when the stars align (j.benn)

kitchen talk

I groan rubbing my face as my alarm goes off from beside my head.
My neck aches angry at me for not using my usual pillow while my head pounds equally as upset about all the alcohol I took in last night.
I glance to my right seeing my brother snuggled up to my usual pillow. I knew that in the floor there were four hockey players while my couch and living room held another four additional players. I pull myself out of bed walking to the bathroom stepping over sleeping bodies and limbs.
I pop in a couple Advil's before walking to the kitchen. I cover P.K. up more knowing that he is a diva when it comes to how he sleeps.
I start a pot of coffee assuming that most of the men would want some. My coffee mugs were packed up but they were still in the kitchen so I can still get to them so everyone can have a mug to drink out of.
My attention is grabbed my a noise behind me. A small smile forms on my face seeing Jamie stumble out of my room and into the kitchen.
"Did you sleep? You are acting drunk still." I tease pouring him a cup of coffee once it was made. I set the creamer and almond milk out on the counter along with the sweeteners.
Jamie chuckles his voice gravely from just having woke up.
"I did, just not well. Segs kept moving into me during the night so I didn't get much good sleep in."
I nod my head in a sympathetic way watching as he poured half of the almond milk into his coffee but leaving sweetener out of his beverage.
I shake my head sliding a bottle of Advil towards him before making myself a cup of tea.
  "You could have always joined Benji and I in the bed. There was enough room to fit probably two other people. You just might have been cuddled in you sleep." I smile keeping my voice low not wanting to wake anyone up. I knew that the Preds were having a later morning skate today so I intend to let my boys sleep for a bit longer.
  "They really love you don't that?"
I glance over at Jamie hearing his words. A smile forms on my lips as I nod glancing over at the sleeping forms of the Nashville natives.
  "Yeah they do. I love them just as much. I feel bad for leaving them but it's my career. It's not like I'm never going to see them again. I have to go to every game you all do and you play them back to back this month. I am sure I will still be making many trips out here. Those are my boys and I have to support them." I explain glancing at Jamie. I blush seeing as his chocolate brown eyes were already on me.
  "When I get familiar with you and the team I will be the same way. I'm just going to have to get adjusted."
He chuckles before nodding his head. I watch as his hair moves as he does this. I bite my inner lip before looking back at the sleeping forms in my living room.
  "Ben talks about you all the time. I uh I don't know if you know this but he is really proud of how far you have come in this industry and how you have made a name for yourself. We all are really excited to see you work and your work in action." Jamie murmurs in his deep morning voice.
I stop myself from swooning by sipping my tea and diverting my attention elsewhere.
This man is already killing me with his morning voice and soft touchable hair. How am I going to survive working with him?
The job offer with Pittsburgh suddenly sounded better since I knew I wouldn't have a distraction there like Jamie Benn.
  "I'm excited to be going to Dallas. I love my blue and gold but I personally think I look better in Victory Green." I hum before my attention is drawn to a new figure waking up.
I offer Viktor a soft smile before grabbing a mug making him a coffee knowing how he likes his.
I could feel Jamie's eyes on me as I hand Arvy his mug in which he thanks me by pressing a kiss to my cheek.
If there was one thing to say about the Nashville boys it was that they were they most affectionate people you will ever meet. There is not a day goes by where I am not kissed on the face or head or hugged by the boys in gold.
  "Sleep well, babe?" Arvy asks leaning against my fridge yawning heavily.
I punch his shoulder with my free hand as he makes me yawn.
  "Douchebag." I mutter jokingly before answering his question.
  "I guess. I was just a bit hot since my brother and I are both hotboxes so the bed was burning up. How did the floor with Jos and P.K. treat you?" I ask with a playful smirk.
All I got from the 5'9 Swedish man was a loud groan.
I chuckle glancing over at Jamie.
  "If you think Tyler is bad just imagine him times ten and that's not even close to how bad sleeping with or near Jos and P.K. is." I tease the two sleeping men.
Jamie chuckles shaking his head slightly.
  "I would hurt them in their sleep. I am such a hard person to get to sleep and someone moving doesn't help that fact." Jamie pouts before looking towards my bedroom hearing a thud and curse words.
I giggle knowing that Ben probably just tripped over some of his teammates.
  "Bish, i am going to murder you!" Someone from my room yells.
I sigh knowing that the loud disturbance woke everyone else up.
I glance in the living room seeing that indeed all of my Preds were up and by the sound of it all of the Stars were up too.
I glance over my shoulder hearing Jamie sigh like a disappointed father.
  "This is what I deal with every single day." He murmurs shaking his head.
   "Okay but you are just as bad!" Rads says as he walks into the living area.
I roll my eyes seeing a shirtless Tyler Seguin follow him out.
That boy has to have absolutely no shame in himself . I've seen more of him in the last twelve hours than I have of Roman Josi in all the years I have known him.
I glance back at Jamie shaking my head.
  "I've went from working with five year olds to working with preschoolers. This is great."
Jamie chuckles before nodding his head.
I squeal as a pair of arms wraps around my waist picking me up and swinging me around.
I pull my legs up not trying to hit anyone with them.
  "Can't believe you are leaving us." Jos pouts as he puts me down.
I pout back and pat his cheek.
  "I'll be visiting and I definitely will be back for your and Ellie's wedding! I can't miss out on two of my favorite people's wedding day!" I explain before grabbing mugs for everyone who wants coffee.
It hadn't sunk in yet that in a little over twenty-four hours I'd be in Dallas working for the Stars.
I glance at the time before back up at the men.
  "Okay, Preds y'all need to move out in ten. Morning skate starts in an hour and thirty minutes and you can't blame being late on me."
A collective groan comes from the men before they start to dispersing to gather their things.
  "So does that mean you have to leave?" My brother asks from his place on top of my island.
  "Oh my god were you raised in a barn? Ben get off my island you disgusting piece of trash!" I push him doing nothing but make him laugh.
  "But no I don't have to go. I got all my work finished yesterday. All I have to do is go in early for the game make sure everything is set up for the pregame meal and locker room music is in check." I explain hopping onto the counter as Ben gets off.
The group chuckles seeing that the tables have turned.
I open my arms as the Preds come in to tell me goodbye.
I give them all a hug telling them to be safe.
I pull P.K. close and kiss his cheek. "Don't do something stupid. I don't need you hurt again. I have to watch my Subban kick some ass tonight. Cause after tonight I'll have to be pulling for the Stars when they play against you." I say squishing his cheeks like I usually do when I try to talk to him seriously.
My best friend simply nods and kisses my head.
  "I'm planning on it. I heard the captain is a bit of a chirper so we will see if he decides to say the wrong thing and I have to take him down tonight." He winks before patting my outer thigh and walking out with the rest of Preds.
I glance back to the Stars who were all staring at me from their places in my kitchen.
  "So which one is your bed warmer?" Tyler asks bluntly.
I gasp looking at him stunned by the courage he had . Jamie throws a sharp elbow to his side while the rest of them give him a disappointed look.
  "Dude, are you serious? You don't just ask someone that! Especially not my sister!" Ben barks the anger clear on his face.
  "Benji, calm down. It's fine. I'm sure it looks that way on the outside. None of them are my bed warmers as you so kindly put it. They are my friends. P.K. being my best friend. I uh I did date Arvy for a year or two but that's the extent of them 'warming my bed'." I explain messing with my ring.
Ben looks at me confused. I laugh softly in a dry tone realizing not many people knew about Arvy and I.
  "I thought you two were just friends!" Ben objects looking at me with upset eyes.
I swallow hard shrugging my shoulders. 
  "That's what we told everyone. Right now that's all we are is just friends but a month ago we weren't. I'm sorry I just-it was just-if the management found out they would have traded Arvy and I couldn't do that to him. He didn't deserve that. That ended up being the reason we slpit but that's not important." I whisper jumping off the counter to grab a bottle of Irish whiskey to add to my tea.
  "Brianna Blair Bishop you didn't tell me! I am your brother."
  "Ben I didn't tell P.K.! If I didn't tell P.K. why do you think you would know?" I counter getting frustrated that he was being so aggressive about this.
I notice his face falls and he backs up.
  "Because I'm your brother."
I fixate my eye on the bottle in front of me before opening it and taking a shot from the bottle.
  "Bish, maybe give her a break today." Miro offers in his gentle voice.
I clench my jaw hearing the door to the balcony open and close violently.
I nod my head slightly my eyes still on the bottle.
I turn to look at the four hockey players behind me.
  "Any more questions?" I ask before laughing dryly. I walk to my room needing to change and clear my head.
My door was almost shut when a foot was in the way.
I look up seeing the innocent face of Miro looking back at me.
  "I am sorry for him. Uh Seguin I mean. I am also sorry for Ben."
I smile shaking my head at the boy.
  "Don't be. I should have told him."
The boy simply opens his arms out for a hug.
I graciously accept it and nuzzle against his chest.
  "It's not like this day wasn't already stressful." I joke my heart aching.
  Countdown to becoming a part of the Dallas Stars:
fourteen hours
twenty four minutes
and fourteen seconds