Marissa Lopez was exhausted. It was nearly midnight at the McDonald’s off the highway in Fremont, California, and she still had half an hour before her shift ended. Her back ached from standing at the register for hours, and her feet throbbed with every step. But she forced a smile at each customer, reminded of the two little faces waiting at home—her nine-year-old daughter Zoe and seven-year-old son Miguel.

“Order up!” called Jake from the kitchen. Marissa passed the bag of food to a weary truck driver, wishing him a safe night. Glancing at the clock, she noted how slowly time crept past midnight. Bills were piling up at home, and she was already dreading the rent due in a few days. Still, she repeated a quiet mantra: Hang in there. The kids need you.

A beep from the drive-thru headset interrupted her thoughts. Another late-night customer. “Welcome to McDonald’s,” Marissa said. “How can I help you tonight?”

A tired male voice replied, “Just a large black coffee, two double cheeseburgers, and a large fries, please.”

Marissa keyed in the order and told him the total: “That’ll be twelve dollars and eighty-seven cents.”

A sleek, expensive-looking car rolled up—a stark contrast to the worn-out cars she usually saw at midnight. When the driver’s window lowered, her breath caught. Behind the wheel sat none other than Patrick Mahomes, the billionaire entrepreneur who constantly made headlines for tech innovations. He looked utterly drained, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, checking his pockets. “I think I left my wallet at the office. I’ve been working nearly twenty hours straight, and my brain is fried. I’ll have to come back later. Really sorry to waste your time.”

Marissa hesitated. Rules stated she couldn’t give anything away for free, but she couldn’t ignore the exhaustion in his eyes. Though she recognized him as a billionaire, the compassion she’d learned from her late mother pressed her into action. “Wait,” she said softly. “I’ll cover it. Don’t worry.” She swiped her own debit card, even though it barely had enough for her bus fare the rest of the week.

“You really don’t have to,” Patrick Mahomes insisted.

“It’s all right,” Marissa replied. She quickly assembled his order, then snuck an apple pie into the bag. “You look like you could use something sweet,” she joked. “Have a good night, Mr. Mahomes.”

He peered at her name tag. “Marissa, right?” His gaze flickered with surprise, as though something about her was familiar, though he didn’t elaborate. “Thank you. Really.”

She waved, feeling a rush of warmth. A free apple pie was breaking company policy—strictly no “unpaid items”—but it felt worth it to brighten someone’s night, billionaire or not.

The following day, her phone buzzed nonstop. At first, she ignored it—probably spam or news alerts. But after her sister Lucia called three times in a row, Marissa finally picked up during her lunch break at her second job, a warehouse shift.

“Marissa, you’re all over social media!” Lucia shrieked. “Security footage shows you paying for Patrick Mahomes’s meal. It’s viral. Millions of views!”

Marissa’s heart plummeted. A McDonald’s security camera caught it all. She rummaged online until she found the grainy clip labeled: “McDonald’s Worker Pays for Patrick Mahomes’s Meal—Kindness at Its Finest.” Her face and name tag were front and center.

She slumped in her plastic chair, dread creeping in. Although it looked heartwarming to strangers, she knew her manager would see it differently. That evening, her worst fears were confirmed.

“Lopez!” barked her manager, Mr. Daniels, the moment she arrived for her shift. “My office. Now.”

She barely had the door shut behind her before he thrust a printed screenshot across his desk. “Free apple pie?” he snarled. “Giving away food is against company rules—doesn’t matter if he’s a billionaire.”

“I paid for his meal,” Marissa insisted. “Only the pie—”

“I don’t care!” he shot back, red-faced. “Corporate’s been on my case all day because you turned us into a viral sensation. This store isn’t in the business of freebies, especially to people who can afford it.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “Please, Mr. Daniels. I need this job. I’m a single mom—”

“Save it. You’re fired. Clean out your locker.”

News spread fast. Within hours, Marissa was labeled both “the McDonald’s angel” and “the fired employee.” She suddenly couldn’t walk outside without people pointing a phone camera at her. It seemed everyone had an opinion: some praised her kindness, while others argued she broke the rules.

At home, Zoe and Miguel saw their mother crying for the first time in a long while. “We’ll be okay, Mama,” Zoe said with childlike optimism. But Marissa wasn’t so certain. She applied for other service jobs, only to be met with polite refusals once managers recognized her face from the viral video. Her finances shrank daily, and the landlord’s final notice loomed.

Unbeknownst to her, Patrick Mahomes was also watching that security footage. He felt guilty, blaming himself for her job loss. More than that, he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d seen the name “Lopez” before. Intrigued, he had his team quietly look into Marissa’s background.

Nearly two weeks after losing her job, a mysterious email arrived in Marissa’s inbox:

Ms. Lopez,
I’d like to meet. Please come to Green Bean Café tomorrow at 2 p.m.
– P. Mahomes

Marissa’s first instinct was disbelief. Why would he want to see her? Despite her doubts, she went—she had nothing left to lose. She arrived in her best outfit, feeling out of place among the students and businesspeople tapping away on laptops.

Right on time, a well-dressed assistant approached, introducing herself as Tanya. “Mr. Mahomes sends his regards,” Tanya explained. “He apologizes for the difficulties you’ve faced. He’d like to meet you personally, if you’re willing.”

Marissa’s heart pounded. “Why?” she asked, voice shaking. “I don’t want handouts or publicity.”

Tanya offered a gentle smile. “He believes genuine kindness should be rewarded. Your act has had unintended consequences, and he wants to help rectify that.”

She handed Marissa an envelope, thick with cash—enough to cover rent and overdue bills. “Please accept this as compensation for what happened,” Tanya added. “Mr. Mahomes will explain the rest soon. May we arrange a time?”

Marissa clutched the envelope, tears threatening to spill. After so many doors slammed in her face, this felt unreal. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll meet him.”

Three days later, a sleek car delivered her to an unassuming office building. Patrick Mahomes greeted her in a private conference room—no cameras, no crowd. He apologized for the chaos. “I never wanted you to lose your job,” he insisted. “And I couldn’t forget your kindness. Most people would’ve turned me away, but you helped without question.”

Blushing, Marissa tried to brush it off. “It was just a meal.”

He shook his head. “It was more than that—and not the first time someone named Lopez helped me.”

Confused, Marissa frowned. “What do you mean?”

Mahomes explained that, years ago, when he was a struggling newcomer in California, someone named Elena Lopez had shown him kindness at a local eatery. He’d never forgotten that generosity. When he discovered Marissa’s last name, he wondered if there was a connection.

Marissa gasped. “Elena Lopez was my mother. She worked overnight shifts at a fast-food place years ago…”

A warm smile spread across Patrick’s face. “Then I see where you learned your compassion. Your mother helped me at my lowest—quietly, without expecting anything in return. Now I have a chance to give back to you.”

He slid a folder across the table. Inside was a job offer at Mahomes’s tech company—a real position with solid pay and benefits. “You’d be perfect in our customer relations department,” he explained. “We can train you on the technical side. What we can’t teach is the empathy you’ve already got.”

Tears of gratitude blurred her vision. She thought of Zoe and Miguel, of overdue bills, and of her mother who once told her: Kindness always matters.

“I…I don’t know what to say,” Marissa whispered. “Thank you.”

Mahomes grinned. “Just say you’ll accept. And carry on your mother’s legacy of kindness.”

Within weeks, Marissa’s life was transformed. She started at Mahomes’s company, received training, and flourished in a supportive environment. She leased a modest but comfortable apartment closer to her new job, stocked the fridge properly for the first time in years, and enrolled Miguel in a robotics club he’d always dreamed of joining.

Though she’d once been fired for an act of empathy, Marissa now stood on the brink of a brighter future—proof that small kindnesses can ripple through time, connecting strangers in unexpected ways. And in the echoes of her new life, she heard her mother’s voice, reminding her that a moment of compassion is never wasted. It can spark new beginnings and open doors we never knew existed.

Patrick Mahomes says a ‘Dad Bod’ is great for a quarterback… but his rivals disagree as Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa shed weight in the offseason

Patrick Mahomes’ arrival at the Kansas City Chiefs’ headquarters for OTAs this week left fans questioning whether he was in good enough shape to lead the team to a third consecutive Super Bowl victory.

The quarterback once again found himself the butt of many ‘dad bod’ jokes on social media over a video of him returning to training with a slightly chunkier frame following a well-deserved three months off.

Mahomes, 28, had defended his physique earlier this year after a shirtless photo of him after their AFC Championship win over Baltimore Ravens went viral back in January.

He told TIME: ‘I definitely have the dad bod a little bit. I’ll also say I have a great body for a quarterback. You’ve got to have some padding in there to take the hits that we take.’

Mahomes has every right to claim that he has the perfect physique for a quarterback after leading the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories and he works hard to stay in fighting shape for the NFL.

Patrick Mahomes was seen arriving at the Chiefs’ headquarters on Tuesday for OTAs

He revealed in a 2018 interview with Men’s Journal that he eats four to five meals a day and often has two dinners so he’s not eating too much at one time.

Mahomes underwent a fitness overhaul in the summer of 2020, getting tested for allergies so he could calibrate his diet – which revealed he’s allergic to ‘most nuts’ and grass – and hiring a personal chef, he told Men’s Health in 2021.

However, his self-proclaimed ‘dad bod’ may be the result of some guilty pleasures.

The quarterback has admitted he succumbs to a cheat meal every so often with Mahomes tucking in to chicken biscuits from Chick-Fil-A and burrito bowls in Chipotle, which were reportedly his most-ordered items in 2019 and 2018 on Postmates.

He also is known to order prime rib, barbecue and French fries from local establishments in Kansas City.

And it doesn’t stop there. Mahomes has also confessed to being a ‘big snacker’, reaching for the chips and candy, including Doritos, Jolly Rancher Gummies, or Starbursts, as late-night snacks.

‘I have to keep my body in shape, so no one tell my trainer this, or the Chiefs, but I’m a big snacker,’ he told GQ Sports in 2023.

The signal caller’s late-night snacking has been a source of teasing from his wife, Brittany.

Mahomes previously  defended his ‘Dad bod’ amid criticism after the Chiefs’ AFC title win

The 28-year-old quarterback was in Super Bowl-winning shape at the send of last season

Brittany, a former professional soccer player, snitched on her husband earlier this year when she revealed that he eats 10 mini-ice cream cones a night.

‘Anyone else eat 10 of these a night… cause he does. Not me,’ Brittany posted to Instagram in March with an arrow pointed toward Mahomes and a laughing emoji.

Mahomes’ taste for ice cream also came up during an October episode of the ‘New Heights’ podcast, when teammate Travis Kelce, who has defended his own ‘dad bod’, and his older brother Jason Kelce discussed the quarterback’s love of Dippin’ Dots.

‘There is something weird with Dippin’ Dots that it is only at amusement parks,’ Jason Kelce said. ‘Like where have you seen Dippin’ Dots? I mean, I guess sporting events, I’ve seen some Dippin’ Dots.’

‘I’ve seen them at Pat Mahomes’ garage,’ Travis responded. ‘He’s got a freezer of Dippin’ Dots.’

Brittany previously exposed his guilty pleasure by sharing that there is one specific snack that Mahomes munches on. In an Instagram story Q&A, a user asked Brittany what’s a ‘funny habit that Patrick has.’ To which she responded, ‘Eat Doritos every night in bed,’ with a laughing emoji.

Mahomes’ wife Brittany, a former professional soccer player, snitches on his snacking habits

Brittany makes fun of her husband for his ability to eat 10 ice creams per evening

‘I always grab…a purple bag of Doritos, which I just got on. I used to be a Cool Ranch guy, but now I’m on the purple bag,’ Mahomes previously told GQ Sports.

Mahomes also appears to have a penchant for fine dining too. Back in February, he led his friend’s bachelor party of 20 to Carversteak at Resorts World, where they dined in the Whiskey Room, the private dining space at the luxury steakhouse, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

But despite the digs at his physique, throughout the offseason, Mahomes has not rested on his laurels.

After hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February, Mahomes has spent the offseason working out with his longtime trainer Bobby Stroupe, focusing on ‘pattern stability,’ ‘force absorption,’ and ‘force transmission’.

Stroupe shared an Instagram reel in March showing the Chiefs star in action, carrying out a fast-paced, high-intensity drills that challenge his strength, speed, power, responsiveness, and control.

The three-time Super Bowl winner also maintains a more regimented diet throughout the season to stay in championship-winning form.

Kansas City Chiefs dietician Leslie Bonci revealed, in an interview with Bet Kansas, that during a week of practice and gym sessions, the Super Bowl champions keep themselves ticking over with protein as well as salads and carbohydrates.

‘It is normally fish and chicken for our team for meals during the week,’ Bonci continued. ‘Red meat comes in at a third but it’s not just protein, there are Caesar salads, potatoes are a big one and also rice and pasta.

‘Salmon, swordfish, tuna, catfish, cod are those types of fish with texture rather than a squishy fish. Seafood is a big one too with shrimp and crab cakes. We try and be mindful of food waste though we don’t want to be throwing away tins and tins of food.’

The nutritionist revealed that Kansas City stars usually demand breakfast foods such as French toast, waffles and pancakes before a game – even if they’re playing in the evening.

A lot of guys at the Chiefs love fish,’ she said. ‘BBQ food is right up there with burnt ends like brisket and the charred part as well as ribs but that’s a meal in the middle of a week not on gameday.

‘I wouldn’t say it’s a superstition, but players are creatures of habit and there are some that like breakfast foods even if it’s on a night game because that’s their comfort food.

‘They want an egg sandwich, pancakes, waffle or French Toast. Not many of the players are eating an enormous amount of food before a game.

The quarterback has admitted he succumbs to a cheat meal every so often, including Chipotle

He also is known to order Chick-fil-A, prime rib, barbecue and French fries

‘We do have steak, pasta, chicken and sandwiches as well as French Toast and we have this abundance of food so players can come in and think ‘what shall I eat’. What we don’t want is players doing a U-turn and having a missed fueling opportunity so kudos to our executive chefs.

Breakfast options, which are eaten before 8:30am, in that time include hot or cold cereal, eggs, omelets, sandwiches, potatoes or smoothies. Lunch is eaten between 12pm and 1pm, while options are also available after practice.

On two nights of every week Chiefs players are also offered the chance to have a dinner knocked up by Bonci and Co, which has plenty of benefits for both them and the team.

‘There’s a lot of options from fillet to roasted salmon and grilled chicken or if they want pizza, there’s a pizza oven,’ Bonci said. ‘They have the option, so they don’t have to go out and eat, that way we know what they are eating which is better for us.’