( 𝐭𝐰𝐨 ! ) – real life

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The lights were dimmed as the music blasted through the speakers, vibrating the dance floor. Moments like this brought Ivy Foster to her college days at OSU: bar hopping on a Friday night, frat parties on a Saturday night, and spending Sunday hungover as hell, recovering for Monday morning classes.

It was a miracle that she graduated, as Ivy was a self-proclaimed party girl. Nonetheless, since graduating in 2021, Ivy has spent her last two years behind office walls with endless manuscripts in front of her as she read and helped make someone's life work a reality.

Ivy being in a nightclub was beyond anything she thought possible. The 23-year-old was constantly asked by her two best friends (whom she met at OSU) to join them on their nights out. After much back-and-forth, Ivy finally caved, and as the saying goes: "it finally made it out of the group chat."

The brunette-haired girl stood at the bar as she sipped her Sex on the Beach, observing the drunken bodies that paraded around the dance floor. She heard her name be called as she spotted her friends approaching her.

Maia and Jules had been on the dance floor, dancing with two guys who had been eyeing them since entering the club. "Seems like you guys had a lot of fun," Ivy chuckled as she glanced at the men, still smirking at the two girls.

Jules laughed, taking a sip of her drink that was at the bar. "For two middle-aged men, they can actually move," she stated.

"It was hot," Maia insisted, as Jules nodded.

Ivy grimaced in disgust, but a grin toyed on her painted red lips. "Now, we need to find a guy for you," Maia proclaimed, smirking at her friend.

Ivy rolled her eyes. "No, you don't, Maia. Justin and I broke up only four months ago. I'm not ready to start dating yet," she sighed.

The high school turned college sweethearts. Ivy and Justin were the couple everyone thought would last and were destined for the white picket fence happily ever after. However, after eight years together, they decided to call it quits. The breakup was amicable; there was no bad blood between them, but they knew the relationship was over. It had been for a while now.

However, Justin was Ivy's first everything. First real kiss, boyfriend, relationship, and first time. They were together for almost a decade, and then suddenly, it was gone.

The wound was still open but slowly starting to be pulled together again.

"No one said anything about dating, Ivy," Maia assured. "But you know what they say, the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody else."

Ivy grimaced at the thought of being with anybody else besides Justin. It seemed strange, but she knew it was bound to happen sometime. She just wasn't ready for it.

"She's right, love. I know the breakup has been hard for you, and Maia and I have hated to see this broken. But have fun and let loose. You don't have to go home with a guy tonight, but maybe just flirting with someone could help you try to move on," Jules explained, encouraging her.

Ivy knew her friends were right, well, partially. She definitely wasn't ready to jump into bed with a stranger, considering she did not have much experience in the bedroom department. Her body count was only one, and she and Justin did experiment, but she still felt she lacked much experience compared to Maia and Jules.

A lot of commotion had erupted within the club, turning the heads of the three girls and numerous other partygoers. Ivy looked at her two best friends with a confused expression, only to clock the shocked faces on their faces.

"Did a celebrity walk in here or something?" Ivy chuckled, only to be met with her friends' faces remaining slightly shocked.

"Am I missing something here?" Ivy continued.

Jules looked at her friend like she had two heads. "Did you not see who all walked in?"

Ivy frowned. "No, but judging by your faces, I should've."

"Joe fucking Burrow and some of the Bengals," Maia expressed as she and Jules looked at each other, clearly starstruck by the sight of them.

Ivy was even more confused. "Who's Joe Burrow?"

Maia and Jules again looked at her like she had two heads, more like she grew a third one. "You're shitting me, right? You didn't just ask who Joe Burrow was." Maia asked in disbelief.

"He's on the Bengals, is all I'm getting," Ivy shrugged casually.

"He's not just on the Bengals, Ivy, he's the fucking quarterback of the Bengals. He's really put the Bengals on the map since he got drafted," Maia explained.

Ivy squinted her eyes at her friend. "Since when have you ever been interested in football," she joked.

"Since the day Joe Burrow blessed my TikTok, I've been a dedicated Bengals fan since," Maia grinned as Jules seconded.

"You know, he and his girlfriend broke up. They were together for years," Jules chimed in, glancing over at Joe, who was in the VIP section of the club with a couple of his teammates.

"I saw that. Apparently, it happened a couple of months ago, but people are just now noticing. She stopped going to games, and both of them had deleted pictures of each other off their Instagrams," Maia added as she and Jules looked over at their similarly heartbroken friend.

"Why do you think I care?" Ivy asked, looking confused as they were telling her this useless information.

The two girls smirked at each other before looking back at Ivy. "Sound familiar?"

Ivy made a face. "And? We both have experienced a breakup? So have a million other people in the world right now."

"Maybe this is the guy to get under to help you move on," Maia teasingly nudged.

Ivy snorted in disbelief. "Yeah, I'm clearly going to hook up with an NFL player. Get real."

"Just go talk to him. What's the worst thing that can happen? He rejects you?" Maia suggested.

"And who knows, maybe he'll be interested. You're hot, Ivy. Time to finally act on the attention you've been getting for years," Jules persisted.

Ivy was having an internal debate, wondering if she should take a risk and talk to him. "Why don't you guys go?"

"Because we're not the ones that recently went through a breakup. You guys have," Maia shrugged.

Ivy stood up from her stool at the bar, drowning the rest of her drink, earning cheers from her best friends. If she was going to flirt with an NFL player who's as apparently famous as he is, she was going to need liquid courage.

She started walking over to the club's other side, leaning against the bar. Instead of going to him, she would let him come to her. Secretly, she was grateful Maia made her wear this skin-tight little black dress that hugged all her curves.

Being closer to the VIP section, Ivy got a better look at Joe. And she definitely recognized him. He had popped up on her TikTok a good amount during football season. The hype for this man definitely wasn't exaggerated; he was painfully good-looking.

She patiently waited for the bartender to approach to ask what she wanted to drink, ever so often glancing briefly over at the Bengals VIP section. She almost smirked when she glanced at one of the guys pointing over at her as he nudged Joe and sniggered. Joe had chuckled, his eyes not leaving Ivy since she got pointed out to him.

The plan seemed to have worked, as Joe had walked out of the VIP section and made his way to the bar. Ivy took a quick look across the club to her friends, who had wide-eyed glances, watching as he walked over to their friend. Ivy definitely knew they were shitting their pants.

"Is it too forward to buy you a drink?' A voice asked behind her. This voice sent goosebumps down her body, stimulating every part of her body.

She turned around, looking up at the tall man before her. He was over a foot taller than her, as she stood at five foot three. She smiled at him, "I would be offended if you didn't."

Joe grinned as he waved down the bartender. "What would you like?"

"Sex on the Beach," Ivy answered as Joe ordered the drink and a beer for him.

"I'm Joe," he introduced himself, sticking out his hand. Ivy found it cute how he still wanted to introduce himself to her formally.

Ivy took his rather large hand, giving it a shake. It felt soft yet rugged and firm all at the same time. "I'm Ivy," she smiled.

"I'm not really this forward, but you are so gorgeous," Joe complimented, making Ivy flustered and blushing. She didn't know why this one compliment made her flustered.

"I actually like the forwardness, but thank you. You're definitely not bad to look at either," she smirked, eyeing him up and down. From his black and white Air Force Ones to distressed blue jeans, a white button shirt with a few buttons down to his pecks opened, to a black jacket layered on top.

"Not bad?" Joe questioned, raising his eyebrows in amusement.

Ivy rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Oh, come on, you know you're attractive. You don't need me assuring you that."

Joe looked down at her, wetting his lips. "But I want it coming out of your mouth," he smirked.

Ivy was taken aback by his forward comment, laughing softly. "You said you like forwardness," Joe pointed out.

She nodded along, stifling a giggle. "No, you are right. And Joe?"

Joe raised his brows, hearing her call his name."You are attractive. Insanely hot," she grinned as she bit her lower lip briefly.

Joe watched as she bit her lower lip, and his eyes trailed back to her dark brown eyes. "I also like forwardness," he chuckled.

Joe and Ivy didn't take too long to exchange numbers after their encounter. Ivy only wished their encounter lasted longer, but his teammates were leaving. Ivy had returned to her friends, a Cheshire-like grin plastered on her lips.

"She's already infatuated with this man," Jules laughed, seeing how giddy her friend was.

Ivy rolled her eyes, laughing."I am not. He's very charming, quite persistent, and really nice to look at," she grinned.

Maia showed Ivy photos that she had taken of Ivy and Joe's brief interaction on her phone. "What the hell is wrong with you? Stalker, much?" Ivy laughed.

Maia grinned. "It's called documenting history being made. I'm calling this 'The Chronicles of Ivy Foster's Rebound: Joe Burrow Edition'," she announced.

Ivy shook her head, chuckling. "I hate you."

"You're definitely going to see him again, right?" Jules queried.

Ivy twisted her lips, trying to hide her grin. "Yeah, maybe."

It couldn't be a bad idea, right? Ivy thought to herself. Flirt, rebound, and move on. Just stick to the plan, and all will be fine.

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