”

The crowd howled.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Back in the green room, the guys could hear the laughter from down the hall.

“She’s working the room like she’s running for office,” Tee said with a laugh, kicking back on the couch.

Joe tilted his head, listening closer. “She’s funny. Sharp.”

“She’s dangerous,” Ja’Marr added. “In a good way. Like, she’ll ruin your life and still get a standing ovation.”

Joe didn’t disagree. He couldn’t. His knee bounced a little as he sat there, trying to play it cool. But inside, he was… caught. Not in a deep, lovestruck way — not yet — but definitely hooked.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Back in the lounge, Y/N gathered her guitar, stepping into the spotlight as her team adjusted a stool and handed her a mic.

“This next part is my favorite,” she said. “We’re gonna slow it down. No tracks. No lights. Just me, my guitar, and y’all.”

She strummed once, twice. The room went completely still.

Then she started to sing — a stripped-down version of her unreleased track, “Thigh High Lies.” Her voice melted into the silence, rich and slow, dripping with the sensual confidence that defined her sound. The lyrics were cheeky and sultry, biting but beautiful.

"You said you want real, I showed you the skinYou couldn’t handle the truth I’m inTold me I was ‘too much,’ baby that’s fine—I’d rather be too much than a waste of time."

By the end, the crowd was swaying, mouths slightly open. Some wiped tears. One girl mouthed, “She’s insane,” like she was witnessing Beyoncé’s origin story.

Y/N set the guitar down and gave them one more grin. “See y’all out there later. Bring the same energy — and don’t be shy when the beat drops.”

The room erupted into applause as she headed back toward the green room, her team buzzing around her.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

By the time Y/N returned to the green room, everything about her screamed main character energy.

She had changed into her actual show fit—a deep violet two-piece with glittering mesh sleeves, and thigh-high heeled boots.. Her hair was slicked up into a dramatic half up half down style that moved like a whip every time she turned her head.

The room paused. Even her team, who saw her every day, had to do a double take.

Kayla whistled. “Oh, you look like danger.”

Y/N smirked, applying one last swipe of gloss in the mirror. “That’s the point.”

Over by the corner couch, Joe, Tee, Ja’Marr, and Sam were all watching her warm up — quiet, low runs under her breath, a few neck rolls, then a bounce on her heels to shake off the nerves. Her body buzzed with the tension of pre-performance adrenaline, but her focus was dialed in.

She turned to them, ever the one to look out for others—even in her own moment.

“You guys figured out where you wanna watch from?” she asked, adjusting her in-ear pack. “If you stay side stage, you’ll catch all the behind-the-scenes madness. If you go out in the crowd, I can have my security keep an extra eye on you. Just say the word.”

The guys glanced at each other, like they hadn’t even thought about that part yet.

Joe stepped forward first. “We’ll hit the crowd. Front row. Don’t wanna cramp your space backstage.”

“You sure?” Y/N raised an eyebrow. “No one’s gonna mess with you, but if someone tries it, I’m not above pausing a show.”

Ja’Marr laughed. “Now that I would pay to see.”

“We’ll be good,” Tee assured her. “But appreciate the lookout.”

Y/N nodded, serious again. “I don’t play when it comes to safety. Not for my fans, not for my team, not for y’all. Just let security know if anything gets weird.”

Sam, who hadn’t said much, gave her a respectful nod. “You’re something else, Y/N.”

She smiled, touched but still laser-focused. “I get that a lot.”

A knock at the door signaled her five-minute call. Her assistant peeked in, giving her the sign.

Y/N turned to the guys once more, her expression softening just a little. “Alright. I’m heading out there. Y’all enjoy the show — don’t blink, or you’ll miss the best parts.”

Joe offered her a hand. Not a handshake — just a brief touch. His fingers brushing hers, firm but warm. “You got this.”

Her lips curled into a confident smirk. “You know I do.”

Moments later, the guys were being escorted to the VIP barricade, front and center. Fans were already losing their minds, the lights dimming as the crowd buzzed in electric anticipation. Some recognized the players immediately — a few phones even pointed their way — but security kept a tight bubble around them, just like Y/N promised.

The lights dropped.

The music started.

And when Y/N took the stage — striding into the spotlight like she owned it, voice pouring through the speakers with that signature sensual power — Joe realized this wasn’t just a concert.

This was a woman in her element.

And he wasn’t just watching.

He was already falling.

The lights dropped. The bass rumbled like a heartbeat through the floor. A slow hush fell across the venue as fog started to curl out from the stage edges like smoke from a lit fuse.

Then—

Boom.

The first beat dropped, and the stage exploded in color.

Y/N rose from a platform lift center stage, hair whipping in the wind from the fans, spotlight cutting through the fog to land squarely on her glittering figure. The crowd screamed—a sound that echoed like a stadium roar.

Her voice hit the speakers, silky and biting.

“Boys like you don’t know what to do with girls like me…”

The band came in, dancers hit the stage, and just like that, the show erupted.

Y/N’s choreography was fire — sensual, controlled, hypnotic. She owned every move, her hips timed to every bassline like she was built for the beat. Her dancers moved around her like a constellation, enhancing her shine without ever dimming it.

Her setlist was stacked:

🔥 "Lip Locked" – a seductive banger with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a strut-heavy routine 🔥 "Private Party" – the crowd sang every word, swaying under purple lights and strobes 🔥 "Control Freak" – choreo sharp enough to cut glass, with Kayla leading the charge beside her 🔥 "Thigh High Lies" (full version) – stripped back for one verse, then dropping into a full-on club mix halfway through, triggering a massive dance break 🔥 "Don’t Call Me Baby" – sassy, anthemic, a fan-favorite for every girl who blocked their ex last summer

At one point, she paused at the edge of the stage, looking out into the sea of bodies.

“Y’all still with me?” she asked, mic in one hand, other resting on her thigh.

The crowd lost their minds.

She laughed, breathless and glittering. “That’s what I like to hear.”

The visuals? Insane. Neon lights, LED panels flashing her lyrics, and holographic silhouettes that danced with her like a digital dream.

And vocals? Baby, she wasn’t lipsyncing — Y/N was belting. Hitting high notes, flipping into falsetto, and sliding into sultry runs that made fans scream and fall back like they caught the Holy Ghost. The girl could sang.

Even her in-between moments hit different.

“Y’all ever been in love with the wrong person?” she asked before launching into a slower song. Half the crowd yelled yes. “I wrote this one on a wine-fueled rant in my Notes app. It’s called ‘Blocked You Twice.’”

The crowd died laughing. And then she wrecked them with the vocal.

The final number was "Big Mood" — a bold, dance-heavy track with a beat that felt like it vibrated your spine. The lights flared gold and red, pyro shot from the stage sides, and Y/N commanded it all like a pop goddess.

She hit the final pose, spotlight catching the sweat glistening on her collarbone, chest rising and falling.

And then — blackout.

The crowd exploded.

Screams. Applause. Chants of her name.

Y/N. Y/N. Y/N.

Her voice came over the mic one last time in the dark. “Thank you Baltimore for the love, the energy, and the vibe. I’ll see you real soon.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Backstage, as she came off into the wings, chest still heaving and a towel now draped around her neck, the energy was still surging in her blood.

She’d left it all out there.

And she knew they felt it.

Backstage, the sound of the crowd was still rumbling through the floor like an aftershock.

Y/N stepped into the hallway behind the stage, chest rising and falling as she wiped sweat from her brow with a towel. Her glitter makeup was slightly smudged, but it only added to the look — like war paint after battle. Her boots were heavy on her feet, but adrenaline kept her floating.

The crew was buzzing around her, congratulating her, high-fives flying. Kayla ran over, still hyped, curls bouncing.

“Girl. GIRL. You lit that place up. They were losing their minds.”

Y/N let out a laugh, breathless and a little hoarse. “Did you see the girl crying during ‘Blocked You Twice’? I felt that in my soul.”

Kayla clutched her heart. “We all did.”

Her manager, Carmen, swooped in with a bottle of water and a smile that said money well made.

“Interviews want you. Blog posts are already up. And—” she nodded down the hallway, “your football friends? Still waiting by the green room.”

Y/N blinked, momentarily pulled out of the post-show haze. “They stayed?”

Carmen grinned. “Every second. Didn’t even flinch. Burrow looked like he was studying film on you.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, even as a smile tugged at her lips. “You’re so dramatic.”

“Okay, but he looked like he wanted to fuck mid-‘Thigh High Lies,’ and I don’t even blame him.”

Y/N took a long drink of water, then handed the bottle off and started walking toward the green room, Kayla by her side. “Don’t start, Kayla.”

Kayla just smirked. “I’m just saying. He’s not blinking and you’re over here dripping in sparkles and power. It’s giving… fate.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

He didn’t move when the lights went down.

Didn’t speak. Didn’t blink. Barely breathed.

Joe Burrow had been to Super Bowls, heard stadiums scream, felt adrenaline spike in the final seconds of overtime. But this?

This was something else.

She owned that stage like she was born in it. Every lyric. Every move. Every smile and snarl. He’d seen confidence before — hell, he lived it. But this was different. Y/N had this kind of magnetism that felt… dangerous.

When she looked out into the crowd — when she smirked or dropped a wink — it felt like she was looking straight at him, even though he knew better.

But that didn’t stop the heat that crawled down the back of his neck.

Tee nudged him as the lights came back up. “You good, man?”

Joe blinked. “Yeah. Just…”

“Caught up?”

He didn’t answer right away. Just nodded, running a hand over his jaw. “She’s got it.”

Ja’Marr leaned on the barricade, laughing. “You just now figured that out?”

Sam grinned. “Man’s down bad.”

But Joe wasn’t embarrassed. Not even a little. His eyes were still fixed on the stage where she’d stood just minutes ago.

“I gotta talk to her,” he said quietly.

And none of the guys argued.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Backstage, Y/N turned the final corner, slowing when she saw them.

The guys were leaning against the wall just outside her green room — relaxed but alert, looking like they belonged in a postgame locker room and not backstage at a concert. But when Joe saw her, he straightened up immediately.

His eyes swept over her — the glitter on her collarbone, the shine of sweat on her skin, the way her eyes sparkled under the hallway lights. And for once, the quarterback was speechless.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, walking up casually. “You survive out there?”

Joe gave a slow nod. “Barely.”

Tee whistled low. “That was a damn performance. You had people ready to risk it all in the first verse.”

Y/N laughed. “Good. That’s what I was going for.”

Ja’Marr crossed his arms. “Nah but for real, that last song? Yeah, you hurt some feelings with that one.”

Sam nodded. “Even I was in my feels, I gotta call my fiance.”

She glanced back at Joe, whose hands were tucked in his pockets, eyes still lingering on her face.

“You good, QB1?” she teased.

Joe cracked a small smile. “You ever just… watch someone do what they were born to do?”

Y/N raised a brow.

“That was you,” he said simply.

The air shifted.

Kayla let out a tiny gasp behind her, mouthing damn like she was witnessing the beginning of something important.

Y/N smirked, but it was softer this time. “Careful, Burrow. You might end up on my next album.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The green room was back to buzzing.

Kayla had music playing low from her phone, the post-show playlist filled with vibey R&B and trap beats. Someone had cracked open a bottle of champagne — probably Tee — and snacks were being passed around like they hadn’t just watched a Grammy-level performance unfold twenty minutes ago.

Y/N had changed into an oversized vintage tee, tiny shorts underneath, and her stage boots traded for fluffy slides. She looked relaxed, cozy even — but her glow was still loud. Sweat-slicked skin, flushed cheeks, glitter clinging to her collarbones like it knew it didn’t want to let go.

The vibe was chill, but the air?

Thick.

Mostly because Joe hadn’t taken his eyes off her for more than five seconds at a time.

And everyone noticed.

“Well, if I was gonna start a fan club, I know who the president would be,” Ja’Marr muttered under his breath to Sam, nodding toward Joe.

Sam chuckled, taking a sip from his cup. “He’s locked in like it’s fourth quarter. But it ain’t the playbook he’s studying.”

Tee, grinning, leaned across the room toward Y/N. “So how much of your show was aimed at a certain quarterback in the front row?”

Y/N raised her brows, playing innocent as she lounged on the couch, sipping her sparkling water. “Please. My set was about me. As always.”

Kayla snorted. “Okay, and maybe a little for him.”

Y/N shot her a look but didn’t deny it.

Joe, still sitting across the room, arms resting on his knees, finally spoke — low and direct, eyes locked onto her.

“You gonna keep actin’ like you didn’t write ‘Private Party’ about me?”

The room froze for half a beat. Everyone’s heads snapped toward Joe like a record scratch hit.

Y/N didn’t miss a beat. She leaned forward slightly, voice smooth like honey with a hint of blade. “Bold of you to assume. But now I’m curious… why’d you think that song was about you?”

Joe shrugged, a slow grin tugging at his lips. “Just sounds like something I’d get invited to.”

“Only if you bring snacks,” she shot back.

The room broke into laughter, but under it all, their eyes were still locked. Not a laugh shared between them — no, this was a game. Every look was a challenge, every word dipped in something heavier.

Kayla whispered to Ja’Marr, “They’re gonna combust.”

Ja’Marr nodded. “We’re watching the beginning of a situationship in 4K.”

Y/N finally stood, stretching just slightly, her shirt lifting to reveal the waistband of her shorts. Joe’s gaze flicked, just once — quick, respectful, but caught.

She saw it.

So did Kayla.

Y/N smirked as she walked to the mini fridge. “Y’all want anything? Water? Energy drink? A chill pill, Joe?”

Joe chuckled under his breath. “You’re the one with the heat.”

Tee raised his hands. “Alright! I need a buffer before y’all start making out with eye contact.”

Y/N tossed him a bottle of water without looking. “Calm down. I don’t kiss Bengals.”

Joe leaned back in his chair, still grinning, voice low. “We’ll see.”

That shut the room up real quick.

Y/N turned around slowly, head tilted, eyebrow raised.

“Oh?” she said. “We’ll see?”

Joe nodded once, cool and unbothered — but his jaw flexed, his posture all confidence with that undertone of tension she definitely clocked.

“Yeah,” he said. “You’re not as untouchable as you act.”

Kayla dropped her drink.

Ja’Marr whooped like someone hit a buzzer-beater.

But Y/N?

She didn’t flinch.

She walked past Joe slowly, brushing his shoulder with hers as she passed — just a whisper of contact, but enough to make him sit up straighter.

“I’m exactly as untouchable as I act,” she murmured.

And just like that, the heat was turned all the way up.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The green room was a full-blown vibe now — music up, drinks passed around, and half the group sitting cross-legged on the floor like it was a high school kickback with VIP credentials.

Tee had claimed the aux, switching the music to something smoother — SZA followed by Brent Faiyaz, the kind of tracks that made people speak in low tones and flirt without trying.

Y/N had curled up on the couch, long legs stretched across Kayla’s lap, while Ja’Marr and Sam were deep into a trash-talking debate about who was the most iconic duo in music history.

“I’m tellin’ you, OutKast clears everyone,” Sam said, motioning with his drink.

Ja’Marr raised an eyebrow. “You’re forgetting Beyoncé and Jay-Z exist.”

Kayla chimed in, “Okay, but if we’re talking raw performance and stage presence? Y/N and her dancers give everybody a run.”

“Awww,” Y/N said with a lazy grin, pretending to blush. “Y’all gassing me in my own green room.”

Joe, who was sitting in a low chair near the couch, just sipped his drink and spoke real calm.

“We’re not gassing. We’re stating facts.”

She looked at him over the rim of her water bottle. “Mmm. You’ve been real vocal tonight, Mr. Quarterback.”

He didn’t even blink. “You got me real… focused.”

Tee let out a loud “OOOOH” and clapped once like someone just got roasted on Wild ‘N Out.

Y/N laughed, sitting up a bit straighter. “You sure it’s not the champagne talking?”

“I haven’t had enough for that,” Joe replied, locking eyes again. “But I’ve had enough to stop pretending.”

The room stilled for half a second.

Even the music felt like it paused.

Kayla looked at Y/N with wide eyes like girl. girl. girl.

Y/N leaned forward on her elbows, tongue running over her bottom lip before she said, “Pretending about what?”

Joe set his cup down, slow and deliberate. “Like I didn’t notice you the second you stepped on that field. Or the stage. Or even in that damn oversized hoodie when you walked in earlier.”

Tee stood up and walked away in circles like someone had just dropped a diss track live. “This man got BARS tonight!”

“Is this a poem?” Ja’Marr asked. “Like… is he in love already? Should we leave?”

“No one’s leaving,” Kayla said quickly, eyes glued to the moment unfolding.

Y/N let the silence linger for a second — made him sweat just a little. Then she stood slowly and crossed the room, pretending like she was headed to grab another water but very intentionally brushing past Joe’s shoulder again.

Except this time?

She stopped.

Right beside him.

Close enough that he had to look up to meet her eyes.

She bent slightly, whispering with a wicked smile, “You get bold after dark, huh?”

Joe looked up at her like she was the only light in the room.

“I don’t need the dark to want you.”

Dead. Silence.

Kayla whispered to Tee, “You still got that water bottle? 'Cause I need to baptize myself.”

Sam looked at Ja’Marr. “I’ve watched entire romcoms with less tension.”

Y/N straightened up slowly, not backing down, not stepping away — just holding Joe’s gaze with that signature smirk.

“Careful, Burrow,” she murmured. “Quarterbacks who talk too smooth tend to fumble.”

Joe leaned back, spreading his arms over the chair, looking smug. “Good thing I play clean.”

Kayla fake-coughed. “So when is the wedding?”

The group cracked up again, the moment slightly breaking but the heat between Y/N and Joe didn’t cool — not even a little.

They kept throwing looks across the room, like they were speaking a whole other language only they could hear.

And everyone else?

They were just lucky to have front row seats.

Just as the tension between her and Joe hit that “somebody better call security” level, the green room door cracked open and Carmen, her manager, slipped inside, clipboard in hand and that familiar we need to move now look in her eyes.

“Y/N,” she called gently, “sorry to interrupt the... whatever this is—” she glanced between her and Joe with a knowing smirk— “but we’ve got a little fan moment happening outside the venue. A few dozen stuck around hoping you’d come out, nothing crazy, but it’s real sweet. Signs, shirts, gifts.”

Y/N straightened, tension loosening in her chest. “They waited?”

“Yep. In the cold,” Carmen added, tilting her head.

Kayla glanced at her best friend and whispered, “Go cool off. You’re about to melt in front of this man.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but smiled, already walking toward the door. “Tell them I’ll be right there.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

As she stepped out into the cool night air, the soft hum of the crowd outside reached her ears. The security team had cleared a safe space in front of the barricade, and her fans — still buzzing from the concert — lit up when they saw her.

“Y/N!!!”

“SHE CAME OUT— OMG—”

“WE LOVE YOUUUU!”

The love hit her like a warm wave.

She smiled wide, real and unguarded, her entire body exhaling the tension from earlier.

Y/N moved through the little crowd, signing posters, T-shirts, and phone cases. People handed her drawings of her on stage, custom friendship bracelets, little heartfelt letters, and one sweet girl gave her a plushie shaped like a baby tiger with glitter eyes.

“Because you’re fierce,” she said, cheeks flushed with excitement.

Y/N melted. “You’re gonna make me cry.”

The fans asked questions about her music, complimented her set, even asked if she was dating anyone (which she dodged with a laugh and a dramatic “My career is my man right now”). It was loud but comforting — the kind of chaotic joy that reminded her why she did all this.

By the time she took the last picture and hugged the last fan, her arms were full of little gifts and her cheeks hurt from smiling. But her heart?

Overflowing.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Meanwhile, Back in the Green Room...

The minute Y/N walked out, the room turned on Joe.

Tee clapped his hands together. “So! When are you shooting the real shot, not this eye-fucking nonsense?”

“I don’t flirt,” Joe replied, deadpan.

Everyone: “LIES.”

Ja’Marr stretched out dramatically. “Bro, the way you look at her? I’ve seen less passion in wedding vows.”

Sam added, “And don’t think we didn’t catch that ‘I don’t need the dark to want you’ line. That was poetic. You practice that in the mirror?”

Joe rubbed the back of his neck, fighting a grin. “Y’all are wild.”

“Nah, you’re wild,” Kayla jumped in, sipping from a soda can. “This man has been on ESPN, but couldn’t keep it together when Y/N got within ten feet. Your eyes were like—” she squinted and mimed slow, dramatic blinking. “‘My wife… my soulmate… the one the Lord promised me.’”

Everyone burst into laughter again.

Joe shook his head but didn’t deny it.

“I’m just saying,” Tee said, raising his drink. “If you don’t lock that in, someone else will.”

Joe’s smile dropped just a little — the competitive edge peeking through.

“She’s not just anyone,” he said quietly. “I’m not about to play games with that.”

The room actually went quiet for a second.

Even Ja’Marr sat up. “Wait. Are you serious-serious?”

Joe’s eyes didn’t leave the door she walked out of.

“I could be,” he muttered.

Sam: “Oh damn. He’s down bad.”

Kayla: “Down catastrophic.”

Tee: “Down so bad, he’s six feet under.”

Ja’Marr: “Buried in glitter and thigh-high boots. Rest in peace.”

The teasing picked up again, but Joe just sat there, still thinking about how Y/N had looked walking away — confident, glowing, and totally unfazed by the chaos she’d just left behind in his chest.

The door to the green room opened with a soft click, and every head turned.

Y/N walked in, glowing.Like, not just “stage lights and sweat” glowing — this was that loved-on, hugged-up, deeply-grateful-to-be-doing-this-shitkind of glow. Arms full of fan gifts — a bouquet of handmade bracelets wrapped around her wrist, rolled posters sticking out of a tote, a plush tiger nestled in the crook of her elbow.

Her smile was soft, dreamy. “They were so sweet,” she said, almost to herself. “They gave me bracelets. And look—” she held up a carefully sketched drawing of her in one of her performance outfits, eyes sparkling. “This one said she worked on it for three weeks.”

Kayla immediately jumped up to grab a few of the gifts from her arms. “Let me see— omg, that tiger is so cute. That for your bed or mine?”

“Girl, you have your own,” Y/N teased.

The group gathered around as she set her things down, everyone admiring the sweet haul — but Joe stayed seated, quiet, watching her like she had stardust trailing behind her with every step.

When she finally looked his way, their eyes met — and that smile?

Shifted.Still warm, but now it had edges. Curves. Intention.

“You good?” she asked him lightly, tucking one of the bracelets onto her other wrist.

Joe nodded, eyes still locked on hers. “Better now.”

Ja’Marr fake-coughed loud. “AHEM. Some of us are still in the room.”

Sam threw a chip at Joe. “Bro’s trying to seduce her in front of our very eyes.”

Y/N laughed and flopped back onto the couch next to Kayla, pulling one of the posters into her lap. “Please. He doesn’t have the range.”

“Oh?” Joe raised an eyebrow, leaning forward like she’d just challenged him to a rematch. “You sure about that?”

Tee leaned back, arms crossed, grinning wide. “Here we go again.”

Y/N crossed one leg over the other, posture all goddess-level confidence now. “Positive. I’ve been around the smooth talkers before. It’s cute. Predictable.”

Joe’s eyes dropped to the way her lips curved, then right back to her eyes. “I’m not trying to be predictable.”

“You’re trying to be impressive,” she shot back, calm and casual, “but you already saw how I do that.”

The room: OOOOOOHHHHHHHH.

Tee stood up and started pacing again. “That’s it. I can’t keep watching this. I’m stressed. My heart rate is up.”

Sam was shaking his head. “These two are gonna either hook up or fight in the parking lot.”

Kayla leaned toward Ja’Marr and whispered, “You feel that? That’s the tension. It’s humid in here now.”

But Y/N wasn’t done. She leaned forward slightly, elbows on her knees, voice smooth.

“But if you’re gonna keep watching me like that…” she tilted her head at Joe, who hadn’t looked away once, “...you might as well make yourself useful and open my water.”

The air cracked.A half-second of silence. And then—

Joe stood. Calm. Controlled. And walked over to her without a word.

He picked up the unopened bottle from the table, twisted the cap with a low snap, and handed it to her, eyes on hers the entire time.

“You want anything else?” he asked, voice low, almost teasing.

Y/N took the bottle, her fingers brushing his intentionally slow. She took a sip — never breaking eye contact — and said:

“Not yet.”

The room lost it again. LOUD.

Ja’Marr actually fell back onto the floor. Kayla started fanning herself with a paper plate. Sam was screaming into a throw pillow.

But Joe?

He just smirked and sat right beside her this time.

Not too close. But not far, either.

Just enough for everyone to know — this was not over.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The green room was still in shambles — emotionally, at least. Tee had switched playlists again, landing on some vibey Drake and Tems mix that had everyone lowkey swaying, shoulders rolling. The champagne was mostly gone, and someone had opened a second bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos that Kayla had claimed as hers via a very serious side-eye.

Y/N sat between Kayla and Joe now — though there was still a respectable inch or two of space between them.

Not that it mattered. Because the tension between them? Still doing laps.

Ja’Marr stretched out on the carpet, arms behind his head, like this was the best entertainment he'd had all year. “So what’s next?” he asked, looking at Y/N. “After this concert tour, are you disappearing into the studio or…?”

Y/N nodded, brushing a braid behind her ear. “Studio, definitely. I’ve got a collab cooking with someone major, but I can’t say who yet. And some film stuff in L.A. But for now…” She shrugged. “Just vibing. Taking it all in.”

“You deserve it,” Sam said, nudging Tee. “We haven’t shut up about your performance since it ended.” Y/N smiled, genuinely touched. “Y’all are sweet. Even though your team still took that L.”

That earned a round of groans and head shakes from the Bengals boys. “Low blow,” Tee muttered, tossing a Cheeto at her. “Facts,” Ja’Marr added, “especially from someone who ditched the Ravens the second Burrow blinked at her.”

Kayla gasped. “Oop.”

Joe? He didn’t flinch. Didn’t even look away from Y/N when he said:

“She blinked back.”

Ohhhh.

Y/N’s jaw dropped, her smile sharp. “You are dangerously smooth.”

Joe tilted his head, feigning innocence. “Or just honest.”

Kayla leaned over Y/N’s shoulder, whispering loud enough for the whole room to hear, “Tell me why this man sounds like a walking bridge of one of your songs.”

Y/N clutched her chest. “Don’t tempt me, I’ll write it right now.”

“Title it ‘QB Sneak,’” Sam joked. “Make it spicy.”

“Make it explicit,” Tee added. “You know Spotify gon’ eat that up.”

Joe just leaned back with that calm little smirk that screamed I’m already in the booth, baby.

Ja’Marr clapped his hands once. “Alright, this vibe is too good. We’re not letting it die here. What’s the move? Afterparty? Food? We celebrating this show or what?” Kayla perked up. “There’s that rooftop lounge at the hotel. I heard the DJ there tonight is nasty with transitions.”

Y/N raised a brow. “You just wanna dance with somebody’s son.”

“Yeah,” Kayla said with zero hesitation, pointing at Ja’Marr. “Maybe that one.”

Ja’Marr: “I ain’t mad.”

Tee pulled out his phone. “I’ll text the driver. What are we thinking? Group outfits or chaos energy?”

Sam: “I’m already in chaos mode.”

Joe looked at Y/N, who was standing to grab her coat.

She caught the look. Held it for a second. Then said, “You comin’, QB1? Or you need a little more convincing?”

Joe stood, cool and easy, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “I already told you. I don��t need convincing.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The hotel suite turned temporary dressing room was lit in soft gold from the lamps, the overhead lights dimmed low. Clothes were tossed over the backs of chairs, and makeup bags cracked open like treasure chests across the vanity.

Y/N stood in front of the mirror, applying a glossy lip to finish her look — fresh outfit, fresh vibe.

She’d changed out of her post stage gear and into something way more relaxed: a cropped black halter top with an open back, paired with sleek satin joggers and crisp white sneakers. Still sexy, but effortless. A single gold chain hung around her neck and the tiny diamonds in her ears sparkled under the soft lighting.

Kayla, beside her, was pulling on a silky green two-piece set that looked like sleepwear for rich girls who didn’t actually sleep. She fluffed her curls and grinned at her reflection.

“If Joe didn’t want to put you through the mattress on that stage,” she said, spinning toward Y/N, “he’s about to blow his load now.”

Y/N just rolled her eyes, tucking her phone into a tiny crossbody bag. “He’s not even that serious.”

Kayla blinked at her. “Girl. He opened your water bottle like he was signing a prenup.”

Y/N laughed. “Shut up and grab your lip gloss.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Rooftop Lounge — 10:49 p.m.

The elevator doors opened and the rooftop hit different.

Soft purple and amber lights danced over the sleek lounge furniture, tall heaters flickering with fire, and a DJ posted at the far end spinning an R&B mix that made everybody move a little slower, a little smoother.

The view? All glittering city skyline.

The Bengals boys were already posted near the bar — Sam with a drink in hand, Ja’Marr mid-convo with a group of dancers, Tee dancing with someone’s girlfriend (or maybe just vibing), and Joe…?

Joe was watching the elevator.

And when Y/N stepped out?

Game over.

His gaze dropped for a second — not disrespectfully — just enough to take it all in. The outfit. The walk. The smirk.

Kayla leaned toward her like a devil on her shoulder. “You see his face? That man wants to be the drink in your hand.”

Y/N adjusted her top slightly and smirked. “Good.”

As the girls made their way over, drinks were ordered, seats claimed, and the energy stayed loud and electric. “You clean up nice, Miss VIP,” Tee said, holding out a drink he ordered for her. “I always clean up nice,” Y/N replied, taking the glass.

Joe stepped a little closer, eyes still lingering. “You trying to kill me?” he asked quietly. Y/N tilted her head. “Why? You good?”

He leaned in, low and warm in her ear. “Not even close.”

Her throat tightened for half a second, but she didn’t flinch. “Drink your whiskey, Burrow.”

The whole crew eventually migrated to the small dance floor area, where the music hit a little harder and the lights hit just right. Y/N and Kayla were dancing together — laughing, spinning, hands in the air — while the guys stood nearby, watching and swaying like typical athletes who could dance but weren’t gonna try too hard.

Until Joe stepped forward.

He didn’t say anything, just extended a hand toward Y/N like it was obvious.

She paused, brow raised, a challenge in her eyes.

“You don’t seem like the dancing type,” she said.

“I’m not,” Joe replied. “But I figured you’d make me look good.”

Kayla hooted in the background.

So Y/N took his hand.

And they danced. Slow at first — just moving in rhythm, close enough to share warmth but still keeping that teasing distance between them.

But his hand found her waist. And her fingers laced behind his neck. And suddenly, the bass wasn’t the only thing pulsing.

They moved together like this was a habit. Like they already knew how to sync. Like the tension had finally found a beat to lean into.

And the crew?

They were definitely watching.

“I’m just saying,” Ja’Marr muttered from the bar. “If they don’t kiss tonight, I’m throwing myself off this roof.”

Tee nodded solemnly. “Amen.”

The music shifted again, something slower, with a slight groove that made everyone’s movements sync even tighter. Y/N wasn’t trying to hide it anymore. She was definitely feeling it — the beat, the moment, the vibe with Joe. She kept it light, though, spinning away from him and twirling back in a way that made him watch her with dark eyes.

His hand followed. Caught her waist again.

She smirked up at him, a playful glint in her eye. “So, you know how to move. But can you keep up?”

Joe chuckled, the sound low and dangerously smooth. “I’ll keep up. I’m just waiting for you to really go for it.”

Y/N’s grin widened. “Is that a challenge?”

“I don’t know,” he teased back, his hand slipping lower to her hip. “Is it?”

The circle around them had gotten smaller. The guys had all shifted closer to the dance floor — they were still talking, but the glances they threw at Joe and Y/N were loaded. They knew.

Tee leaned toward Ja’Marr, his voice loud enough for the group to hear over the music. “This is either going to end in a makeout session or a boxing match. Either way, I’m here for it.”

Y/N’s eyes flicked toward them briefly, just enough to catch their teasing. She rolled her eyes but then shifted closer to Joe, leaning in so her lips nearly brushed his ear as she whispered, “Don’t get distracted now. I thought you were gonna show me something.”

Joe’s breath hitched for a fraction of a second, but he didn’t miss a beat. His hand slid from her waist to the small of her back, pulling her even closer.

“You’re the one distracted,” he murmured. “It’s adorable.”

Y/N shot him a playful side-eye. “I’m not distracted. I’m focused.”

Joe’s smirk grew. “Mm. So focused you can barely stop looking at me?”

Her fingers gripped his shirt tighter. “Only because I can’t decide if you’re really this confident, or if you’re just good at pretending.”

Joe’s jaw tightened, his lips curving into a dangerous smile. “You’re about to find out.”

And just like that, they were back in sync, their bodies moving fluidly, playfully too close, the energy charged with tension that made the room feel hotter than it should’ve been.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Meanwhile — The guys? Not missing a thing.

Sam leaned against the bar, watching with a knowing smirk. “That’s a wrap. We all saw it. They’re done.”

Kayla, still dancing with Ja’Marr, shouted over the music, “You know Joe would be the type to act like he’s got it all together, but deep down? That man’s trying real hard not to fall apart right now.”

Tee laughed, tipping his drink. “No way. He’s got it under control. I bet he’s waiting for the perfect moment to swoop in.”

Sam tilted his head. “You think that’s how it’s gonna play out? Nah. She’ll make him sweat first.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Back on the dance floor, Y/N wasn’t letting up. She kept her distance, then leaned in just enough to tease him, spinning out of his grip and circling around him with a wink.

“Careful,” she called over her shoulder. “I might just let you catch me.”

Joe’s chest rumbled with a low laugh. “You’re not that fast.”

“Oh, I am,” she shot back, “but I like keeping you guessing.”

And the dance continued, teasing, pulling them closer and pulling them apart in a rhythm they’d both learned over the last hour. Y/N wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had the upper hand. She knew what she was doing. She liked it.

And Joe? He was feeling that same exact rush — not backing down, but damn near on edge with every moment they spent close enough to touch, but never quite touching.

Tee, watching the dance unfold with a shit-eating grin, leaned toward Sam.

“You think it’ll happen soon, or do we need to go rescue Joe from the longest slow burn in history?”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “Man, I don't know. At this rate, Joe’s gonna need a rescue from Y/N.”

As the song began to wind down, Y/N took one last spin away from Joe, her body turning with the music as her eyes stayed locked on his — daring him to keep up. She was giving him one final moment to make a move, but she knew exactly how to keep him dangling.

And that’s when she did it.

She took a step back, her smile cool and amused, hands on her hips as she gave him a playful, defiant look.

“Well? Keep up or go home?”

Joe stood there, a beat of silence between them. Then, with that same smirk from earlier, he grabbed his drink, taking a slow sip. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Y/N chuckled. “We’ll see about that, won’t we?”

Another song rolled in — this one smooth and low, the kind that made hips sway without trying. The rooftop stayed alive with conversation, laughter, and clinking glasses, but in the middle of it all, Y/N had the room in the palm of her hand. Or more accurately… she had Joe wrapped around her finger, even if no one dared to say it out loud.

And oh, was she enjoying herself.

She didn’t go back to him right away. Instead, she drifted toward Kayla, laughing as they picked up the rhythm and started dancing again. Not for attention — just because the music demanded it, and her body always listened.

But she knew exactly what she was doing.

Every now and then, she glanced over her shoulder, just long enough for Joe to know she was aware of his eyes on her. He wasn’t even trying to be slick about it anymore — standing near the bar, his drink untouched in his hand, his gaze pinned to her like she was the only thing that made sense in a room full of noise.

Tee, catching the whole thing, leaned toward him. “You alright, big guy?”

Joe blinked once, tore his eyes away for a breath, and exhaled like he’d been holding it in for ten minutes. “She’s dangerous.”

Ja’Marr laughed into his glass. “You’re just now figuring that out?”

“She’s making me work for it,” Joe muttered, eyes drifting back to her.

Kayla clocked it all and leaned in to whisper, “He’s dying.”

Y/N smirked. “I know.”

“You gonna throw him a bone?”

Y/N’s smile turned feline. “Where’s the fun in that?”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

When Y/N finally made her way toward the bar, it was slow, deliberate — like she was in no rush because she wasn’t. Joe straightened up just a little, the tiniest twitch in his jaw giving away his anticipation. And she saw it. Loved it.

She stopped right in front of him, not close enough to touch — just enough to tempt.

“You look tense,” she said, grabbing a piece of fruit from a nearby cocktail and popping it between her lips.

Joe looked at her, slow and steady. “You’re doing that on purpose.”

Y/N tilted her head. “Doing what?”

“Dragging this out.”

She licked the last of the juice from her thumb, eyes locked on his. “I’m just vibing. You’re the one struggling.”

Joe didn’t respond right away. Just stepped a half-inch closer, his voice a low murmur meant only for her.

“Or maybe I’m enjoying the view too much to rush.”

Y/N’s breath hitched — just barely — but her face stayed cool. Her voice came out honey-slick. “You sure you can handle this view, Mr. QB1?”

Joe’s jaw tensed. “Try me.”

She leaned in — barely — enough for her perfume to hit him and for their lips to hover in the same zip code. She stayed there for a heartbeat. Two. Then—

She pulled back, flashing that wicked little grin.

“Maybe later,” she purred, turning away to rejoin Kayla.

Joe stood there, hand still on the bar, chest rising slow. He watched her walk away, lips parted, like he was debating whether or not he’d just been played or blessed.

Tee came up behind him, clapped him on the back. “You alright, man? You look like you just lost a playoff game.”

Joe ran a hand over his mouth, fighting a smile. “Nah. I think I just got drafted again.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The rooftop was buzzing — music still flowing, lights twinkling against the night sky, and the crew very much in their “we’re too hot to be this tipsy and this unserious” phase of the night. Everyone had found their rhythm: drinks in hand, shoes slightly looser, and jokes flying like confetti.

Y/N had reclaimed a low lounge seat with Kayla on one side and Ja’Marr practically hanging off the other armrest. Joe stayed leaning against the bar, still sipping slow — but his eyes?

Still on her.

Not even subtle anymore.

Kayla had noticed. Again.

She leaned in, whisper-singing in Y/N’s ear: “🎶He’s looking at you like you’re dessert and he skipped dinner.🎶”

Y/N snorted into her drink. “You need to stop.”

“You need to do something before he combusts in that tight-ass shirt.”

“I am doing something. I’m existing.”

Ja’Marr leaned toward them both, not even pretending not to eavesdrop. “Y’all whispering too loud. And for the record, I vote Y/N lets him suffer just a little more.”

Tee slid in with another round of drinks. “Suffer? He’s two seconds from asking the DJ to play ‘Pony.’”

“DON’T tempt him,” Kayla laughed. “You know he’s white-boy bold.”

Y/N just smirked, sitting back like a queen with her court. “He’ll live.”

Joe, still posted a few feet away, caught the tail end of that look she gave. The knowing, the tease, the come-here-but-don’t-touch. He shook his head with a smirk and finally pushed off the bar, walking over slowly.

“You’re enjoying this,” he said, stopping right in front of her.

Y/N looked up, her expression sugar and fire. “I am.”

“Evil.”

“Correct.”

“Pretty sure you’re gonna ruin me.”

She took a slow sip of her drink, eyes never leaving his. “If I wanted to ruin you, you’d already be ruined.”

The crew? LOSING it.

Sam from the next table: “OH MY GOD.”

Tee was wheezing. “Bro just got verbally folded.”

Ja’Marr put a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “She’s not flirting anymore, she’s finishing you.”

Joe just laughed — that real, low-chested laugh that said he was absolutely not okay, and absolutely into it.

“Alright,” he said, backing up a step with his hands raised. “I can admit defeat. You win.”

Y/N raised a brow. “Already?”

“You haven’t even seen me try yet.”

“Oh, so this is you unbothered?”

“No,” Joe said, gaze hot. “This is me being patient.”

Kayla fanned herself with a napkin. “Jesus.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

As the DJ shifted the vibe into a little 2000s throwback R&B set — think Mario, Ciara, Usher era — the dancing picked back up, drinks refilled, and the group’s energy hit that sweet spot where everybody was too comfortable and too deep in to leave.

Ja’Marr somehow ended up teaching Kayla a two-step combo, Sam was holding court with a circle of background dancers, Tee was recording everything on his phone for future blackmail purposes, and Joe?

Joe was still watching Y/N dance.

Still waiting for his moment.

Still very much caught up in the long game.

And Y/N? She knew it. Felt it in the bass. Felt it in the way her body lit up every time he was near. Felt it in the thrill of knowing he was going home thinking about her — again.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The rooftop wasn’t quieting down — not yet — but it was changing. The crowd had thinned slightly, the air cooled, and the DJ knew exactly what they were doing when they transitioned into some Brent Faiyaz and SZA. The kind of music that makes people sway a little slower. Stand a little closer.

Y/N noticed it too.

She was perched now on a high-back lounge chair, legs crossed, a second drink in hand, her heels off and tucked under the seat. Joe sat just across from her, one leg bouncing absently, body leaning forward slightly like he was trying not to give in to whatever magnet kept pulling him in her direction.

Kayla had migrated to a couch nearby, curled up next to Ja’Marr who was fully in “post-victory chill mode” — hoodie on, chain out, and lowkey flirting like he had nothing to lose.

Tee and Sam were off near the glass railing, deep in a discussion about something that might’ve started with football and somehow morphed into the proper way to cook ribs.

The chaos was still present — but it was background noise now.

Because the tension?

Front and center.

“Okay, so what’s your deal?” Y/N asked casually, twirling the straw in her drink without looking at Joe.

Joe leaned back a little. “My deal?”

“Mhm.” She glanced at him now, brows raised. “You’re smooth, but not too smooth. A little cocky, but you’re… patient. Calculated. I can’t decide if you’re trying to win me over or if you already think you have.”

Joe’s tongue ran slowly over his bottom lip before he answered.

“I don’t assume anything,” he said, voice low. “Especially not with you.”

Y/N blinked. Just once.

He wasn’t playing anymore. He wasn’t teasing. And that shift — from flirt to focused — hit.

“Good,” she said, tone soft but laced with fire. “Keep that energy.”

Joe nodded slowly. “Oh, I plan to.”

Another silence stretched between them, thick and pulsing. The kind of silence where breathing too loud would make things snap.

Y/N tilted her head, eyes never leaving his. “You always this intense?”

“Only when I want something bad enough.”

Her legs uncrossed. Crossed the other way.

“You’re making this really hard for me to keep playing it cool.”

Joe smirked again, but this time it was darker. “Then stop playing.”

Breathe. Just breathe.

Kayla, from her couch throne, saw it all and immediately nudged Ja’Marr. “He’s gonna fold. I see it. He’s one deep breath away from telling her his social security number.”

Ja’Marr nodded, eyes still on them. “No, she's gonna fold. She’s trying too hard not to jump him right now.”

They both took long sips of their drinks, like it was a live episode of reality TV.

Back at the table, Y/N leaned forward a little, resting her elbow on the armrest. “You sure you’re ready for what comes with someone like me?”

Joe didn’t even flinch. “I think I’ve been ready. You’re the one still figuring it out.”

She smiled, slow and amused. “That right?”

“Mhm.” His voice dropped again, gravel-smooth. “I’ll wait. But I’m not backing off.”

That right there? That hit her right in the chest.

Because he wasn’t chasing her for sport. He was chasing her like a man who knew exactly what he wanted — and how to get it without rushing the game.

“I see you,” Y/N said, voice soft but deliberate.

Joe’s smile turned into something real. “I see you too.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The group eventually shifted again — some standing, some stretching, a few more songs left in the DJ’s set. Someone suggested snacks. Someone else was trying to get the Bluetooth speaker to work in the elevator for the trip down.

But Y/N and Joe?

Still in their chairs. Still locked in.

Still hovering on that razor-thin line between teasing and something hotter, something realer.

The rooftop crowd had thinned even more now. Some people peeled off, others stretched out on patio couches, and the music had softened into something lo-fi and low-key, like the party was naturally winding down. But Y/N and Joe?

Still stuck in their gravity.

Y/N shifted in her chair, pulling her knees up slightly to rest her arms on them. The glow of the heaters flickered off her skin like candlelight, and she sipped what was left of her drink with a quiet hum of satisfaction.

“You’re staring again,” she said without looking at him.

Joe’s voice came low. “And?”

She turned to him, smiling around the straw. “Just saying. I’d ask what you’re thinking, but I don’t know if I want the real answer.”

He chuckled, setting his glass down. “I’m thinking… you’re probably not someone I should be messing with right now.”

“Smart man,” Y/N said, brown eyes glittering. “Because you’re definitely not someone I should be messing with right now either.”

They shared a look — that kind of sharp, mutual understanding that said we both know exactly what this is.

“Too much going on?” Joe asked, voice lighter this time.

Y/N nodded. “Mmhmm. My schedule is brutal. I got two more shows this week, a taping next weekend, studio time, and possibly a last-minute audition. I’ve got zero time to fall into anything. Not even a maybe.”

Joe nodded slowly, watching her. “Yeah. Season’s getting heavier. Camp was no joke, and if I’m being honest… my coaches would probably have a stroke if they knew I was out here flirting instead of watching film.”

She laughed, tilting her head. “So why are you still out here?”

He leaned in slightly, elbows on his knees now, matching her posture. “Because it feels good. Because it’s fun. Because you’re smart, and hot, and I like the way you keep throwing me off my game.”

Y/N blinked slowly. “You’re good at this.”

Joe shrugged. “No. I’m just honest.”

Her smile faded into something more thoughtful. She wasn’t used to that — the mix of real talk and reckless charm. She was used to games. To men who wanted her, but not her chaos. Not her ambition. Not her heat and bite and unapologetic momentum.

But Joe?

He seemed like he was watching the storm on purpose.

“You ever do this?” she asked quietly. “Just vibe with someone for the sake of it?”

Joe tilted his head. “Not often.”

Y/N stared at him for a long moment. “Same.”

Pause.

“So,” she said, voice turning playful again, “you gonna be weird about it, or are we both just gonna enjoy this slow burn until it fizzles out?”

Joe smiled, wide this time, like she’d said exactly what he was thinking.

“I like the slow burn,” he said. “Makes the fire hit harder.”

Y/N smirked. “Careful, quarterback. I’m the type that leaves marks.”

Joe’s laugh rumbled from his chest. “Good. I don’t bruise easy.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

They eventually joined the others again — slowly, naturally. The group had now gathered in another part of the lounge in front of a fire pit, feet tucked under blankets someone found, bowls of chips, and random leftover desserts from room service being passed around.

Tee was throwing out wild questions: “Okay, okay — one has to go forever: music, football, or sex?”

Groans.

“Bro.”

“Why would you even ask that?”

Y/N raised a brow. “I’m keeping music. I need music. So y’all can fight it out for the rest.”

Joe looked over, grinning. “That’s bold.”

“You surprised?”

“Nope. Just wondering which one I’d have to compete with.”

Y/N tossed a piece of ice at his chest. “Don’t start.”

Ja’Marr: “Start?? Y’all been flirting like a CW drama for the last three hours.”

Kayla, not missing a beat: “And we’ve been tuning in like it’s season three, episode nine.”

Everyone cracked up, but the eyes said it all — they saw what was brewing. They weren’t just witnessing the tension… they were living in it.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The night wore on, the fire burning bright, the group slowly yawning and untangling. But that tension between Joe and Y/N? Still there. Still rising. Still begging for a moment away from the noise.

And that moment?

Was coming.

Soon.

The lounge was low-lit and empty, except for them.

The music outside faded to a distant thump, the kind that disappeared when your pulse started thudding louder. Y/N leaned against the window, and Joe… he was standing just behind her, close enough that the heat from his chest brushed her back.

She turned slightly, still leaning, still calm — but her eyes told a different story. “You always this patient?” she asked, her voice smooth, but her gaze daring him to lie. Joe stepped closer, now only inches away, his voice low and thick. “No. Just when the tension feels this good.”

Her breath caught — and that was it. That was the break.

Y/N turned all the way around and stepped into him, chest brushing his, lips inches apart. Her fingers slipped under the hem of his hoodie, slow, not rushing — like she was deciding if he’d earned it yet.

He looked down at her, not moving, like he knew any sudden shift would set off the fire alarm.

“I’m not looking for a relationship,” she said softly, bluntly. “I don’t have time. I’m too focused. Too booked. Too selfish with my energy right now.”

Joe’s hand came to rest lightly on her hip, thumb grazing bare skin where her shirt had risen slightly. His voice was calm, but it had a weight to it now. A certainty. “I don’t want anything you’re not ready to give me.”

She stared up at him, lips parted, breath uneven. “And if all I want is this?” she asked. Joe leaned in, brushing his nose against hers — not kissing her. Not yet. “Then you’ve got it. All of it.”

That was it.

She grabbed his hoodie and pulled him in hard — no hesitation, no slow-burn now — just heat. His mouth found hers in a kiss that had what felt like weeks of build-up behind it. It was all lips, tongue, and low groans as his hands slid around her waist and pulled her closer. Her back hit the glass behind them and she didn’t care — the cold contrast made her gasp against his mouth.

Joe’s hands were everywhere — respectful but greedy, firm but slow. He kissed like he’d studied her, like he already knew how she moved, how she liked to be touched. And Y/N?

She kissed him like she needed to — like she was making up for every second she’d spent pretending she didn’t. One of his legs slid between hers, and he growled low in his throat — that real, chest-deep sound that made her smirk mid-kiss. She tugged at his hoodie, dragging it up just enough to feel warm skin beneath.

“You’re dangerous,” she whispered against his lips.

Joe grinned, breathless. “You’ve got no idea.”

His hand slipped under her shirt, resting on the small of her back, grounding her and teasing all at once.

She pulled back slightly, just enough to speak. “This doesn’t mean anything,” she warned.

Joe nodded, eyes dark. “Doesn’t have to.”

She searched his face — saw honesty, desire, control barely hanging on.

Then she kissed him again.

Deeper.

Slower.

Letting herself feel it — just this once. Just this moment. Just… him.

And when they finally paused, breathing heavy, pressed together in that dim lounge like sin wrapped in moonlight, Y/N’s fingers curled in the front of his shirt. She didn’t let go.

Neither did he.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Back on the rooftop, karaoke had fully devolved into people yelling lyrics, eating dessert straight from the tray, and passing someone’s half-warm cocktail around like it was holy water.

Tee was trying to film Kayla but she kept ducking behind Ja’Marr, who was too deep into a plate of nachos to care.

That’s when Sam looked around, eyebrows furrowing.

“Wait… where’s Joe?”

Kayla paused mid-bite. “Oh, you mean Joseph ‘Let Me Flirt in 4K’ Burrow?”

Ja’Marr looked up. “Ain’t seen him since Y/N went ghost.”

Tee glanced toward the door. “...Yo.”

Everyone turned.

Kayla slowly lowered her drink. “Hold on.”

She scanned the group again, eyes narrowing like a bloodhound on a scent.

“Y/N’s gone too.”

A beat.

Then Kayla sat straight up, a hand flying over her heart like she’d just uncovered scandalous royal gossip. “Oh my God. They’re definitely fucking.”

Tee nearly dropped his phone. “Damn, girl, don’t hold back.”

“No, no, no,” she said, standing up now, pacing like a detective. “Let’s review the evidence. The eye contact? The flirting? The slow-burn heatwave that’s been hanging over them since SOUND CHECK? And now they vanish together into the night? Come on.”

Sam raised a hand like a student. “Maybe they’re just talking.”

Kayla turned so fast it was almost dangerous. “Baby, ain’t nobody just talking when there’s that much lip-biting and smoldering eye contact. That man has been looking at her like she’s the cheat day he’s been saving all season.”

Ja’Marr nodded solemnly. “She did say she was leaving marks.”

Tee: “She meant that. Bet his hoodie’s all stretched out.”

Kayla was cackling now, fanning herself. “She’s probably got that man speaking in tongues. He gonna come back like ‘blessings to all, I’ve seen the light.’”

Ja’Marr mimicked Joe’s voice, deadpan. “Hey guys. Just learned what love is. Also, my legs don’t work.”

They all howled.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Meanwhile, in the dim lounge across the hall, Y/N and Joe were still tucked into each other, lips a little swollen, hearts beating in sync, the afterglow of that snapped tension still lingering in the air like smoke.

“Think they’ve noticed we’re missing yet?” Y/N asked, her voice low and warm as she sat nestled into Joe’s chest, both of them still upright, still (barely) composed.

Joe smirked, thumb grazing the curve of her hip. “I’d be shocked if Kayla wasn’t forming conspiracy theories as we speak.”

Y/N snorted. “She’s probably narrating it like it’s a Netflix docuseries.”

“Oh, 100 percent. ‘And that night, under the soft glow of a rooftop heater, Y/N risked it all for cinnamon-roll QB1 energy.’”

She laughed, low and full.

Then her hand slid up his chest again, slow, fingers drawing lazy patterns across his skin.

“This doesn’t mean anything,” she reminded him one more time — but the words were breathier now.

Joe nodded, but his hand never left her body. “Nope. Just fun. Just us.”

She tilted her head, playful again. “For now.”

He grinned. “For now.”

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Tee was halfway through a story about an Uber driver who tried to freestyle mid-ride when the rooftop door creaked open.

Click.

Soft footsteps.

Then—

Y/N and Joe walked back in.

Chill. Calm. Cool as a cucumber cocktail.

Y/N’s lips were glossed again (very suspicious). Her top was slightly readjusted (even more suspicious). Joe’s curls looked a little more tousled than before (a federal offense, honestly). And they walked in with too much distance between them — the kind of space that only people who just broke the rules try to create.

Silence.

Just for a second.

Then Kayla stood up, arms spread wide like a talk show host finishing a monologue.

“Ladies and gentlemen… THE COUPLE HAS RETURNED.”

Y/N groaned. “You are so dramatic.”

Joe just chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck like he knew exactly what this meant. And what was coming.

Tee grinned. “Nah, don’t try to play innocent. Y’all disappeared for a minute.”

Sam raised his drink. “Was it just a scenic walk? Or, you know…” He made an exaggerated gesture with his eyebrows.

Ja’Marr added, deadpan, “Did y’all pray together? That’s what it looked like. Real… spiritual energy coming off you two.”

Kayla clutched her heart. “The tension in this room is no longer tension. It is residue. It is proof.”

Y/N dropped onto the couch next to her, laughing now but trying to keep a straight face. “You need help.”

Kayla leaned in close, whispering like it was top-secret intel. “He kiss you good or kiss you good?”

Y/N gave her a look that said: We’re not doing this here.

Which Kayla ignored, obviously.

Joe, meanwhile, grabbed a water bottle, cracked it open, and sipped like he wasn’t being studied like a reality TV contestant coming back from the fantasy suite.

Tee side-eyed him. “So, uh… how’s the lounge?”

Joe grinned without answering.

“Oh, so we just not talking now?” Sam asked, grinning. “Selective silence?”

Ja’Marr leaned toward Joe, pretending to be serious. “Listen, blink twice if she rocked your world.”

Joe sipped again.

Did not blink.

Kayla: “Oh he gone. GONE gone.”

Y/N buried her face in her hands, muttering, “I hate all of you.”

But she was smiling.

So was Joe.

And no one missed it.

The jokes kept flying, drinks were poured, and the playlist slipped into something softer again. And as the night crept closer to morning, the heat didn’t cool — it just folded itself into comfort. Into shared looks. Into legs brushing and quiet laughs.

Because now?

The secret was out.

And no one was mad about it.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The party had finally thinned out. Ja’Marr was half-asleep in one of the lounge chairs, mumbling something about pancakes. Kayla was wrapped in a throw blanket, scrolling on her phone and side-eyeing everyone who moved.

Y/N stepped out onto the balcony just off the lounge, arms crossed over her chest as the cool early morning air kissed her skin. It smelled like city, like wind and concrete and leftover cinnamon from somebody’s half-eaten dessert.

She didn’t look when she heard the door creak behind her.

Didn’t have to.

Joe leaned against the railing beside her, silent for a second, watching the streets below.

“You good?” he asked, voice soft.

Y/N nodded. “Mmhmm. Just needed some air before I head out.”

“Same.”

They stood in silence, the kind that had grown between them over the night — not awkward, just comfortable. Like the quiet had its own rhythm.

Y/N glanced over at him. “So, what… you flying back tomorrow?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Team stuff. We’re back in practice mode.”

“Bet. I’m in the studio for the next three days. Back-to-back sessions.”

Joe smiled a little. “You stay working.”

“You too. So, we’re both married to the grind.” She nudged his arm. “Messy little combo, huh?”

He turned toward her slightly, that crooked grin tugging at his mouth again. “Messy… but kinda hot.”

Y/N smirked. “You like chaos, huh?”

Joe leaned a little closer. “I like you.”

Her throat tightened for half a second. But she shook it off, blinking slowly, smile playful again.

“Well, you’re cute, Burrow, but don’t catch feelings. I’m a busy woman.”

He raised a brow. “You think I can’t multitask?”

“You think I won’t make you beg for my time?”

Joe laughed, then stepped even closer, their arms brushing now. “You giving me your number or just your best lines?”

Y/N pulled her phone out of her pocket, smirking. “Both. I’m generous like that.”

She typed it in, saved under “Y/N 🔥🎤”, then handed it over.

Joe added his right after, giving her back her phone with a wink. “Put me under something nice.”

Y/N typed out: “Joseph. a.k.a QB1. a.k.a Can’t Keep His Hands to Himself.”

She flashed it at him. He read it, grinned, and shook his head. “You’re gonna be a problem.”

Joe leaned back against the railing, arms crossed now, head tilted like he was watching her through a filter of curiosity and something deeper.

“So… what are we calling this?” he asked.

Y/N raised a brow. “You need a label for everything?”

“I like clarity,” he replied, smirking. “Keeps expectations clean.”

She stepped in front of him, close enough to be tempting again, but still just out of reach. “Okay, Mr. Clarity. Here’s what I think.”

Joe’s eyes didn’t leave hers.

“No strings,” Y/N said smoothly. “No pressure. You do your thing, I do mine. But when we’re in the same city…” She trailed her fingers lightly down the front of his hoodie. “We link. We have fun. We keep it real.”

Joe caught her hand in his, slow and deliberate.

“So… friends with benefits?”

“Benefits,” she confirmed. “And mutual respect. Text if you’re in town. I’ll do the same. But we don’t do jealousy, and we definitely don’t do clingy.”

Joe leaned down, close enough his breath hit her lips. “I don’t chase unless I’m on the field.”

Y/N smirked. “And I don’t beg unless it’s on stage.”

That made him groan under his breath, head dropping for a second before he grinned again.

“Alright,” he said finally, letting her hand go, “deal.”

Y/N turned, walking back toward the lounge door, hips swaying just enough to let him know she was aware of every second of silence behind her.

Just before she reached the door, she called back over her shoulder:

“Let’s see if you can handle it, quarterback.”

Joe looked at her for a long moment. “I can live with that.”

Y/N grinned. “Good. You know where to find me.”

He stepped closer again, lips brushing her cheek. Not her mouth. Not this time.

“Next time I do,” he murmured, “I’m not stopping at one kiss.”

She shivered, but didn’t give him the satisfaction of reacting too much. Just raised a brow.

“We’ll see if you earn it.”

Joe didn’t say anything.

But the smile on his face?

He was ready.

And with that, they walked back inside — apart, but more connected than they’d been all night. No promises. No titles.

Just one hell of an understanding.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The next morning hit different.

Y/N rolled into the brunch spot just five minutes late — which, for her, was basically on time. Curls slicked into a clean ponytail, hoops back in rotation, oversized shades on despite it being cloudy. She was wearing a simple but body-hugging black set and a denim jacket like she hadn’t just shifted the group dynamics forever.

Kayla was already at the table with Ja’Marr, Tee, Sam, and — yes — Joe, who looked a little too well-rested in a grey hoodie and joggers, curls freshly brushed and smugness barely concealed.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Kayla said, sipping her mimosa like it was tea.

“I had to make sure I didn’t look like what y’all put me through last night,” Y/N replied, sliding into the seat beside her.

Ja’Marr smirked. “Girl, he put you through something.”

Tee leaned in. “Sooo… we just gonna skip over the vanishing act or…?”

Y/N grabbed the menu. “It was cold. I went inside.”

Sam raised a brow. “Inside him?”

“Sam!” Y/N gasped, half-choking on laughter. “You wild.”

Joe just grinned into his coffee like a man who was winning without having to say a word.

Kayla nudged Y/N. “Okay but like… did it change your life or just ruin all other quarterbacks for you?”

Joe coughed, “Still here,” but didn’t even bother to defend himself. His hand rested casually on the table, close enough to brush against Y/N’s knee under it. No one missed it.

“Y’all are insufferable,” Y/N muttered, trying — and failing — to keep her smirk under control.

The waiter came to take orders, and the group somehow managed to behave just long enough to choose food. As soon as he walked away, Ja’Marr pointed between Y/N and Joe with his fork.

“You two got that post-sneaky link glow. Real we know what we did but we’re chillin' energy.”

Joe just sipped his coffee again. “I’m just here for the pancakes.”

Kayla snorted. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Y/N leaned back in her chair, lips twitching. “Y’all really need hobbies.”

Ja’Marr: “Oh we’ve got one. It’s called watching this mess unfold in real-time.”

Joe finally turned to Y/N, the lowkey smile still tugging at his mouth. “You regrettin’ last night yet?”

Y/N looked over the rim of her sunglasses and replied, smooth as butter, “Not even a little.”

The table howled.

Even the waiter raised a brow when he returned with the mimosas.

The food eventually came, but the teasing did not stop. Between bites of chicken and waffles and bottomless mimosas, the crew kept the commentary rolling, each one trying to out-roast the other.

And Y/N and Joe?

They took it.

Laughed with them.

Shared a few more looks.

Understood each other without having to say it out loud.

Whatever this thing was… it was just getting started.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

The goodbye was supposed to be chill.

Quick hugs. Shared jokes. A “see you when I see you” kind of exit.

Y/N and Kayla stood by the SUV outside the hotel as the guys loaded up for their airport run. The girls’ bus was parked nearby, engine rumbling, ready to hit the road for the next stop on tour.

Tee gave Kayla a quick hug and promised to follow her back on Instagram. Sam dapped everyone up like he wasn’t still crying from brunch laughter. Ja’Marr told Y/N she owed him a private performance and a bottle of wine next time they were all in the same city.

Then there was Joe.

He stood by the car door, hands in his hoodie pocket, the quiet smirk he always wore now looking… softer. A little more thoughtful.

Y/N stepped up to him, her duffel hanging off one shoulder. “Guess this is the part where we go back to real life.”

“Yeah,” he said, voice low. “Game prep and studio marathons.”

They looked at each other for a beat too long.

And then she stepped forward, curled her fingers in the front of his hoodie, and kissed him.

Right there.

No hesitation. No spectacle. Just full lips pressed to his, slow and sweet with a little heat behind it — enough to leave a memory, a pulse, something to think about on the flight home.

She pulled back just a little, just enough to whisper, “Next time, QB1.”

Joe blinked once, lips still parted. “Next time.”

Y/N turned without another word, jogged to catch up to Kayla — who was grinning like she’d just watched the season finale of her favorite drama.

As the girls boarded the bus, Joe was still watching.

Hand on the car door.

Smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧♡+:•∴”:♡.•♬✧

Later That Day – On the Tour Bus

The bus rumbled down the highway, soft music playing as the city skyline shrank in the distance. Y/N was curled up in a blanket on the long couch, makeup wiped off, bonnet on, hoodie two sizes too big. Her phone buzzed every now and then, but she ignored it — until Kayla plopped down beside her with a bowl of popcorn and a look.

“So,” Kayla said, tossing a piece into her mouth, “how many times did he fold you like a beach chair?”

Y/N groaned. “You are not subtle.”

“I’m your best friend, subtlety is banned on this bus.”

Y/N laughed, flopping her head back. “Alright, fine. We kissed. More than once.”

Kayla blinked. “That’s it? You disappeared for twenty-five minutes and came back looking like you’d just dropped an R&B single.”

Y/N threw a pillow at her.

“Okay, okay!” Kayla caught it, grinning. “So no full-court press yet, but the energy was giving… Fourth Quarter. Two-Minute Warning. Ball in your hands.”

Y/N sighed. “Yeah, it was… whew. Like, electric. And yeah, we agreed on a no-strings thing. Just fun when we’re in the same city.”

Kayla raised a brow. “So, you admit he rocked your world a little bit.”

“I didn’t say all that!”

“You didn’t have to.”

Y/N pulled the blanket tighter around herself. “Look, I’m not tryna fall for a quarterback. But I’m also not trying to block a blessing if it shows up 6’4”, blue eyes, and makes my knees weak.”

Kayla tossed another piece of popcorn. “So we agree: emotionally unavailable, mutually beneficial, extremely hot. I support this arrangement.”

Y/N smirked. “As long as you don’t start narrating again.”

Kayla held up her hands. “Fine. But I’m telling you now, when y’all end up on People’s Sexiest Situationships Alive list, I’m collecting royalties.”

And as the bus rolled on, Y/N leaned her head against the window and smiled at her phone. No texts yet.

But something told her she wouldn’t have to wait long.

JB9 Taglist: @lilfreakjez, @dasia21, @superanastasia1981, @gg-trini, @wickedfun9, @irishmanwhore

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