4

No sooner had she entered the training room the next morning than Burrow, who had apparently been back earlier, jumped up from the treatment table and came toward her.

"Slow down, or you won't make it back" Elle commented on his bustle as she set down her backpack and briefly skimmed the training schedule for today. It wasn't much different from yesterday.

Joe, who had been a bit taken aback by Elle's good humor, stumbled for a moment before catching himself. He had thought that she was probably still pissed at him, which he would have totally understood. Since he'd left the training room yesterday, he'd made it his goal to clear up the misunderstanding today.

"Simmons, before we get started, I want to apologize for yesterday. I know how it sounded and you had every right to yell at me like that. I just wanted to make it clear that I have absolutely no problem with you being so young and female. Honestly, I'm even happy that we finally have a female athletic trainer. I'm all for equality and there should definitely be more women in the NFL. There's not enough representation of women in sports and I'm really glad the Bengals are taking the first step to change that. And now I should probably stop talking before I make a complete idiot of myself"

While Elle couldn't help but grin, Joe took a deep breath. "What I really wanted to say is, I'm really sorry and I hope that yesterday didn't affect our working together" he summarized again.

"It didn't" Elle replied smiling. "Nick already told me yesterday that you're actually pretty cool and this could all really just be a misunderstanding" "so he enlightened you that I'm not usually a cocky idiot?"

Grinning, Joe noted that Elle blushed and quickly turned away from him. "sorry, I was just pissed" she apologized. "It's okay, I don't blame you" Joe replied, holding out his hand to Elle. "Peace?" he looked at her questioningly. "Peace" she replied smiling and shook his hand.

When Elle sent Joe to the treadmill after the flex test, they spent the time chatting chirpily about the next season, but one thing still burned a question mark in his brain.

"You, Elle?" he started slowly, first making sure she was okay with him calling her by her nickname again. "What is it?" she asked as she pushed a few buttons on the treadmill, increasing the pace. It was still slow enough that Joe could easily walk on it without a problem.

"I have a question" Joe continued, but Elle just raised her head and gave him a warning look. "we're in training here, not an interview, ok? Let's just focus on getting you back on the field" she lowered her gaze again and quickened the pace of the treadmill even more.

"Come on, just one question" Joe begged, the treadmill was at a slow jog pace at most. Elle sighed as she made a note of something in the file. "If you keep up the training well from now on and we get away with everything, then you get to ask me your question at the end, ok?" she suggested. Joe nodded. "Well, go ahead" Elle adjusted the tape even faster.

"Ok, we're done for the day" Elle announced as Joe also completed the last pass of the leg press. Grinning, Joe accepted the towel Elle handed him and dabbed the sweat from his face and neck. He realized that his injury had set him back significantly as far as his conditioning and strength were concerned, but he would gradually regain that.

"And was the training good enough for me to ask my question?" he asked, still grinning, towel slung loosely over his shoulder as he took a big swig from the bottle Elle had handed him. Water with dissolved magnesium, so Elle had thought about his health even with the hydration.

Sighing, she pulled her ponytail tighter and smoothed out her tshirt, wearing a black one with the Bengals logo, just like yesterday, before looking at him. "You're not going to let up until I say yes anyway, are you?" she asked, but had to smirk slightly when Joe shook his head vigorously.

"Alright, so what's on your mind?" she asked, dropping down on the weight bench across from him, positioning her elbows on her knees and looking at him promptly.

"Who are the connections you've had?" Elle laughed out as Joe asked his question and rested her head in her hands. "You're asking that very question? The question that led to me calling you a cocky idiot yesterday?" she asked, and when she raised her head again, Joe found that she couldn't hide her grin.

"I'm just really interested. Maybe I want to thank the person for just giving me such a wonderful athletic trainer" Joe also had to grin as Elle laughed out loud, but then pointed her index finger at him in warning. "Don't exaggerate or tomorrow's workout will be unpleasant".

Joe joined in her laughter. " For real now, who is it?" he asked when they had calmed down again. "Nick" Elle replied, a slight smile on her lips that showed her little laugh dimples on her cheek. Kind of cute, Joe thought to himself, before shaking the thought away again.

"Nick, then? How do you two know each other?" Joe asked with interest. "My dad and him were roommates in college. They also played football together, well, until my dad got hurt. They kept in touch after college, though. Nick has known me since I was little" Elle explained.

"And he was the one who recommended you to then take you under his wing?" Joe continued to ask, genuinely interested, not because he wanted to know why a young, female athletic trainer was suddenly hired, but because he was interested in her. Even though she had yelled at him like that yesterday, he liked her. He thought she was personable, cute, and very attractive. He wanted to know more about her.

"it wasn't him alone who had recommended me" Elle admitted. " No? You have more connections?" Joe asked, surprised. Elle nodded with a laugh. "Let me guess. Your mom was on the high school cheerleading squad with Mike Brown's wife!" Joe looked at her in amusement as Elle laughed. "Not quite the same age. I don't have any connections with President Brown"

"too bad, sure could have put in a good word for me" Joe sighed laughing. "I don't think you need to put in a good word for you" Elle replied grinning.

"Who knows, but it doesn't matter, who's your contact?" "Zac" Elle grinned. "Zac? Head coach Zac? Zac as in Zac Taylor?" Joe asked, surprised. Elle nodded. "What, I mean, how? Where from?" "you want to guess?" Elle asked laughing, which also made Joe grin before he mused.

"Your older sister dated him in high school! They were elected prom queen and king!" he snapped with a grin. "I only have two older brothers, so no" "your grandmas are in the same nursing home" confused she looked at him. "no"

"Wait, give me another chance" Joe considered. "his mom and your mom were on the cheerleading squad together?" Elle had to grin. "Still no cheerleading squad involved" she replied. "Then I don't know" Joe shrugged.

"My dad was his coach in college" "oh really? Damn, your dad really has the connections" Joe noted in surprise. "Yeah, got me a pretty good job" Elle laughed before looking at her watch.

"Shoot, I've got to get going. Work's waiting.  See you tomorrow" she jumped up, smiled at Joe, grabbed her file and backpack and left the room in quick strides.

Joe looked after her with a grin. There was something about her that made her very interesting. He couldn't deny that he was looking forward to seeing her again tomorrow.

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