press box daydreams @dray06 - Tumblr Blog

Oct 13, 2025

Feel Again

Author’s note: I almost cried writing this?

Joe is missing.

Ibi knocked on his door at 7am like he said he would, maybe they’d squeeze in a quick game of horse to get some of his nervous energy out, get the blood pumping a little bit. But he wasn’t there.

He isn’t anywhere.

They’ve checked the pool, the sauna, upstairs, downstairs, they even called his mom to see if she’d seen him. The last time Robin had really spoken to him was the day before when she found him crouching down, editing his vows on his phone before getting ready for the rehearsal dinner.

“Maybe we should just call her. I know it’s not ideal but what if he snuck over there and we’ve been running around for no reason?” Zacciah sighs, his fingers move through his hair for the fourth time in the last hour.

“Call her and say what?” Trae asks, “good morning! I know it’s your wedding day but we can’t find your fiancé, you know—the groom? Let’s just call Sasha and ask her to go into the room and knock on her door to make sure he didn’t spend the night when he wasn’t supposed to.”

Adam laughs, “he was literally with us walking back here last night. Is he really that whipped that he can’t spend one night without her?”

“You better hope so.” Ibi says, shaking his head. “Because if he’s not in there, where the fuck is he?”

The guys sat in Joe’s room, on his bed that looked barely slept in and played rock paper scissors to determine which one of them was going to have to make the call.

“Hold on,” Trae spoke up before the last round between Zacciah and Ibi. “Y’all smell that?”

“Yeah, I do.” Ibi stands, sniffing around the room and opening the sliding door. “Oh my god.”

Adam follows him, “what? Where is it coming from?”

Ibi doesn’t say anything, he just nods to the other end of the balcony. Joe is standing there, barefoot in a white tee and gray sweatpants leaning on the railing, cigar in hand. The mahogany cigar box sits open on the table beside him, the engraved lid glinting in the light with his full name and the date. A note in your handwriting sits inside.

Light this before you put on your suit. I want you calm when you see me. See you soon, tiger. Love you.

“Bro, are you serious?” Trae yells.

“Good morning to you guys too,” Joe takes another long puff, unmoved by the disheveled looking men now surrounding him.

“We’ve been looking for you for an hour.” Zacciah sighs, taking the cigar out of the box and immediately taking a pull. “Thought you were a runaway groom for a second.”

Joe smiles, eyes on the horizon, shaking his head. “No chance. Just taking a minute before the big day.”

They knew him better than anyone. Joe was nervous as hell. Not nervous about commitment in its highest form, but just the spectacle of the whole thing. He wanted everything to go well today, to actually spend time with you and not just be paraded around mingling with guests while you did the same on the opposite side of the room. Today was a day that you two had curated perfectly and he couldn’t wait to get it started.

You woke up to an empty bed, a rarity nowadays so the feeling was uncomfortably foreign. It may or may not have led you to start a countdown on your phone to the big reveal when you’d get to see him in his tux.

“Rise and shine princess,” Sasha whispers. “There’s a gift for you in the main room.”

This was better than Christmas. You walked past the kitchen and into the living room area and spotted a baby blue trunk.

“It’s LV,” Sasha notes. “Your husband has taste.”

“Well obviously,” you laugh, gesturing to yourself, “but this is really cute.”

Nikki steps into the room and hands you a note. “Open this after you look at what’s inside.”

The trunk was a wedding keepsake, you could fill it with any memory you wanted, store your shoes in here afterwards, a dinner menu card, the knife set you’d be using later to cut the cake. Inside the trunk is a heart lock, Mrs. B engraved in the center. You pulled out a diamond teardrop necklace, but the teardrop was a single pearl. The detail on it was stunning, unlike any design you’d ever seen and you didn’t even want to think about how much he’d spent. And last but not least—of course—a black Dior lingerie set.

You opened the note and started reading, tears almost instantly forming in your eyes.

Hi honey! It’s Robin. I’m sure you were expecting a handwritten note from Joey but he’s got something even better planned for you this afternoon. I’m sure you’re wondering where the necklace is from so here goes. The diamonds are from the tiara that grandma Dottie wore at her wedding. And the pearl is from the necklace I wore on my wedding day. Traditions are traditions after all and for your something old, we revamped some really really old stuff for you to enjoy on your special day. Welcome to the family sweetie, I can’t wait to officially call you my daughter.

You set the piece of paper down and pressed your fingers to the tiny pearl, feeling the weight of generations in something that was now yours.

Across the ranch, Joe was still breathing through the morning, waiting for you.

“Looks like you forgot a gift,” Adam says when all the guys are back inside. Trae was definitely looking up where the cigars were from so he could get some to keep at his house. When he didn’t find the exact brand, he made a mental note to ask you later. Adam walked up to Joe and handed him the tiny white box.

“Thanks,” Joe murmured, wracking his brain on what this could possibly be. He gently unwrapped it and looked inside. Words were lodged in his throat, which was now drier than the Sahara desert.

Crying at the sight of a Pokémon card wasn’t exactly on his bingo card for the day. He imagined the first tears shed would be during the first look, maybe during the vows, but no. Joe was getting misty eyed at a pikachu collector card, one of the rarest in the world. Not because he loved the cards, which he did, but because you know him to the core. The cigar, a staple of his after big wins. The cigar he had just smoked symbolized his greatest win, you. And now the card. The amount of research and bargaining you must’ve endured to appease him and celebrate his hobbies. This card meant that you’d move heaven and earth just to make him smile and the rush of emotions that hit him seeing it sit in its box quadrupled his excitement in the day’s events.

He laughed softly to himself and put the card back in the box, handing it to Zacciah after he asked if he could see it. “Alright, everybody out. I gotta get my tux on.”

Your stomach hurt from laughing. Some of the girls were already on their third strawberry mimosa while you still nursed your first. The room buzzed with giggles, Nikki had recruited two of the girls to bring down everyone’s dresses while you got your makeup done. The theme of the day was pink, Joe’s choice. You choose cream to cleanse everyone’s visual palate a bit. Little bits of the day were showered in the two, floral arrangements sprinkled with ivory and soft pink roses, muted raspberry peonies, buttermilk hydrangeas, medium rose tulips and bleached hanging amaranthus.

The suite smelled faintly of perfume and setting spray; satin over the shoulder dresses hung in neat rows while the girls determine the order of who got to sit in the makeup chair.

Once the makeup artist had transformed you into a piece that belonged in a museum, you had all of your bridesmaids come into the room.

“Joe might actually pass out when he sees you,” Rachel says, holding back tears.

“Shit I might pass out! Look at you!” Jazmyn squeals, spinning your chair to face the mirror again.

You laughed and thanked them. “Before things get too sobby and serious, I have gifts for you.”

Everyone followed you into dining room where their gift bags were carefully packed. You handed them out one by one, each person having played a huge role in your life from Sasha and Nikki who you’d known since you had baby teeth to Jaz who would physically carry you out of the stadium on Sundays if she had to.

“Okay, you can open them.”

The first gift Joe definitely came up with. No way in hell would you think of blush pink Cartier glasses but when he suggested it, the idea was actually cute. The photo booth pictures were already running through your mind. The Louis Vuitton tote bags, pink of course, and cream Stanley with the rose gold charm that had each girl’s first initial attached was all you.

You were practically attacked with hugs and various loud noises of appreciation and all you could do was remind them that the Stanley’s were on purpose and they’d need to hydrate tomorrow to soothe the inevitable hangovers. Watching them laugh, you pictured those same cups scattered across countertops tomorrow morning, a quiet reminder that by then, you’d wake up a wife.

Bass rattled the windows in the house the guys were staying in. The set-up crew could probably hear Gunna’s voice from the ceremony space where they were setting up chairs with practiced accuracy so that each side was symmetrical.

Everyone lounged around waiting for further instructions, laughing about how Ibi almost fell in the pool last night at the rehearsal dinner. Zacciah froze mid-laugh when Joe came down the stairs. Trae’s drink hovered halfway to his mouth. Nobody talked, nobody even breathed.

“Damn,” Micah says under his breath. “Dude. You’re getting married.”

Joe doesn’t say anything right away, he stands at the mirror and adjusts his bow tie. “Yeah, that’s kinda why you’re all here,” he laughs.

“I feel like it was just yesterday when we were practicing UFC moves on each other,” Trae says, finally bringing the cup he’s been holding to his lips.

“Probably because it literally was yesterday,” Ibi counters, “almost landed Sam in the hospital. You know that man’s retired, he’s not as nimble as he used to be.”

Sam glares at him, “I’m a retired athlete, not an 80 year old. I could take you down right now if I had to.”

“As entertaining as that would be to see,” Joe chuckles. “I got something for you guys.” He hands out black boxes to each of his groomsmen.

They pulled their keys out of their boxes and looked at each other.

“Golf carts. They’re out back, with your names on them.” He didn’t even finish his sentence before they raced to the back of the house and found them all parked next to each other. In the driver’s seat was a matte black flask with their initials in glossy black letters.

Zacciah hopped out of his golf cart and looked at Joe again. “First look in about 30 minutes, you good?”

“I’m good.” He nods. “I’m actually gonna head over there now, make sure the photographer’s set. Wish me luck.”

His friends gathered around him and dapped him up, some hugs were longer than others, filled with memories of Friday night lights in Athens. Then nights in Columbus where they had way too much to drink and woke up ghostly versions of themselves. A few nights in Baton Rouge where Joe lived alone and lived for the playbook. And of course nights in cincy, begging his private chef to make more sliders and watching March Madness in his million dollar mancave.

All of these versions of him had been wrapped up in their love and now they were sharing him with someone who would love every version of him forever.

They watched him head up the path and didn’t head inside until he was out of sight. Then and only then did they turn back to get ready for the ceremony.

It took three grown women to get you safely into your dress. Your mom kissed your forehead, told you that you looked gorgeous and that she’d see you right before the real show started. Sasha helped you step into your shoes. “Before you go, I have something to give you.”

“You’re giving me a gift? Why in the world would you do that?”

She laughs, holding her hands behind her back in the most mischievous way. “I’m not giving it to you. I’m letting you borrow it,again.”

“Huh?”

Sasha bends down to your ankle and clasps the anklet just above where your heel is strapped. “If you remember you asked if you could wear this anklet before you date with some guy. Honestly, I don’t remember his name right now but clearly it didn’t go anywhere since you’re marrying him in about two hours.” She jokes, now fully crying. “It’s full circle. Figured you could wear it today, since you were wearing it when it all began or whatever. Consider it your something borrowed. Or…burrowed.”

“You’re annoying,” you laugh, blinking really fast so you don’t cry along with her. She notices and dabs delicately under your eyes so it doesn’t ruin your makeup. “I love you.” You whisper when she’s done.

“I love you too,” she whispers back, letting another tear fall. “So much. Joe is so fucking lucky. I hope he knows that every single day. Okay I’m gonna stop before we sit here and boo hoo all day.” Sasha picks up your veil and fastens it perfectly before pulling it over your face. “Alright princess, go knock his socks off with your love poem. We’ll be right here when you come back.”

You lift up your arms and she walks into the hug. The girls all wave and you pick up your dress as you walk out the door and head down the path.

Joe walked on the gray brick until he reached the flower garden. Pictures hadn’t done it justice. This was probably the most stunning view in Santa Barbara. He was looking up at plants he didn’t think existed in real life. Bursts of yellow and coral climbing through deep greens, dotted with lavender and indigo blooms setting the stage for a mountain he didn’t know the name of in the background. Ferns framed the wooden steps, curling toward the sunlight.

The photographer was already waiting, adjusting his camera strap. Joe shook his hand and tried to ignore how his palms felt too warm.

“You’ll stand right here,” the photographer said, gesturing to the open space framed by flowers. “When she gets close enough, she’s gonna cover your eyes. Don’t turn until she says so.”

“Got it,” Joe said, barely registering anything he just heard. He closed his eyes and focused on the sounds of nature, the world was still waking up, he could hear bees in the background, soft waves if he focused enough but everything faded when he took a deep breath and was reminded of one singular thought…she’s coming.

The first thought you had when you saw him was that his hair looked perfect. More than usual. And that his shoulders were really broad, had they always been that broad? Maybe…definitely. The third thought was that you had to keep one foot in front of the other, not trip, reach up and cover his eyes, say something cute and flirty about how he’s been waiting, deliver your vows, take pictures, don’t cry.

When you made it to him and reached up to cover his eyes, you said the flirtiest thing you could think of. “You can turn around.”

It was smooth and it was all you could come up with on short notice with a billion things in your head. At least you didn’t trip.

Joe turns around and you hold your breath as he lifts the veil and tucks it back, his fingers brushing your cheek for just a second longer than they needed to.

“Hi.” He swallows as the camera clicks softly behind you.

You let out a small, timid laugh. “Hi.”

For a second, everything you’d practiced, the lines, the poses, the perfect angles—disappeared. It was just him, looking at you like he’d never seen you before. Like it was the first time all over again.

“You look…” he starts and then stops to collect himself and his thoughts. “…You look unbelievable.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” you grab his hand, tracing small circles with your thumb when you feel him shaking.

The private vow idea was a joint effort. Pouring your heart out to a bunch of people sounded like a slow death and you wanted to have this time with him that wasn’t for show. Just two people telling each other how you feel before partaking in a public union. Now that you were here and struggling to get words out, both of you were glad to do it this way.

“Do you wanna go first?” Joe asks, squeezing your hand.

You held up the vow book between you, but when you looked down at it, you realized you didn’t even need it. “Joe, you’re my best friend. And I don’t say that lightly. You’re the person that knows me to my core, the good parts and the not so good parts. Never in my life did I think I could find someone so—perfectly made for me. I’ve probably been preparing my whole life to get to you and I couldn’t be more grateful that I was willing and ready to love and be loved by you. You’re my calm, my peace, my absolute favorite person and I will always be in your corner no matter what. I know you’re supposed to say ‘til death do us part’ but that’s not enough. When I die, you’re the last person I wanna see, so when I go, I’ll have every detail memorized perfectly. I promise to love you with my entire heart for the rest of my life. And to look for you every lifetime after this one.”

A tear slipped down his cheek and he laughed softly, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe you’d already made him cry twice today.

Joe reached into his jacket for his vow book. He flipped it open, but his hands stayed still on the page. He didn’t need it either.

“I’ve sat down and re-written this probably 18 times in the last few months. You know I’m not the best with expressing my emotions so don’t expect anything that would make Shakespeare clap.” He clears his throat. “You’re my person. You accept me for exactly who I am, my inability to sit or stand still sometimes, my often neutral or angry face, depends on who you ask. You’ve found light in me in places most people would call an endless void. And I can’t thank you enough for coming into my life and sharing your infectious light with me. I promise you that I will always support you, stand next to you, cheer for you and protect you for as long as I possibly can. There’s so many people in this world, thank you for choosing me to be yours. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret it.”

He pulls out his pocket square and hands it to you as a fat tear slides down your face. “Great, I wasn’t supposed to cry like this so early in the day. That was really good,” you sniff, dabbing your face knowing the photographer is capturing every second of this.

You hand Joe his tissue back, and he steps closer, his eyes soft. He dabs your cheek with his thumb, then leans in until your foreheads touch. Your eyes close, resisting every ounce of your body that wants to kiss him. You let him kiss your forehead instead, nice and slow. “I love you,” he whispers.

“I love you too.” You say back, voice even quieter than his was.

He steps back and sighs, fingers firmly interlocked with yours. “I’m kissing you soon.”

“Promise?”

Joe laughs, nodding. “Promise. I’ll even wear a ring and you’ll have a new name? We’ll be different people soon. More adult, more…married.”

“A ring you say?” You’re glad you can freely tease him again now that the vow nerves are gone. “Well I’m gonna walk back and make sure everyone’s ready to go because I need to see this. And I need that new name.” You hold his hand with both of yours and take one last look at him, the man you love, the man who’s about to be your husband. “See you down there?”

He smiles. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

The air was buzzing with soft chatter as guests began to settle. Strings hummed low in the background, testing the first notes of the processional. The groomsmen were lined up along one side, the bridesmaids along the other, each one glancing back toward the flower covered center aisle, where you’d be making your entrance.

Joe stood near the front, rolling his cufflinks between his fingers out of habit. His mom’s hand slipped through his arm before he could think too hard.

“You okay, sweetheart?” she asked softly.

He smiled faintly. “Yeah. Just feels like I’ve been getting ready for this my whole life.”

Robin laughed through a tear. “You have no idea how happy I am that you found her. You’ve always been steady: quiet, observant, stubborn in the best way. But she brings out something I didn’t even know was missing. This softness and light that just surrounds you now, like you can let go and just…be.” She reached up, straightening his boutonniere even though it didn’t need it. “You’ve found your person, Joey. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks mom,” he leans down to hug her and she gives him a kiss on the cheek.

His dad steps in when they’re done and places a hand on his shoulder. “Big day’s finally here, we’ve been waiting for this one a long time.” He says with a low chuckle. “Two things. Listen more than you talk, and take care of her. That’s all you need to do, alright?”

Joe nods, eyes glassy.

“Love you son,” Jimmy whispers, lips trembling faintly. He pats him on the back and grabs Robin’s hand. “We’ll see you out there.”

“Love you guys,” Joe responds, taking a deep breath. His mom gives him another quick squeeze, tells him she loves him more than anything and that they’ll be right there in the front row every minute. He turns and watches them take their seats, closes his eyes and gets ready to walk onto the grass like it’s the biggest game of his life, except this might be even better.

You held your bridal bouquet, tightening the white satin bow. The nerves were completely gone, replaced with anticipation, you couldn’t wait to hear “you may now kiss the bride.”

“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on was this baby I met a few years ago. She looked at me with these bright eyes full of life. And now those perfect eyes are attached to a bride who’s about to make everyone’s jaws drop.” Your mom states confidently, even though she’s visibly wiping her tears. “Walk down that aisle like you own it. Because you do. This is your day, sweetheart, every single bit of it.”

“I’m not about to cry right now,” you swallow the emotion, “Joe already got me earlier, not doing this again. My mascara won’t be able to take another hit.”

Your dad steps forward with a laugh, he’s been pretty quiet this entire time. He’s been taking in the surroundings, your dress, the flowers, the fact that he’ll be walking with you down the aisle oh so soon. He gives your mom a kiss as she makes her way down to her seat and everyone starts to clap, you imagine her hugging Joe and giving him a few words of encouragement. Then she probably gave Robin and Jimmy’s hands a loving squeeze before sitting on the other side.

“Feels like I was teaching you how to ride a bike yesterday. And now you’re getting married.” He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I know you’ll take care of each other, but it’s hard not to think about the fact that my baby girl’s got a new number one guy in her life.”

You smiled, squeezing his hand. “You’ll always be 1A, Dad. Joe’s just 1B.”

He laughed, wiping his eyes quickly before your mom could see. “That’s a lie but I’ll take it.” Both of you laugh uncontrollably and you shake your head. “You sure you’re ready for this? We could still make a run for it, we’ve got time.”

You humor him with a light laugh as he offers his arm and you lean into him. “I love you so much, thank you for being here.”

“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” he says in a low voice, kissing the side of your head before pulling the veil over. “I love you. Let’s do this.”

“Okay.” You nod, heartbeat jumping out of your chest. “We’re doing this.”

You didn’t really remember the ceremony.

You remembered Joe’s hands encasing yours, soft and warm, looking into his eyes and sharing a few silent smiles mixed with a million inside jokes about how ceremonies were long and boring. You remembered how tan he looked, skin glowing under the California sun. You remembered the sound of your heart over the music, the faint scent of gardenias, and the way he never broke eye contact.

Everything else felt like background noise. It didn’t matter.

And then there was the kiss.

The world went silent for a second, it may have even stopped spinning on its axis. His hands found your face, gentle but certain, and when his lips met yours, you finally exhaled. It wasn’t the kind of kiss meant for the cameras or the crowd. It was purposeful, intentional, almost like a second set of vows from that moment in the garden when it was you and him and a very qualified man with a camera.

When he pulled back, you realized your eyes were filled with unshed tears and he was smiling that small, crooked smile that only ever appeared when it was just the two of you.

You came back from that out of body experience to hear the uproar of celebration from the crowd of guests after being presented as husband and wife. Some of Joe’s groomsmen were wiping their eyes, you turned to catch Sasha and Nikki holding hands, both of them were crying.

Joe held out his hand, and you took it without hesitation, walking down the aisle together as the clapping and cheers swelled around you. Two lives had just merged into one.

Directly following the ceremony, guests were ushered to the outdoor cocktail hour. The refined space felt like an upscale greenhouse with plush ivory and blush sectionals with rounded club chairs and low cocktail tables. Layers of greenery lined the space, leading to four identical white bar areas. Each bar had a menu draped down the side, filled with descriptions of each portion of the appetizers and featured drink options, a full bar for any drink option of the guests’ choice and a signature menu featuring drinks that you and Joe—and Morgan—had come up with. Your chef took food very seriously and spent more time on this small bites menu than he did on the actual dinner options.

Then there was the Lego station. Guests were invited to design their own mini figurine, snap it onto a white base, sign their name, and add it to a massive display board—your version of a guestbook. The idea was to see everyone’s personalities come to life in miniature. And also just a cool thing for you to keep because you had just married one of the biggest Lego fans in human history.

What you didn’t know was that Kevin Durant and Tom Brady were locked in a full-blown debate over who got the Batman pieces, while Tee tried to swap Ja’Marr’s hair for the blond piece, insisting it was “a Joe thing.”

While guests found a seat and sampled different hors d'oeuvres, you, Joe and your bridal party along with your families took pictures.

The photos took less than an hour, though it felt like a lifetime of smiles and champagne. By the time the last flash went off, everyone had cleared out and you were in your reception dress. It was just you and Joe in a rare, perfect silence.

“We’re married,” you said, staring at the thick band on his finger. “Like actually.”

“You’re permanently stuck with me,” he sighs, watching the photographer packing up his stuff.

“That’s fine by me.” You laugh. “I am starving though.”

Joe stands up, not letting go of your hand. “Let’s look at this menu Morgan begged me to approve.”

A few staff members moved around, setting up a small white table for the two of you as you browsed the sheet. “We should probably just get one of everything on the food and then pick our drinks. God knows we won’t have time to eat during the reception.”

“You’re right, what drink are you thinking?”

You were stuck between two choices. “Maybe the bengal bite? Oh no, the Cupid’s sangria sounds good but that’s probably what you’re gonna get. Wine and sprite? Has your name written all over it.”

“Well the heisman has purple gin and that’s really cool.” Joe counters, letting one of the staff members know to bring out all the food options. “Never mind I’m getting the northern lights, final answer.”

The staff quickly had the apps out: creole cream cheese wonton cups, shrimp cocktail bites, filet mignon crostini, lobster roll bites, smoked salmon rolls on cucumber slices. You dipped your mini churros in chocolate sauce while Joe went for caramel. He cracked his mini crème brûlée with the back of his spoon and fed you a bite, laughing when you leaned forward for a second one.

“That was so good,” you sighed, almost forgetting that this wasn’t just a normal summer night at home.

Joe leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded, content in that way he rarely ever was. “Do we really have to go in?” he asked, voice lazy, the kind he only used when he was truly happy.

You smiled. “You mean to the party that’s literally for us?”

“Yeah. That one.”

Before you could respond, a familiar voice called from the entrance of the garden. “Mr. and Mrs. Burrow! We’re lining up!”

Your coordinator, clipboard in hand, was practically glowing with polite panic. Joe groaned under his breath, finishing the last bite of his dessert before standing and offering you his hand again. You slipped off the suit jacket he’d draped over your shoulders and he slipped it on effortlessly.

“Guess that’s our cue,” he murmured. You give him a quick kiss, endlessly glad you’ve purposefully scheduled private moments with him throughout the day because those would be your most cherished memories.

The double doors swung open to a wave of light and applause.

The reception space glowed. Hundreds of candles flickering against glass, the soft golden light reflecting off crystal place settings and champagne flutes. Lush floral arrangements cascaded down every table, a blend of cream, blush, and dark pink that caught the air whenever someone walked by. The room hummed with music and laughter, the kind of joy that came from watching two people you love finally make it to forever.

You could feel Joe’s hand in yours, solid and grounding, as the DJ’s voice echoed across the room.

“Please welcome, for the first time as husband and wife…Mr. and Mrs. Joe Burrow!”

The crowd erupted. You both laughed, half in disbelief, half because there was no other way to process the wall of sound in front of you. Joe raised your hand, spinning you gently as you entered, and the lights caught on your dress in a way that made the whole room gasp.

You could barely hear the music over the cheers, but it didn’t matter. His arm slid around your waist, and the noise didn’t phase you.

Robin was already crying again, Jimmy clapping so hard his wedding ring glinted in the air. Your dad was beaming like he’d just won the lottery, and your mom was recording the entire thing with her phone, barely able to see through her tears.

You leaned up to whisper in Joe’s ear, “Still hate attention?”

He smirked, keeping his eyes ahead. “Less when it’s with you.”

You both laughed, the kind of laugh that came from disbelief—the kind that said this is our life now.

You made your way to the sweetheart table, candles flickering against glass, two untouched glasses of champagne waiting. Joe pulled your chair out for you, leaned down, and whispered, “Okay, that part wasn’t so bad.”

Looking out into the crowd, you and Joe tried to spot familiar faces. Morgan and Ivy were sitting at a table together with their families, Morgan was visibly in tears, his wife had a comforting hand on his back. Ivy gave you a knowing smile and you couldn’t wait to get up and hug her.

Joe poured a glass of champagne for himself and for you and you did a quick cheers before checking in with their friends as dinner was served. Your bridesmaids gave you a quick rundown on who they thought would get super drunk, how Coco Jones had complimented your dress and then all of them asked to see the wedding stack. Joe met up at his friends’ table, Ja’Marr and Tee and Justin joined in to talk about some choreographed dance they may or not whip out for him.

Dinner was served and you and Joe headed to Morgan and Ivy’s table after checking in with both sets of parents. Robin had hugged you so tightly you almost coughed and you tugged down a fit of laughter when you noticed Joe in an identical embrace with your mom. After you pried yourselves away from your families, Ivy showed you a picture of the guestbook that was filled with evidence from a unique cocktail hour.

“Babe, look.” You said excitedly. Seeing every individual person on one platform made it all the more real of how much mingling you were about to do but it was still fun.

Joe zoomed in on the picture, “this was our best idea yet. Look at the colors, I’m glad everyone seemed to have fun with it.”

At some point, you both split off, you to the college friends’ tables, Joe to his high school and college coaches. Every few minutes, you’d look across the room and catch him already looking back. You’d exchange a tiny nod, a shared grin, and move on.

He’d check in with a hand squeeze or a wink every time your paths crossed. You’d brush his arm as you passed, whispering “You good?”

“Always,” he’d answer.

You made the last few rounds together, thanking kid Cudi for coming before making your way back to your seats for the speeches.

“I’ve known Joe for a long time. He’s the most dedicated and driven person I know, almost to a psychotic extent, sorry man.” Zacciah says as the crowd laughs. “No but seriously, if there’s anything I know for sure is that you’re going to show up, every single day whether you want to or not because you’re addicted to being great and I know you’ll take that mindset with you into marriage.” He raises his glass and everyone follows suit. “Here’s to a lifetime of competition and endless love. I love you both and it’s an honor to get a front row seat to your love story, can’t wait to see what this next chapter holds.”

Joe stands up and gives him a hug and you know they’re both crying. You look away and catch Sasha looking at you and you know you’re in for it.

“Hi everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m Sasha. I’ve known this angel here since before she had braces, before she could drive, and definitely before she learned how to flirt without crying. But the thing is…Joe never stood a chance.”

Most of the room nodded in an agreement, a few people clapped.

“I’ve watched her fall in love a hundred times in her head, but never like this. Not with anyone who made her glow like this. Joe, you’ve somehow made her quieter and louder at the same time, calmer, but brighter. You’re her safe place and her chaos, and we love you for it.”

Sasha lifted her glass.

“To my best friend and her quarterback. May the rest of your lives feel like this exact moment.”

You held her hand and mouthed a teary thank you and she whispered that she loved you and everyone knew she meant every word.

The applause from the toasts lingered for a bit before the music was playing again, the first few familiar notes of Lean on Me drifting through the speakers.

Your dad was already standing when you turned toward him, his hand outstretched.

“Come on, kiddo,” he said softly. “Let’s give them something to cry about.”

The spotlight was bright but you happily stepped into it with him, your body settling into his as you swayed to the music. “I’m gonna try not to step on your toes.”

You laughed softly, holding onto him a little tighter, as if he’d fade away when the song ended. You looked up and caught the sheen in his eyes before he quickly blinked it away.

“She’s beautiful,” he said quietly, nodding toward your mom in the front row. “And I didn’t think I could ever love someone more than her. Then you showed up.”

You swallowed hard. “Thank you for showing me what real love looks like. What it feels like.”

He smiled through his tears. “You’ll always be my baby girl. Even when you’re walking down an aisle or marrying into a tax bracket we thought was reserved for tech developers.”

Shaking your head, you told him to stop but he kept going. “That man loves you more than life itself, this is a lot for me but I trust him with your heart. I will kill him if he breaks it though.”

“I know, dad.” You chuckle. “And so does he.”

“Good,” he sighs as the song ends. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you.” You stayed attached to him, hugging him tight as the crowd applauded. The music shifts to You’ll Be in My Heart and Joe stands, meeting his mom on the dance floor. Your hand catches his as you make your way back to your seat to watch the second half of the passing of the torch.

The crowd roared again as they found their rhythm, slow and steady. Robin rested her head just beneath his shoulder, one hand over his heart like she was trying to memorize the beat.

“You know, I’ve been dreading this part all day,” she whispered. “Not because I’m not happy, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. But it’s just…I still see that three-year-old who insisted on staying outside until you hit the ball after your dad pitched it.”

Joe smiled, looking down at her. “That’s determination right there. I think it worked out okay for me.”

Robin laughed through her tears. “Yeah, I’d say it did.”

The room was hushed except for the music, Phil Collins’ iconic tune partnered with this emotional moment brought many to tears. He swayed her side to side.

“I don’t say this enough,” he murmured. “Thanks for…everything. For all the driving, the waiting, the believing. I wouldn’t be here without you.”

She looked up at him, eyes welled up. “I know, sweetheart. And I’m so proud of you. Not for what you do, but for who you are. For how you love her.”

Joe pressed his lips together, the emotion catching up to him again. “She’s easy to love.”

Robin smiled. “You are too.”

The song built softly toward its final chorus. Robin squeezed his hand one last time before pulling back to look at him fully. “Okay,” she said, voice trembling, “you can let go now. But only a little.”

Joe nodded, kissing the top of her head as the crowd applauded again. “Only a little,” he promised.

People turned from emotional to stunned as the serving staff rolled out the cake, an architectural masterpiece that could’ve been mistaken for a sculpture. Five tiers of white fondant wrapped in sugary white orchids. You couldn’t believe you had to cut it.

Joe stood beside you, one hand already finding yours. “That’s way too nice to eat,” he murmured.

“I know, but it’s gotta happen and that vanilla cream you picked out kind of changed me as a person when we tasted it.” You said with a smile.

He laughed as the MC handed him the silver knife. You placed your hand over his and on the count of three you sliced through the smooth pastry. Joe slid a slice onto the plate and immediately offered you a bite. It tasted better than you remembered. “You like that, Mrs. Burrow?”

You nodded, feeding him. “You’re gonna wear that one out aren’t you?”

“What do you mean, wife? That’s your name.”

Stealing another bite, you laughed, “that is my name now, isn’t it?”

Plates of cake made their rounds as servers sliced into the cake, handing out delicate portions. Each tier a different flavor so they handed out various options at every table so guests could have their choice. Guests dug into the dessert, deep in conversations and started to make their way to the photo booths to take a memory strip home with them. Some people made their way to the door, grabbing a gift bag on the way out.

You slipped away from Joe just long enough to squeeze into the booth with your bridesmaids. Sasha threw on heart-shaped sunglasses, Jazmyn grabbed the “Wife of the Party” sign, and Nikki yelled, “Rings up!” just as the flash went off. You held your left hand high, the diamond catching the light as your friends screamed and laughed around you.

Joe watched from across the room, smiling as you stepped out, your cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. He was mid-conversation with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker who were pretending to critique his cake-cutting technique, but the second you looked at him, his focus shifted right back to you.

A gentle announcement came over the speaker, the coordinator inviting everyone outside for “a little surprise.” The crowd followed in waves, stepping out onto the open lawn where the California night sky stretched wide and soft above the ranch.

Joe met you by the doorway, fingers sliding through yours. “Ready?” he whispered.

“For what?”

He didn’t answer, just led you forward until you both stepped beneath a canopy of fairy lights. And then, with perfect timing, the first firework burst, soft gold against the dark, followed by a cascade of silver, pink, and champagne-colored streaks.

You leaned into him, both of you quiet as cheers erupted behind you. Guests clapped, phones lifted, someone yelled your names.

“This is insane,” you murmured, smiling into his shoulder.

“Wait till you see what’s next.” Joe turned his head, lips brushing your temple.

“Next?”

He nodded, wrapping his arms around you from behind. Partygoers started to clear out after the fireworks show, most gave you hugs or simply waved goodbye with well wishes, some promised to call you later. You hugged your friends and his, thanking them for being there every step of the way. When your parents came up Joe told them you’d see them at breakfast in the morning before you boarded the plane to the Amalfi Coast.

Once the two of you were alone, you brought him back to a comment from earlier. “What did you mean when you said ‘next?’ What did you do?”

Joe gave you a sneaky side smirk, leading you back into the ceremony space. “One more surprise.”

You let him walk you back inside, watching him slip his suit jacket off. “Everyone’s gone.”

He nods once, “good, that’s the point.”

The lights dimmed and before you could speak, Ryan Tedder was standing where your sweetheart table just was and Joe was standing in the middle of the dance floor. The first chords of Feel Again started to play.

Your breath caught. “No way.”

Joe stepped closer, one hand reaching for yours. “Told you I had one more surprise.”

You smiled, body molded to his perfectly as you wrapped your arms around his neck. “I don’t even want to ask how you did this.”

“A dance with you in a room with nobody else felt like the perfect nightcap.” He admits, giving you a spin. “Can I tell you something else?”

You looked up and nodded.

“I love you.”

“I love you more.”

He chuckles as the chorus swelled, catching your lips into a warm kiss. “If this is what being married is like, I think we’ll be pretty good at it.”

“So do I.”

You pull him in and kiss him again as the song ends but the band keeps playing.

I'm feeling better Ever since you know me I was a lonely soul But that's the old me A little wiser now From what you've shown me Yeah, I feel again Feel again

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

press box daydreams