Look what you made me do

"Joe will be taking questions now" Zac Taylor said as he stepped out of the microphone stand to allow his quarterback to replace him. Joe had been prepared by the chief of the PR department as if he was doing a deposition, he learned that the message he wanted to convey was just as important as the information he chose to withhold, he was drilled with possible questions by Miranda the day prior to this press conference, he was confident on his ability, he was fucking game. Joe cool as they had nicknamed him. He stepped up, removed a few golden locks from his forehead, he gave the press the classic Burrow charming smile and they immediately began the interrogation process. "Tell us more about that new girl of yours Joe, who is she? How did you meet? Are you official now?" The man sitting on a chair far in the back of the room shouted with a defiant smile. "It sounds like you should be the one telling me about it, you're all over the story" he chuckled. Deflected. "Is this Victoria girl going to be a distraction for you going onto playoffs and probably the AFC championship?" An intimidating woman on a grey suit inquired. "Not anymore than she already is for you guys, I mean this is a conversation supposed to be about the team" Good work Joe, he thought to himself.Deflected again. "Why aren't you answering any questions Joe? Come on give us something" The same man insisted, looking flustered. "Because you have yet to ask me anything about football. You know, my job and the whole reason we're here" Joe was getting pretty upset by the tone of the conversation, but tonight he was wearing his best poker face, he was stoic, solid as a rock. "Just answer this: would you say this is the future Mrs. Burrow? We got news that you flew to Canada a few days ago to meet her parents, surely that's got to mean something"  Fuck. That totally took him by surprise, how did they even find out? The trip to Canada was public info but the meeting her parents? What the fuck?  He had about a millisecond to think about his next words: too much hesitation or an aggressive attitude could give the wrong idea, Victoria could feel as if he was offended by the thought of formalizing with her, but he couldn't exactly say that he was planning on marrying the girl he had just started dating a week ago, not that he hadn't thought of it, he had, but then again, Victoria could be scared. And that's all he cared about in the end: her and her comfort. "She's the most amazing woman in the planet. That's all I'm going to say about her, okay? Now does anyone want to talk about the team or should we cancel this conference altogether?" He said in a firm but relaxed voice tone, not a single emotion came through. Good job Joe, he thought again.

"What is their problem?" Joe yelled at Miranda, the press conference ended after a few more awkward half planned questions about the team's next moves. He had stormed out of the room after the only question they asked Ja'Marr was whether he had already met Victoria. "They just want a story Joe, don't take it personal, it's their job, you're good business darling, you're likable, humble, and well, if I may be honest, easy on the eyes. And you're very publicly dating a pretty young woman who you're doing all these grand gestures for, you flew to Canada in the middle of the season for fucks sake, of course they're up in your ass" Miranda got up from her red oak wooden desk that was decorated in Bengal's motifs, she even had a WhoDey plush, a little fluffy tiger, the team's mascot , she had a huge office overviewing Paycor Stadium, up in the 6th floor of the corporate building with her name up in the crystal window: Miranda McAllister, Head of the PR department. Joe firmly gripped the back of one of the chairs in Miranda's office until his knuckles turned white. "Let me do the working on the narrative, and I'll promise they'll move on to the next story about you teammates' reckless love lives in a minute""Fine. Whatever you'll say we'll do, I just wish they would shut up about her right now" Joe could be incredibly impatient at times. "She seems really important to you. Will you bring her to the next game?" Miranda asked. "I'll have to talk to her about it" Joe wasn't sure that was a good idea. "You guys talk and then let me know, so we can plan ahead, a pleasure talking to you as always sweetheart, please shut the door on your way out" Miranda promptly said, and that was the end of the conversation. Joe headed straight for the locker room to pick up his backpack and go home, he desperately needed to unwind after all that noise. He encountered Ja'Marr sitting on a metal bench. "Look who we got here. The man that flies to Canada without telling anyone and comes back with the girl on the pocket. I should bow to you Burrow" Ja'Marr's tone was unexpected, ironic, angry even. "I don't need that energy right now man, you saw what they did out there" Joe pleaded with his friend. "Can you blame them? You're all over her shit, flying around the world like a possessed man, it's fishy, to say the least"Joe slammed his locker door. "What are you saying, Ja'Marr? spit it out" "I'm curious too that's all, she appears in your life and you're suddenly this softened man, and I mean she has some great timing, you've just secured the million dollars bag..." Joe cut him off immediately. "I will let that go for the sake of our friendship and the team. But don't you ever, talk about my girl like that again, I mean it Ja'Marr. Ever" Joe aggressively approached his friend, towering over him, jaw clenched, unflinching. Ja'Marr knew better than to say anything back to him.

Victoria had watched the live stream of the Bengal's interview from her house, or put more simply, Joe's interrogation about their relationship. She was marveled at his ability to reply so calmed, so quickly and with such wit. But she knew him better than everyone in that room and she knew that he was fucking pissed, she could always see right through him. Her doorbell rang, and she knew for a fact that it was Joe. When she opened the door his first reaction was holding her tightly. He knew that she hadn't listened to the conversation he and Ja'Marr had, but he felt that she had been unfairly dragged into it anyway. "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry baby" He almost cried in her arms. "Why are you sorry? It's not your fault Joe, you can't control what they ask you" She reassured him. She invited him and they seated on her teal old coach. "I know but I feel like I'm dragging you headfirst into this stuff and I just don't want you to run for the hills" He confessed to her. "I won't Joe, we talked about it on the plane. I won't leave. Not now, not tomorrow, not ever" She hugged him and they remained on the same position for a long time. Victoria grinned at him, not saying a word. "What?" Joe half smiled "So am I?" She asked. "What sweetie?" "Future Mrs. Burrow" He couldn't help but chuckle at how good she was handling everything. She was making jokes now. "You can be babe, all you gotta do is ask" He playfully bantered her. "Burrow that is the lousiest more pathetic proposal ever. But I accept" He lifted her up from the couch and carried her like a sack of potatoes across her narrow living room. "We shall wed in the morning then" He teased her and she wouldn't stop laughing. "No but seriously Victoria, we've never talked about it" he said as he carefully put her down in the kitchen. "About marriage? Man we just got together like 2 hours ago, give me a break" she smiled, but he didn't. He was being serious. "Do you ever plan on.. you know, settling down? I mean is that something you could see yourself doing?" He gulped, scared of her answer. "I mean yeah, I have pictured myself walking down the aisle, having a family, two kids, maybe even a cat, who knows" she said, with a totally straight face. "Oh god I'm so relieved" he told her. "That I want a cat? I mean I prefer them to dogs" she giggled. "That you've pictured a family. I've always wanted one. I wanna have a wife, I want to be a dad someday. That's important to me" She softly caressed his face. "Then we'll talk some more about it later. We could have the rest of our lives to talk about it" she whispered. And Joe felt like was living the most heartwarming, ridiculously happy moment of his life. A life with Victoria. Kids with Victoria. Yeah, he could see it all. "I know this is a lot to ask, but I was wondering if you would like to come to the next game, uhm it's the playoffs and I totally get it if you don't want to come after how the media is... Victoria? Where are you going?" She left him standing on her kitchen, as she ran upstairs to her room, to grab a little surprise she had gotten for herself, and for him. "Do you like it?" She asked, her eyes wide with excitement, as she was holding a black football jersey with a number 9, and the name BURROW on top. "Babe that's. Oh my god Victoria that's so expensive. You couldn't even let ME buy you a jersey with MY name on it? Jesus woman" He, was however, over the top about her girlfriend's initiative. "I knew you would love it. I'm planning on wearing it for the playoffs, and of course I'm going to be in your VIP suit" she planted a kiss in Joe's cheek. "Vi...""Hush, Joe, if this talk about a future on the long run is for real, I need to get used to the attention, and they need to get used to me being there" "What did I do to deserve you?" He said as he lifted her up in the air. "Those killer blue eyes" she joked.

Victoria drove her old and dusty but fairly reliable 2015 Nissan Versa to the stadium for game day reminding herself that she was on a PhD salary, and proud, even if she was on an entirely different tax bracket than the rest of the team. She stepped out of the car, wearing Burrow's name on her back, and in that moment she felt invincible.

She was given a VIP badge with a matching striped lanyard, she the headed straight into Joe's suit were she would meet Joe's mother Robin for the first time. Robin held her as if she had known her forever, giving her a classic display of midwestern affection. The two clicked immediately, bounded for their love of the sport and the team's quarterback. This time Victoria couldn't see Joe prior to the game, the team needed him absolutely focused on the field. But if everything went well they would head to a special after party after the match. "Come here, my girl, you must tell me everything about you and Joe, God knows he never tells me anything" Robin guided Victoria to the seat next to hers. Victoria started to talk about them with such pride and joy in her face, Robin could tell how deeply in love she was of her son.

The game began, with the Bengals quickly taking the lead, an easy touchdown by Andrei after a mere three passes, even so the 49ers were a formidable rival, so they needed every point they could get. But even great teams can crumble under pressure, so by half time, the Bengals were already 24-10, mostly thanks to the Bengals defense's ability to hold the 49ers every offensive attempt: interceptions, sacks, you name it, they brought it. The game was so simple for the Bengals, it was even starting to feel like a done deal, so much that Victoria and Robin were more focused on their talk about Joe's infancy and embarrassing stories than the game itself. The scoreboard ended with an impressive 40-21 on the Bengals' favor, the fans lost their  shit at their team's crushing victory, and the Bengals were finally able to say that they would be meeting the Chiefs for the AFC championship.

Victoria nervously got ready for the after party, she said goodbye to Robin, who had spent the rest of the afternoon having dinner with Joe, giving her some time to go back home and change into her party outfit, and apply some make up. When it was time to head to the party, Joe picked her up from her house, and proudly walked with her knowing that someone was out there pointing a long camera lens at them. She looked beautiful, and they could go to hell for all Joe cared.

"My mom really loved you" He said while he drove to the party, kissing her hand. "Mothers tend to" She joked.

They arrived at the most exclusive club in town, flashing camera lights blinding Victoria. Joe opened up the door and firmly grabbed her waist, guiding her in. Immediately, everyone in the room cheered for him, the ovation got prolonged, it was deafening. Victoria smiled, proud of the man she could claim as hers. "Imma get you a drink handsome, enjoy your night" she whispered to his ear and walked up to the bar, as she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Well if it isn't the woman of the year" she turned around to see a drunk Ja'Marr checking her out. "I mean I get what Joe sees, you are.. sheesh,cheers to him, he really doesn't waste time" she could barely make sense of his slurred words, he just laughed, and Victoria didn't know how to react. "Oh now she's quiet. Come on, say something, or is it that the cat ate the tongue of the gold digger bitch?" Victoria couldn't even process what he had said to her, because the moment the words left his mouth, Ja'Marr fell to the ground, Joe's arm connected a left hook to his jaw. A loud commotion. Then silence.

@marlowe_tori: congratulations on the win, my handsome man. WHO DEY 🐅❤️ by joeyb_9 and 9,302 others. Comments have been deactivated for this post.

Heeey, thanks for reading as usual, are you enjoying the story? ❤️‍🩹