You're the only one - Joe Burrow
Author's note: Oh my god! I can’t believe I finally managed to finish this fic. Tbh I have three other versions of this story because I was never fully satisfied. Even with this one, I feel like it’s not exactly what I had imagined, but I know that if I tried to change it again, I would never finish it. Big shoutout to Mat Barzal and his cameo. 🤭 This is my first Joe fic, so please go easy on me. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the it!! English is not my first language, so I apologize for any mistakes. I’d be grateful for any feedback!! Niky xx 🤍
Pairing: reader x Joe Burrow
Warnings: none!! just fluff and love xx
Seeing him chase his dreams had always been something that made me happy, and being a part of it not only as his assistant but also as his best friend meant even more to me. I’ve known Joe since elementary school, when he defended me from a group of boys who were trying to humiliate me in front of almost the entire school because of a stupid bet they came up with when they were bored. From that moment on, Joe decided he would protect me, and that’s how a friendship that has lasted until today began.
“you are really not going there with me?” Joe asked me. He had an event for a brand he collaborates with, and as the face of the brand he obviously had to be there.
“I have work that can’t wait and you know I’m not a fan of big events like that” I said, lifting my head from my phone and looking at him.
I’d be lying if I said that seeing Joe shirtless didn’t affect me anymore. The truth is, it brings me to my knees every single time. Suddenly the room or even the air outside feels heavier. My heart beats faster than ever and I catch myself biting my lip. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but physical attraction is nothing compared to the feelings I have for him. It’s been a few years since I accepted the fact that I’m in love with my best friend, and that the chances of him feeling the same way are very small.
For years I’ve listened to people saying how perfect we would be together, how they always thought we were a couple or that one day we definitely will be because we’re made for each other. Oh, how much I wish that were true, but I know it isn’t. Why risk a friendship that has lasted for years? Why risk the working relationship we’ve built together? As much as I wish my feelings were returned, I don’t want to lose him as a friend, as the person who was in my life long before these feelings appeared. Risking all of that just isn’t worth it if it means losing the best person in my life. Because our friendship means more to me than what I feel.
“I know, but I was hoping you might come today” he said, looking at me with hope written all over his face.
“Why do you want me to go? And besides, I have nothing to wear. I’m sure you’ll manage just fine without me, and then we can get something good to eat when you get back” I said, taking a sip of my coffee and watching him button up his suit jacket.
“Maybe I want you there with me. I’m here only because of you and we could enjoy some free drinks. And those dresses you bought today are perfect for tonight. Come on y/n, please.” Joe walked over to me, leaning closer than he probably should have, watching me carefully.
“I have work Joe, you know how it is. Even if I went, I’d keep leaving to take phone calls and I don’t want that” I sighed. His presence made me nervous, yet somehow calm at the same time.
“And even so, I still want you to come. Please, do this for me.”
When he looked at me with those blue eyes of his, it was hard to say no and he knew it very well. He knew it would work on me and he knew I would do anything if it made him happy.
“It’s getting late, I don’t have time to get ready, Joe” I tried to protest, even though I was already prepared to go with him.
“Even if it means coming an hour late, as long as you go with me, I don’t care. And when we go back, we can stop by McDonald’s” he raised an eyebrow and smiled at me.
“Fine, but I’m only doing it for McDonald's,” I sighed.
“Go get ready,then” he said, stepping back and taking my hand to help me up from the couch in his hotel room.
So I went to get ready, feeling the pressure of time and knowing I had to hurry. As someone who likes to be prepared and is organized, these situations always stressed me out more than they probably should. I took a quick shower and moved on to my hair and makeup. Since I didn’t have much time, I went for a very simple makeup look and pulled my hair into a tight ponytail. It took me about twenty minutes, but the result looked good, which calmed me down.
I then moved on to the dress I had bought today. I hadn’t planned it, but it was love at first sight and it was the easiest decision. It was a long, form-fitting gown in a deep burgundy color. Strapless, with a straight neckline that beautifully accentuated my shoulders, neck, and collarbones. The cut was sleek, hugging my figure, visually slimming my waist, with a slight gathering at the hips to enhance my curves. The dress was simple, minimalist, yet stunning and as if by fate, it was absolutely perfect for tonight.
I put on the dress and only then did I realize I couldn’t zip it up by myself, so I had to call Joe for help. A moment later, there was a knock on the door, and a second after that the door opened.
“I’m in the bathroom!” I called out to him.
When he appeared in the doorway, my heart started racing uncontrollably, and the air suddenly felt heavier. I watched him in the mirror’s reflection, unable to form a single word. As he came closer, I could feel the warmth of his body and in that moment, it felt like my knees might give up. I felt his breath on my neck, sending shivers all over my body and I was certain he noticed. His hands gently touched my back and with slow, careful movements, he zipped up the dress. I kept my eyes on him in the mirror and he kept his on me, only briefly looking away to make sure the zipper was fully up before returning his gaze.
Even though he didn’t have to, his hand lingered on my back longer than necessary and after a few moments, the touch finally disappeared.
“You look… you look stunning y/n” he said in a softer voice, his eyes scanning me from head to toe, which made me nervous.
Standing behind him like that, I felt so small… yet safe. In his presence, it was impossible to feel anything else but that I didn’t have to be afraid.
“Thank you. You look good too” I said, smiling.
“I’m sure all eyes will be on you tonight” he said, though his voice didn’t sound enthusiastic.
“I hope not. I don’t like being the center of attention. I’m only going because you asked me to” I replied.
“I know… I’ll have to keep an eye on you” he said and his words gave me butterflies in my stomach.
“Really?” I smiled, though his expression didn’t seem as excited as mine.
“We should go, it’s getting late” I said, walking around him.
As his assistant, it wasn’t strange for me to be by his side at event like this. It wouldn’t have been the first time, but it didn’t happen often that I attended events with him. Most of the time I stay in the background and that suits me just fine.Today was an exception and honestly, it felt strange, all the noise and chaos, the crowd of people greeting each other and exchanging quick conversations. The event itself was rather uninteresting for me, as I was constantly handling things related to Joe’s show that was coming up in Paris. After a while when I returned, Joe who had been talking to someone immediately stopped and gave me his full attention.
“Where have you been so long? I was looking for you and didn’t see you anywhere” he said, just loud enough for me to hear.
“Sorry about that. Some people can be persistent and then I ran into someone I know, so we end up talking” I said, taking a sip of my drink.
“Oh, okay then” he smiled and took a sip of his own.
“So… you were looking for me, huh?”
“Of course. I’ll always look for you in a crowd, to make sure you’re okay” he said, and his words gave me butterflies again.
“I’m here and I’ll always be okay as long as I’m with you,” I smiled at him.
“I know, angel,” he said, sliding the chair I was sitting on closer to him, and I felt like my heart skipped a beat.
The evening went on much the same way phone calls, emails, several times I had to step away and every time I came back, someone would stop me. It was no secret that I was Joe’s assistant, and there were plenty of people here doing similar work, so there was always something to talk about with everyone. Still, even though I had expected this event to be dull, it turned out to be busier than I anticipated or wanted, at least for me.
“Joe must have a really packed schedule” came a voice behind me. I wasn’t expecting it, and it startled me.
“Oh my gosh… oh, yes, he does. Sorry, you scared me” I laughed, though my heart was racing.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m Mat,” he introduced himself.
“It’s okay, nice to meet you, Mat. I’m y/n” I said, and we shook hands.
Mat was the kind of man who could immediately catch a woman’s attention just with his looks and knowing that he plays professional hockey only adds to his attractiveness. It was hard to believe he was real, because men who look like that usually only exist in fiction. Of course, I knew who he was, my friends had told me about him more than once and I had seen him a few times on tv during games. But seeing him in person was a completely different experience. He was undeniably attractive, yet I have to admit, it didn’t affect me at all.
And I was afraid to admit that no other man in years had been able to awaken in me what only Joe does and he doesn’t even know it. Perhaps that’s why I’ve always had trouble finding someone, because no one is ever Joe.
“I have to admit, I know your name,” he laughed.
“Oh really? How’s that?” I asked.
“I’ve seen you several times by Joe’s side and it’s hard not to notice such a beautiful woman like you. Joe’s a lucky guy to have someone like you,” he said.
“Thank you… well, honestly, I don’t even know what to say. I’m just doing my job, haha. And even before I became his assistant, I was his friend and that hasn’t changed” I explained, even though I was sure it wasn’t necessary. But situations like this had happened many times before, it became a habit to me.
“So… you and Joe…?” he looked at me, and he didn’t even have to finish the sentence for me to understand what he wanted to ask.
“No, it’s strictly a friendly and professional relationship” I said. I had said it countless times, and it always hurt.
“Oh, I’m glad to hear that, because Joe seemed… or seems… quite jealous that we’re talking,” he said.
My eyes immediately flicked to where Joe was sitting, watching us from a distance, his expression far from pleased but I tried not to assume it was just because I was talking to Mat.
“I’m sure he’s not jealous… sometimes he just looks like that when he’s had enough of people and would rather leave” I explained, though I wasn’t entirely confident in my answer and I didn’t want to say it out loud. When I looked at Joe, he seemed annoyed, but again, I didn’t want to blame Mat.
“If you say so… So, since you’re just friends, could I ask for your phone number?” he said to me with a smile. A question any girl would probably want to hear, it is Mat Barzal that I'm speaking to. But my mind was focused only on Joe.
“I can’t, sorry… I have to go, but it was nice meeting you, Mat” I said and without another word, I made my way to the table where Joe was sitting.
I sat down and took a sip of my drink, suddenly feeling my throat dry up. If I had tried to speak, I don’t think a single word would have come out. Joe ignored me and I felt that even if I asked if something was wrong, I wouldn’t get an answer, but I tried anyway.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, looking at him, but he didn’t glance my way.
“Yeah, did you get everything done that you wanted?” I sensed a hint of irony in his question, and I didn’t know what to think of it.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Good,” he said.
And that was where our conversation ended. I had very mixed feelings, I had no idea what had happened or what was going on, yet I knew the mood had shifted. I’ve known Joe for too long to miss small changes like this, but I couldn’t understand why or what had caused it. Of course, Mat’s words ran through my mind, but it didn’t make sense why Joe would be jealous. Still, the thought that he might actually be jealous felt strange. I had thought about it many times before, but it had never been such an intense feeling as it was now.
The drive back to the hotel was silent and Joe’s coldness made me both nervous and frustrated. No matter how many times I asked him if something was wrong or if everything was okay, the answer was always the same. But I’m not stupid, I could see that something was off. Eventually, I gave up asking, knowing that if he wanted to tell me, he would. The elevator ride wasn’t any better, which only added to my frustration, making me question myself and feel as though going with him had been a mistake.
“Good night,” I said as we reached my room.
“Hm, good night,” was all Joe said before heading into his own room, closing the door behind him without even looking at me.
I had never imagined that the evening would end like this and it made me so angry. I wanted to storm into his room and get him to explain what this was all about and why he was acting the way he was. But in the end, I went into my own room and closed the door behind me. I took a deep breath and went over to the bed, sitting down and trying to calm myself. I was confused and exhausted, so I decided to take a shower and get ready for bed.
I lasted longer than I expected, but after fifteen minutes of lying in bed, I gave up and decided to go to Joe. I couldn’t just let it go and the only way to find out what was happening was to go to him and ask, even if I had to force the answer out of him. I grabbed my room card and ran out of my room. Not wanting to make a scene, I knocked on his door and waited for him to answer. But he clearly wasn’t in a hurry, so I knocked again and after a while, once more. Just as I was about to knock again, the door opened and Joe stood there already changed into comfortable clothes.
He let me into the room without saying a word and that made me even angrier.
“Can you please explain to me what’s going on?” I didn’t wait for him to start speaking, because I knew he wouldn’t say anything on his own.
“Nothing’s happening, everything’s fine.”
“Do you really think I’m that stupid and will just believe you?” I stood by the window, watching him as he looked everywhere but me.
“I never said that” he said. For the first time, he looked at me, but only for a few seconds.
“Then tell me what’s going on… Since we left, you haven’t said a single word to me” I said with a sigh, rubbing my face with my hands.
“What do you want me to say, y/n? What do you want to hear?” His voice rose as if he was getting frustrated himself.
“Anything, Joe! Just talk to me!”
“What do you want me to say? That I’m angry you were talking to that hockey player, that he’s been watching you since we walked into the room? That you spent most of the event with everyone but me? Is that what you wanted to hear?”
I stared at him in shock, turning toward him, trying to figure out if I was really hearing this or if I was just imagining it.
“What are you talking about Joe?” I needed to know I wasn’t dreaming.
“I’m tired. I can’t keep it inside me anymore and pretend I’m okay.”
“I still don’t understand what the hell are you talking about, Joe” I said, feeling like my heart was about to stop beating
“I love you! Do you understand now? I love you and seeing you talk to him was the last straw for me. I can’t keep pretending I see you as just a friend y/n!”
It felt like a dream, I couldn’t believe this was happening, I was sure I'm just imagining it.
“What? Please don’t say things like that if you don’t mean them Joe. This isn’t funny…” I couldn’t believe it was real.
“Have I ever lied to you, y/n? Never. And I mean this with my whole heart. I love you and I can’t go on like this… Probably, this will ruin everything…”
“I love you too” slipped out of me before Joe could even finish his sentence.
“What?” Our roles switched and now he looked at me in shock.
“You heard me right, Joseph. I love you. I’ve loved you for far too long and honestly, I’m surprised I haven’t gone crazy from it yet, because let’s be honest, it’s been a long time. And I’m tired too, Joe. You're not the only one tired here.” I could feel tears welling up and I was seconds away from breaking down completely as it finally hit me what was happening.
“y/n…”
“I’m tired, Joe… of pretending everything is okay, when all I want, all I’ve ever wanted, is to be loved by you.” My voice broke on the last word and then I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I started to cry.
Joe was instantly by my side and the moment he held me, I melted into his arms. His touch was exactly what I needed in that moment and knowing that he loved me too made it a completely new, overwhelming feeling.
“I’m here, love. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. I’m yours and you’re mine. From this moment on, I’ll prove to you every single day how much I love you. You deserve all of this and so much more. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me and I was an idiot for not telling you sooner. God, every time I saw you with someone else… I was so scared I’d lose you. y/n… my love…”
Joe turned me to face him and when I looked into his eyes, they were full of tears, eyes filled with love, fear and peace all at once. That tenderness, that care, that happiness on his face, it was all there and I knew that this was finally our happy ending.
I could see the love that had always been there, but I had been too afraid to acknowledge it. The love I had waited for so long, the love I was ready to fully give him, the love I wanted to share only with him… after years of waiting, hoping, believing that maybe one day it would come back to me, it finally happened.
He cupped my face in his hands, brushing away the tears that had been streaming down my cheeks and only then did I realize I was still crying. His touch was soft, gentle and I felt like I was his entire world. The way he looked at me… I never imagined it was possible to fall in love with him even more than I already was, yet I did.
“Love, I’ll keep repeating this for the rest of my life if I have to, but I want you to know that I love you. I love you with all my heart and I’m willing to bring you the moon and stars, anything your heart desires. I want you to remember that this is forever and you will always be the only woman I ever love. Only exception… if one day you want a family and we have a daughter…” His words about a family hit me and I couldn’t help but smile, because I’d lost count of how many times I had imagined it.
“If we ever have a daughter, I’ll give her the same love I give you. I’ll do everything to make sure you’re both loved and happy. y/n… you’re the only one. You always have been.”
“Kiss me already, Joe!” I blurted out.
“What?” he asked, surprised, looking at me.
“Ki—” Before I could finish, his lips were on mine.
If this was a dream, it was the most beautiful dream of my life. For all those years, I had imagined what it would be like, would it be like in my daydreams? Would it be even better? Would it be like in the movies? So many questions, but that one moment, when his lips finally touched mine, was completely different from anything I had ever imagined.
I was afraid to move my lips, my breath caught, so I just parted them slightly. Joe took it as a sign to deepen the kiss. And he did. My body felt like it was in heaven. His tongue intertwined with mine and I struggled for every breath I lost as his kisses became increasingly addictive. When he pulled back, I felt strange, yet happy and content, as if the universe had finally aligned and everything was exactly as it should be.
Our foreheads pressed together, both of us smiling as the realization slowly sank in, we were no longer just best friends and colleagues, we were now two people who loved each other.
“Will you let me love you and protect your heart?” he asked in a softer voice.
“My heart has always been yours, love.” I smiled and kissed him again, this time fully aware that Joe Burrow will forever be the man of my life.
The one and only.