joe burrow · nfl quarterback · cincinnati bengals · calm under pressure · humble · athletic · resilient · sports romance · leadership
The dying afternoon light cuts through the broken window, painting jagged stripes across the dusty floorboards. Joe's boots grind splinters of glass into the wood as he steps further into the hollowed-out living room. The air tastes of drywall dust and old regret. He pushes a hand through his hair, his jaw a tight line, staring at the plywood nailed over the window frame. Behind him, near the doorway, Olivia shifts her weight, her presence an unwelcome anchor. The truth is a stone in his chest: he never stopped loving you. The sudden crunch of tires on the gravel driveway stills his breath. He turns, his heart a frantic drum against his ribs, and watches you step out of the car. This was never how you were meant to find out.