anything else ( previous ~ part i )
ᯓ★ summary: 3 months. 91 days. 2191 hours since Joe heard her voice, saw her eyes, smelled her perfume and heard her laugh, and he finally did something.
ᯓ★ curlseason: guys i’ve literally been in and out of the hospital the past month bc of some immune system problems, please forgive me <3333
ᯓ★ warnings: bad greek omggg dont judge me i used google translate . english isnt my first language, so please spareeeeeee meee!!!! angst, social media hate, lmk if i forgot any.
ᯓ★ navigation || masterlist
sunday never believed this would be how her destruction would turn out.
on the garage floor, shoes in hand, hands that were shaking; from anger? sadness? disappointment? frustration?. From Joe Burrow.
tears in her eyes, she grabbed her purse with her other hand, ordering the uber.
she then swiped towards his number, his name; only a red heart. she didn’t have the balls to put his actual name, afraid someone would see.
she typed, then deleted, typed and deleted again, her hand in a cycle between letters and the delete button, she wanted to yell at him, tell him how much he was hurting her, but what good would it do? he heard this many times.
she finally decided to not say it to him anymore, in fact, not to say thing, she typed the two words, deleted his number, and shut off her phone.
“we’re done” and she finally let the tears stream.
23 days after the text. 📍Queens, New York.
“I missed you Μάνα” Sunday let out, against her mothers shoulder. (Mom)
“Me too” her mother answers “Κορίτσι μου” ( my girl )
Both of them moved from the porch, each picking up a suitcase, moving them beside the stairs.
“Is dad here?” She hesitantly asked her mother. The last time she was home, her dad warned her to not date anyone that had anything remotely to do with sports, she remembers vividly because she had planned to tell her parents about Joe, but after her dad finished his speech about athletes and such, she shut her mouth and switched the conversation.
“Ναι, είναι στο σαλόνι.” She responded. (Yes, he’s in the living room ) . Sunday was used to her mother tongue whenever she visited, she has a bit of an accent when speaking it, but shes fluent. Her feet carried her towards the living area.
“Hi Μπαμπά” She said, eyes relieved at seeing her favorite human. ( Dad )
It was like staring into her own eyes at some point, everyone used to say, that she was her dad’s clone.
“Μωρό μου ” He said, already standing up, beaming with pride at the sight of his daughter, hands gesturing for her to hug him. ( My little one ).
“Πώς είσαι?” He asked. (how are you?)
The days ahead were already forgotten, the house that she grew up in Queens, was the only place that Joe hadn’t already been, it was like everywhere she went, he was there.
Soon enough, her cousins, aunts,uncle and grandparents came over. The grill on fire, and albanian music in the radio. The family was at ease, laughter in the air, many glasses filled with alcohol that was too sour down your throat but felt so good after, and stories were being told.
The time hit 23:00, or already past that, Sunday doesn’t know, her chest hit a familiar pain, and she went towards the fire pit, sitting down on the grass, the sound of her family behind her.
Was it always going to be like this? Was he always going to be on her mind? She had become infected by him, and for some odd reason, she doesn’t want to get rid of him, almost like this filled the void of him not actually being with her.
“Ε, καλέ… Sunday” She heard behind her, then she felt her father sitting beside her. (Oh my Sunday).
She turned to meet his eyes, and it was evident that he knew something was wrong.
“Θα του πεις του πατέρα σου τι συνέβη, μικρό μου?” He asked softly, a small smile in his face. (Will you tell father what happened, my little one?)
Tears sprung in her eyes, was she that apparent? was she trying to hide something that was already noticed?
“Δεν μπορώ ούτε καν να ξεκινήσω, πίστεψέ με.” She said softly. (I cant even start, believe me)
“Μην ανησυχείς για μένα, θα το ξεπεράσω αυτό.” She reassured him. ( Don’t worry about me, i’ll get past this thing)
“Είσαι η κόρη μου, θα το ξεπεράσεις. Αλλά όποιος κι αν είναι, δεν θα το ξεπεράσει χωρίς να μιλήσει μαζί μου.” he said seriously. (You’re my daughter, you’ll get past it. But whoever he is, he won’t get past it without talking to me)
“Δεν θα μπορέσεις να του μιλήσεις, μπαμπά.” She snorted and let out a laugh, her dad was still the same as he was years ago. Overprotective. ( You won’t get to talk to him Dad)
Her dad understood her in two languages, Joe couldn’t understand her in one.
51 days after the text. 📍Cincinnati, Ohio.
she had come to a conclusion; if she wanted to move on, she learned that healing sometimes looks like cardboard boxes and silence.
Sunday’s apartment, that Joe was familiar with, was one where she held onto. She held onto a place that she knew that Joe would come to, she was afraid that she would buy a new place, he would be hesitant.
And she loved that apartment, a home where no one would judge her, now that love turned to resentment.
Resentment to a place that held so many moments that she would enjoy in the moment, as soon as he would walk out of the white door, she remembered.
Now, shes standing in her new apartment, one that she had been eyeing for a couple months now.
An apartment that was far away from Joes place.
And no neighbors that she was scared or felt guilty whenever Ja’marr was the friendliest and kind person to her, all while his best friend was sleeping in her bed.
Now that she had a place pet friendly, she had happily visited a shelter, and came back with Loki. A persian grey cat, that was the cutest and most loving thing she had ever witnessed.
She was moving finally, she learns what her body feels like without waiting for a late-night call, her body had been on standby for eleven months. She took it back.
She wasn’t hidden anymore. Not from the world. Not from herself. Being seen stopped feeling dangerous.
She hadn’t felt like that in a long time, but while she felt relief, she also couldn’t shake off the hurt from her chest, a bullet to the heart, a hole that she knew a certain footballer could fill.
“I love it, my love” She heard an exciting voice behind her say, Amara, her best friend of 10 years stood in the doorway to her new place, a proud smile on her face, and her voice soft.
A week ago, she sat down with her, and came clean about everything. Keeping Joe a secret from her was hard, and she technically didn’t keep him a secret completely, her friend knew about a mystery man, but never knew who.
and they never pushed, that was the beauty between all three of them, they knew Sunday, knew she wasn’t ready to tell them, so all of them decided to wait until she was, only teasing her.
Amara was shocked, both of them stood in silence for two minutes.
“I knew who he was Sunday, i knew when i saw you taking pictures like a proud wife when you saw his face on a billboard, i knew when you started watching football, i knew when you tried to cut hellos short with ja’marr, i knew when i saw a lsu bracelet on your desk, i knew when i caught him in the elevator.” She said softly to a sniffling Sunday. “But i never knew that you were going through this, otherwise i would’ve- i would’ve done something, anything”
Sunday felt lighter after that conversation. there was never judgment, never “why did you stay?” because both of them knew the answer, she loved him, and she would’ve stayed to love him anyway she could, even if that meant to be in the dark.
“I’m proud of you” She heard her say. Sunday turned to her bestfriend, a smile on her face, one that didn’t reach her eyes, and said “It’ll get better”
“I’m thinking about buying that apartment in your building, you know the one that recently became for sail” Joe said to Ja’marr, walking out of the practice facility to the garage.
He felt his best friend freeze, now not walking beside him. When he turned towards him, he saw his eyes, concern, sadness and a little bit of worry sparkled in them. The pupils staring right at Joe.
“What’re you doing man?” He said to him, both of his hands now fishing in his pockets. Joe turned towards him, eyebrows pulled together in confusion. Ja’marr let out a scoff at his look.
“I know about you and her” He said, a disdain look on his face. “I know that you’ve been a pain in everybodys ass lately, i know that you’ve not come to my place almost two months now, i knew when you two weren't quiet, and i know that something happened when Sunday knocked on my door, gave me homemade cupcakes because she wanted that to be her goodbye gift” He finally finished, turning to an angry Joe, one that was angry at himself.
“Joe, you’re my brother, but i’ll die on this hill if i don’t say you need to either get your shit together and treat her like she deserves, or you let her go, and let someone else treat her like she deserved” He says to him, now pointing at his chest. “You have balls Burrow, so i cant for the life of me know why you are acting like this, especially when we’re talking about that girl”
Joe looked at his best friend in shock, eyes drained, a final realization coming upon him. Ja’marr was right.
Sunday was factually the best thing that ever happened to him, she had kept him grounded, kept him calm, kept him whole. Joe didn’t realize that she was the cause of those peaceful moments he had, so peaceful he was afraid to do too much, or do too little to ruin that.
He thought loving her quietly, was safer than loving her loudly.
He saw what his world did to women, especially women that were romantically linked to players. Dragged across twitter, threads on reddit, tiktok memes, and many more. It was almost like they waited for the women to do something wrong, so they can pick on them.
Many friends of his talked about the toll it would take, some would take it hard. some wouldn’t care. But Joe didn’t want that for Sunday, she deserved better than that, to even have to deal with that stuff, would kill Joe. He wanted to protect her, because she was his. not theirs.
Ja’marr walked away from Joe, not saying a thing, leaving the quarterback in his thoughts, drowning from the her absence and wishing to feel her hands on him.
Sundays apartment smelled like her, Joe felt at home there, but then again wherever she was, he felt at home.
He wanted something of hers to keep onto her, being in a place that started it all; he thought was the best move.
And the best moments of his life were in that apartment, his favorite moments.
Especially when he felt her for the first time; he knew that he didn’t want nobody else, and didn’t want to ever leave her again.
"You sure you want this?" Joe whispered, pulling away from her lips. Sunday looked at him, lipstick smudged, standing at her doorway, she quickly nodded her head, and connected her lips to him.
His hands went to her waist, now a grip onto her, one hand onto her waist and one on her thigh, he tugged her up, she wraps her legs around him, his hands go on both ass cheeks, all while moving towards her bedroom.
Their kisses turned to become slower, almost like they were afraid this was a dream and it would come to an end soon.
He moved her towards her bed, and from that point on, he knew what his heaven looked like. It had Sunday written all over it.
73 days after the text. 📍Cincinnati, Ohio.
“We’ve arrived ma’am” The uber driver turns to Sunday, seated in the backseat. She gives him a smile before closing the door, and walking towards the gala.
She didn’t know if this was a good idea, but she was 80% sure that Joe didn’t like this type of things, so maybe he wouldn’t show up for this photography exhibition. Especially one he knew she would attend.
Tonight she didn’t look like her typical self, well she hadn’t been like herself at all these past few weeks.
Wearing a black silk dress with accents of lace, and a channel handbag, she walked into the room with poise and elegance, every eye was on her as soon as she walked in.
“Hey Sunny” She heard her friend say, handing her a champagne glass. Sundays didn’t bother looking around the room, to see if he showed up, never in her life would she think this was the first time they’d see each other since the text.
She actually didn’t think they would ever see each other, their worlds wouldn’t mix. She didn’t belong in his world.
Still though, she felt herself keep her posture in check, and felt uncomfortable, almost like she knew a gaze was following her. Turning right she noticed a couple of people looking at her, probably because she was walking with the photographer of this exhibition. But then she turned right, and her foot locked.
Joe was here. He was here. He was here at this exhibition. He was here at this exhibition and so was she.
And his eyes are on her. His jaw slighty hanging, and his pupils dilated.
“Are you okay?” She heard her friend aka the photographer say to her, voice full of concern. Finally breaking of the eye contact with her ex boyfriend, she turned towards her friend and faked a smile, before nodding and proceeding the tour of the photos.
Joe looked at her, like he was seeing her for the first time. And he was, this version of her. He noticed her when she first walked in, her elegance, her dress, her hair, her walk, everything. He noticed everything, it was the first time that he was ever in a setting like this before with her in the same room. And he wanted nothing more than to have her with him.
Not just in his arm, as a beautiful woman. But as his woman. His Sunday.
Not looking away from her, searching for a sign, anything from her. He wanted just a sliver of confirmation that she missed him, but he didn’t get it. The only thing he could read was; shock, confusion, and hurt.
He did that to her, and if it were possible he would punch himself to give himself a taste of his own medicine. But he had a feeling that that was coming to him real soon.
She was no longer waiting to be chosen.
So he did the one thing Sunday had asked of him for many times when he was in a relationship with him, he walked up to her, in a room full of people, people he knew, and they knew him.
Sunday hadn’t noticed him at first, but when he reached her, she turned around just in time. Eyes the same as before.
73 days later, this time Joe wasn’t hurrying up to get rid of her. No he was yearning to be with her.
He leans in instinctively, and then corrects himself. Muscle memory is cruel.
He wants to yell out i love you, i missed you, i want you to forgive me, i want you to yell at me, i was wrong, i never stopped choosing you.
But he settles for “You look well”.
Sunday flinches like his words were a slap in her face. Looking down at her feet, she can’t bear to look into his eyes and not miss him. Not kiss him, not lean into him for comfort. To her ‘you look well’ means ‘you survived me’.
“I am” she says back. She no longer needed him to understand, so she didn’t make it a point to have a longer conversation with him.
He notices the absent ring on her finger. One that he got her months prior. His breath hitches, Sunday looks up, sees his gaze on her finger, and slowly puts her hand behind her back, away from his eyes.
“Have you to met before?” The photographer asks them in a mixture of both surprise and suspicion.
“No.” She answers instinctively.
Sunday clears her throat, looking at Joe. Joe could feel his heart in his chest looking at a panicked Sunday, after all this time, she still respected his boundaries.
“His best-friend actually lives in my building, well former building, so we’ve ran into each other once” She rambles on. Stopping herself then, almost like shes afraid she might slip up about something.
Eleven months collapsed into a lie no one questioned.
The photographer nods, before walking away, almost like she couldn’t handle the tension they both built.
Sunday looked at Joe on more time, before turning around towards the exit. She was here for 30 minutes before finding out he was here, now she couldn’t bear to be near him any longer.
Her elbow was tugged by a familiar touch. “Can we talk?” He asks, she swears she can hear a little insecurity in his voice, vulnerability even.
“I already did, but you didn’t listen” She whispers, before tugging her arm free. And walking away from him.
She left him standing in a room full of people who knew his name , and none who knew his loss.
81 days after the text. 📍Cincinatti, Ohio.
“Don’t go on instagram” Was the text that Amara had sent to Sunday in the morning. What did she do? She opened instagram, and god she should’ve listened to her best friend.
QUARTERBACK JOE BURROW, SECRET RELATIONSHIP WITH MYSTERY BRUNETTE BOMBSHELL?! … read more
SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE; JOE BURROW COZY WITH MYSTERY WOMAN IN THE ELEVATOR. …read more
MYSTERY WOMAN REVEALED ; WHO IS SUNDAY LASKARIS? … read more
@/user879 who tf is the girl?
@/camcam ewwwwwwwww no way is shes in joes league
@/ljones joe did charity work
@/user87 idk why everybodys hating shes giving teaaaa
@/user679 joe bagged a baddiee!!!!
@/lindsey joes clearly embarrassed of her! he only kissed her when they got into the elevator, genuinely thought they were stranger to each other the first 10 seconds of the video, not until he kissed her.
the likes on that one were up to the thousands. She looked at her phone, lips pulled together, eyes a little watery, knowing this was probably gonna cost alot of things in her life.
Was this what Joe was talking about? This fear, this humiliation, embarrassment.
But this didn’t matter, because Sunday knew, if Joe was with her, she wouldn’t even care, because it was worth it, she was with the man she loved.
Her eyes leaked, now looking at the last comment over and over again. Not because she was embarrassed, but because she was alone in a world where Joe had been before, one where he technically brought her into.
“Sunday, i want you to know that i’m not exactly doing this voluntarily, but someone told me to tell you check your door step,
i hope you’re doing well, dont listen to people, they love to hate when they’re jealous
sorry again, talk soon 🤍”
Ja’marr Chase, her neighbor, well, ex-neighbor, had been her only link to Joe Burrow. At times she would go out of her way to talk to him when she was with Joe, just so he could take about him, tell her a few things about Joe that he wouldn’t tell himself.
Her barefoot almost ran to the door.
When she came face to face with the door though, her hand stopped in front of the door knob. Almost slowly, reached down once again.
Flowers. Dozens of them. 11 Bouquets. Big red roses, at least 30 for one bouquet. She stepped out towards her hallway.
Loki came at her feet, plopping down as she stepped to the centre. Reaching down for the note, tears were already streaming down her face.
This didn’t look like a normal bouquet note. It was a notebook paper. when she opened it, it was clearly the handwriting of the man she loved. Turning to her left, she sat down, at the top stair.
i don’t know how to begin this. I don’t even know if i even have the right to write this to you. I’m doing it anyway, in case you do read this.
I love you, i’ll always love you, and i think there was always going to be apart of me that’s going to look for you everywhere i go.
you changed me, inevitably. you made me feel. i didn’t know what love felt like, until i met you, until i began loving you.
i keep replaying everything in my head, the way you looked at me, like i was certain of everything. like i was worth believing in.
if you believe it or not, that isn’t why i love you. i love you because you taught me that going to bed angry isn’t ever a good idea, i love you because you made it a point to learn things about me, persistently - if i may add, i love you because you always cried when an animal is hurt, and most of all i love you because of you.
i never wanted you to think you weren’t enough, because you are. i wanted to think that by hiding us, i would protect you, protect us. now, i know i’m selfish, i wanted you all to myself, without the burden of the press.
i know now that i made you feel small, made you feel like i was ashamed; for that, i don’t think i’ll ever forgive myself, or stop beating myself up.
i’m writing this because, i want you to know that what we had was real. what i have for you is real.
i’m not expecting forgiveness, or not even to answer.
now i realize that when i was hiding us, i didn’t want to lose you, and i was so persistent on it, that i lost you because of myself.
i love you, i hope you’re okay. i don’t want you to listen to any of what they have to say, because i am going to make them shut up, the promise that i made you months after we started dating, i’m still going to keep: i’ll always protect you.
your apartment, the one you moved out of, the one i knew you loved very much. i wanted you to know, that since we ended things i didn’t go near that building because i didn’t want you to be in hiding, in your home.
i bought it, its your apartment. the keys are at ja’marrs, he told me to tell you, that you can go whenever to get them. its in your name, its all you written all over the paperwork, i even told J to not tell me if you pick up the keys.
i love you, i hope you’re okay.
She stared at the paper, now that had a few water stains, Loki jumped into her lap, purring at her face, even licked a tear off.
Her phone buzzing in her back pocket, she quickly answered it, knowing already that it was Amara.
“Mar- you’re not gonna believ, joe he-he sent me like a shit ton of roses, and oh this letter-” she hiccuped on the phone.
“Sunday” Amara cut her off. “Oh my go- , turn on your TV, right now”
“Wha-” Sunday let out confused, quickly grabbing Loki of her and running towards her apartment.
“NOW” She heard Amara yell into her ear.
Grabbing her remote, her heart started racing. Was this another exposing of her? Something personal perhaps?
But no, when she turned on her tv, there he was. And it was clear, he was exposing himself.
Conference room, bengals conference room. His LSU Football hoodie on, he turned towards the reporters.
“Firstly i wanna make something clear, after this, i refuse to answer any personal questions about Sunday” He started off. “I only wanna clear some things up, just because things are coming out that shouldn’t be, privacy being stolen from someone who didn’t ask for this”
Sundays mouth dropped, was he talking about her right now?. Her chest now going up and down.
“I am in love with Sunday, i don’t need to clarify to any of you how long, because frankly i’m not getting paid to tell you all of this; i’m only doing this because i want to protect my woman.” He cleared his throat. “The cruelty shes facing is exactly the reason why many public figures don’t want to launch their relationships; let me make it clear: i am the lucky one, i am lucky to love a person like her, a person who’s kind, one that puts herself before others, one who was there for me when i needed the most.”
“I can’t fathom why you would have any reason to hate someone you do not know, so, the only reason most of the media or the people that hide behind screens have, is me. And i am asking from fans, my fans to stop, because if you don’t, i am willing to give up everything, for her comfort if she asked.”
Sundays eyes widened, she stood up, phone still in her ear, but all she could hear is the reporters in that room, the sound of cameras clicking, gasps filled in the room.
“Sunday” She heard Amara yell out “You need to go get your man, right now, i’m serious” She heard her say.
But all she could do, is hang up, and stare at the tv in shock.
91 days after the text. 📍Sundays old apartment building. Cincinnati, Ohio.
Sunday sighed, her hand reached out to knock on the door. A light tap, after a few seconds, the door opened.
“Hi Ja’Marr” She smiled softly at the bengals player. He looked at her in shock, before a smile was placed in his face.
“wow Hey” Sunday yelped in surprise after he reached out to hug her. “How are you?”
“I’m good, what about you? how is your girlfriend?” She asked, he nodded responding, the pair talked for a little bit on his doorstep, still a bit of tension from the elephant in the room (aka Joe Burrow).
“I’m here for the keys” She said after a beat of silence. He let out an ‘ahh’ and nodded before lifting a finger for her to wait, coming back with the keys she was all too familiar with, keys that she had given Joe. She grabbed them, and gave a hug in thanks, promising him some cookies.
She sighed as she heard him rustle to get to his door. Finally she let out “Ja’Marr”, he turned towards her waiting for her to say what she had called him for.
“Could you” She sighed, looking down, a bit flushed “Could you to tell Joe that i came for the keys, and i’m going to be staying here for the night?” She said, embarrassed.
Ja’Marr pursed his lips, in attempt to hide his smile. “You think i didn’t already tell him?”
She raised her eyebrows in surprise, amusement filling her face. Before smiling, and nodding her head in thanks.
The two ex neighbors both entered their own apartments. One wondering when his bestfriend was going to come, and the other wondering if he is going to come.
When Sunday came in, it was like time had stopped. The apartment was empty, gone the furniture it used to have, now only sunlight from the window.
She moved slowly, as if scared to make a sound, to disturb the peace it brought.
Moving towards the window, she came face to face with the view displayed. A view she once grew to love.
A sigh left her, almost like she was relieved she was somewhere no one knew. The internet didn’t get better, it seemed to only get worse, the fans girls were obsessed with him.
The comments didn’t bother her,for the most part. Some did, particularly some about her looks, some that claimed knew her when they didn’t.
Worst of all, her address leaked, so she thought since he offered her this apartment, it was better to stay here for a while, until things calm down.
Moving towards her bedroom, she turned on the lights. Her bedroom was the part she dreaded the most while moving, she eventually just decided to leave the mattress, convinced herself it was time for a mattress glow up.
she walked over, plopped herself on it, but not before flinching when she felt something against her butt.
Reaching down, she felt a box, a little box, a leather box?
Standing up, there it was, on her bed, a dark blue velvet box, a harry winston box.
Reaching down, hands still shaking, she carefully started to open it up. An oval cut, diamond. A rock, placed in its glory.
Tears streamed down her face, what does the ring even matter when the man she loved wasn’t here?
“Sunday Selene Laskaris” A voice from her said softly, she knew that voice, she loved that voice.
Turning around, he stood there, his body leaning on the door frame. His eyes were sad, a bit nervous and almost as if he was holding himself back to get to her.
“What-Joe what is this?” She said, holding the box up in question.
He sighed, placing his hands on his pockets. He turned his head to the side, looking at her face, almost as if he was documenting it to his brain.
“Well, ideally i would love for you to give me the honor to be your husband, but i can assume that maybe you’ll want to think about it-” He said, cutting himself of, as if he hated himself that he had put you in a position, where you had to think about it. “I bought the ring 2 months after meeting you Sunshine, i knew you were the love of my life-”
“- you.are.the.love.of.my.life. I don’t even need to be yours in return, but i know you are mine. Because if i learned anything from the past 91 days, is that i can’t function without you there, i can’t function without your texts, i can’t breathe Sunny.” He exhaled, blowing a breath out. “I don’t want to pressure you, i just want you to know, in case this is actually the last time i see you”
“Joe” She stopped him finally, tears still streaming down her face, god she was a mess. “Yes”
“Yes? Yes what?” He said after a beat of silence, eyebrows furrowed, pupils dilating.
She stepped forward taking his big hands, and placing them on her waist, almost instinctually- his fingers gripped her narrow waist. Placing both of her hands on his chest, she looked up at him, before whispering.
“Yes, i’ll marry you” She kissed him, both relaxed in each others arms.
These 91 days, have never been harder, but they were so worth it.
