Hey Girl

Text Message from Jamie:
Good morning. Went to morning skate and didn't want to wake you. I'll see you when we get back.

I stared at my phone for a good thirty seconds just questioning how I got here. What good deed did I do to earn myself a boy that sends me good morning tests? Two mornings in a row too. I woke up yesterday at my hotel in complete awe that I had met Jamie Benn then night before, only to find a good morning text wait on my phone. I'm not quite sure I deserve a guy treating me like he cares.

Text Message to Hannah:
Are you awake?

Text Message from Hannah:
Are your legs broken? Unable to walk and find out?

Text Message to Hannah:
You're funny if you think I'm getting out of a bed that smells like Jamie freaking Benn.

Text Message from Hannah:
And getting out of a bed that smells like Tyler freaking Seguin sound so much better.

Text Message to Hannah:
Fine. I'll just get Freddy to come in here to have girl talk about sex with Jamie freaking Benn.

And then I had never heard a door open so loudly in my entire life. It must have slammed against a wall or something because it was thunderous. Then there was excessive thudding as I assumed Hannah stumbled down the stairs. Typical Hannah. Two seconds later the thunderous door slamming happened again, causing me to giggle to myself. Hannah had stormed into the wrong guestroom. It must have been the room Jordie was staying in because he was out at morning skate with Jamie and Tyler, so Hannah didn't have to stop and explain herself. Another two seconds later, the door to my room came swinging open.

"YOU AND JAMIE SLEPT TOGETHER?!?" Hannah yelled so loud and surprised that it came out kind of squeaky. Complete and utter shock was written all over her face and I almost felt bad.

"No, but wouldn't that have been great?" I questioned in response. If looks could kill, I would have been dead. If looks couldn't kill, I still feared for my life. My instincts told me to grab the closest lamp before Hannah could so she didn't beat me over the head with it.

"Thanks for the heart attack, A! You nearly killed me!"

"But it did get you in here to keep me company."

"That's not very nice," Hannah grumbled, but walked over to the bed and sat down next to where I was laying anyway.

"But it was very Avery," I smirked and Hannah just huffed and rolled her eyes. "In all seriousness though, how did I get here?"

"You didn't drink enough to forget anything from last night."

That was very accurate. Upon meeting me, Jordie had immediately taken me under his wing, in typical big brother fashion, and gotten me a grand total of two drinks in order to get me to loosen up. It had worked too.

Tyler had come and picked Hannah and I up at our hotel and then picked up the Benn brothers before taking all of us back to his house for this Dallas Stars party thing. I had spent the entire first hour there basically clinging to Jamie and a nervous wreck about meeting an entire team of professional hockey players. But then Jordie had gotten me a drink and I was introduced to Val Nichushkin. I only fangirled internally which was a massive accomplishment and it didn't take long before Jamie had to intervene and put his captainly foot down to stop Val from pulling out the stronger alcohol so we could do some Russian drinking.

I don't know when I crossed the line from being nervous and awkward to being a normal human being, but I had and that's all that really matters. I had always been a strong believer of "hockey players are hockey players". They're all the same really. I grew up with hockey playing brothers, two older and one younger, and all the teams they played on growing up treated me like the team sister. And all those boys were the exact same as the boys that I managed back at home. I don't know why I thought professionals would be any different. Once I got past that, hanging out with them was just like hanging out with my team.

At the end of the night, the Benn's, Hannah and I ended up staying the night at Tyler's so he didn't have to drive us all home - or to our hotel. Hannah and I were going to sleep in the living room. After changing into some clothes that Tyler so kindly lent me, I was setting up blankets and pillows as I waited for Hannah to come back downstairs from getting changed.

"You're off your rocker if you think Tyler's gonna let her sleep down here tonight," Freddy had told me and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I thought I was the only one still out and about. "You might as well go join Jamie if you don't want to be alone."

"What? You're not gonna offer me to join you? And here I thought we were really hitting it off," I chirped back as I started to get settled on the couch.

"And have that giant take my head off in the morning? No thanks." And with that, Freddy had walked down the hall to the guestroom where he was staying. I stared down the hallway long after I heard Freddy's door click shut. The guestroom Jamie was in was down there too and I was actually considering going and finding him.

It wasn't long before I was pulled from my thoughts by footsteps thudding down the stairs.

"Hey," Tyler greeted somewhat awkwardly. For the amount of time I spent around this guy in the last 24 hours, I hadn't really talked to him much. It was always the Hannah show with him. Which is more than fine. I couldn't be happier that he seems to like her as much as she likes him. It's just kind of weird that I feel like I know him a lot more than I should from the lack of talking we've actually done. "Can we talk?"

"You sound quite serious." It sounded playful in my head, but it came out more tentative because Tyler and I aren't really at the joking around point.

"I just wanted to ask for a favor," he returned, a grin appearing on his face. I tilted my head questioningly to get him to continue. "Do you want to help me with an evil conspiracy?" I couldn't help the laugh that surprised itself out of me. That was not what I was expecting at all.

"You speak my language so well, man," I said with an evil smirk. "Depends what I get out of it."

"An excuse to go spend the night with Chubbs." I could feel the burn high on my cheeks as I blushed. Tyler snickered at me and he knew he got me on board with his plan. "I want Hannah to spend the night with me, with all the best intension of course."

"Oh of course," I interrupted and sarcastically nodded along. "And me going and sharing a bed with Jamie is purely with the best intensions." Yeah, that not really being super comfortable around each other thing last a really long time.

"You talk a mean game for someone who blushes at the mere mention of Chubbs." And he was right. I could feel my face start to heat up again. Tyler laughed at that and I couldn't help but giggle along. "Anyway. You know Hannah won't go for staying with me if it's just because I'm asking her to. Especially if it means leaving you down here alone." I nodded in agreement and he continued. "So I propose that you go and spend the night with Jamie. Tell him that I'm stealing Hannah for the night and he'll instantly offer for you to stay with him so you aren't alone. Then I'll go back upstairs and tell Hannah that Jamie stole you and that she can stay with me so she's not alone down here."

"So we're just manipulating people into thinking that we're more innocent than we really are and getting what we want in the process. Win win."

"When you put it like that it sounds bad."

"No no no I like this," I stated with my smirk making an appearance again.

"We're more alike than I thought," Tyler laughed and I couldn't help but laugh along. He's got a contagious laugh.

"If by that you mean we're both evil masterminds than yes, I wholeheartedly agree." The smile that took over his after that seemed to take up at least 80% of his face. "Now go manipulate my best friend. This may be the only time I give you permission to do that."

"Thank you. I owe you one, big time."

"Not in thirty seconds, you won't," I replied as I nodded towards the hallway with the guestrooms and stood up from the couch. He smiled in response and made a grand gesture down the hallway. I giggled and started to walk to Jamie's room. After we said final goodnights, Tyler scurried back upstairs.

The door to Jamie's room was basically wide open and the lamp on the nightstand was still on so I could see him laying in bed shirtless as I approached.

Holy shit, Avery, he's gorgeous. You go in there and you're bound to embarrass yourself. Turn back now before it's too late.

"Knock knock," I said in greeting as I knocked on the doorframe because my brain and my body apparently have a communication issue. Or my body saw shirtless Jamie and told my brain to go screw itself.

"Hey what are you still doing up?" Jamie questioned sounding all sorts of concerned. "I thought you would have been asleep by now." He locked his phone and put it in the night stand so his full attention could be on me. I almost felt bad about the evil conspiracy when faced with how genuine of a person Jamie is.

"I was waiting for Hannah while she got changed into some clothes that Tyler is lending her and then I got a text that said he's kidnapped her."

"I'll punch him for being so selfish. I bet he didn't even think that keeping Hannah up there meant you'd be alone down here." I shrugged, trying to play it off that being alone was no big deal. "Come sleep in here tonight."

"That's not necessary," I replied and I could feel my face turning bright red yet again. "I was just coming to ask if you had an extra pillow. I need something to hold on to while I sleep."

Good job. Lay it on nice and thick to get him to cuddle you while you sleep too. You have no conscious.

"Don't be ridiculous. I liking having something to hold while I sleep too, so you'd be doing me a favor if you stayed."

"You're a real charmer, you know," I stated as I started to walk towards the bed. "You're not naked under there, are you?" I teased uncharacteristically. For regular Avery, that kind of comment is completely in the realm of characteristic, but definitely not for Avery who's staring at a shirtless Jamie freaking Benn.

"Not naked," Jamie answered and held up the sheets for me to climb under, revealing a pair of basketball shorts similar to the ones I was borrowing from Tyler. "But I could be if you wanted."

"First night sharing a bed sounds like a pants on situation," I commented once I was laying next to him. After Jamie leaned over me to turn off the light, I let him arrange us however he wanted and we ended up spooning with his arm around my waist.

"This okay?" Jamie asked gently as he nuzzled his nose at the back of my neck. I nearly died right then and there.

"This is perfect." I wrapped my arms around his arm that was draped over me, he pressed a soft kiss to the back of my neck, and fell asleep with surprising ease.

Which brings us back full circle to Hannah staring at me like I had lost my mind. No, I hadn't actually forgotten how I ended up spending the night with Jamie, but that didn't make it any more believable.

"How did I get Jamie to think I'm worth his time? I can't even get Mark to think I'm worth of a smile half the time," I huffed and threw my head against the pillow in frustration. Mark was the player on the team Hannah and I managed that I may or may not have had feelings for. I honestly couldn't tell if I actually liked him or if I liked him because after dating one of my players for over a year, it felt empty to not having feelings for one of them. The fact that I was questioning the whole thing made me think that I was just using Mark to fill a void.

"That's because Mark is an ass and Jamie actually has a good head on his shoulders," Hannah countered. "You can't keep stopping yourself from liking other guys because of Mark. You deserve better than him."

"I don't think I do," I huffed and shoved my face into my pillow in an attempt to hide from Hannah's words. This is far from the first time that we have had this same conversation, but I struggled to believe her every single time.

"Jamie thinks you do."

Before I could even come up with a response for that, we heard the front door open and shut again.

"Freddy! Are the girls up?" Tyler shouted upon entering the house. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"You can stop yelling any time now, man," Freddy chirped back much quieter than Tyler had just been. "I don't know if they're up, I haven't heard them." That was a boldfaced lie. There was no way he wouldn't have heard Hannah's door slamming and yelling from just a couple minutes before. "But I'm sure they're up now thanks to your loud mouth."

Hannah and I jumped out of bed and made our way down the hall to the living room where Tyler and Freddy were talking.

"Don't give him a hard time, Freddy. We were already awake," Hannah stated and walked over to where Tyler was standing to give him a hug. "How was morning skate?" And then it was like the two of them were in their own little world; Freddy and I didn't even exist anymore.

Freddy scurried over so he was standing next to me, exaggeratedly threw his arms open and engulfed me in a massive hug. In return, I squeezed him back as tight as I could. We clung together in mockery of Tyler and Hannah for a moment or two.

"Think they noticed?" I mumbled into Freddy's shoulder. We both glanced at the other pair where they still had their arms around either other but were now looking at each other as Tyler explained in ridiculous detail the two hours that they had spent apart. "Not even close."

"So my eavesdropping skills aren't as good as they used to be," Freddy started when we pulled apart. "Did you or did you not sleep with Jamie last night?"

"You were trying to eavesdrop on me and Jamie last night?" I questioned and raised my eyebrows suggestively.

"God no, you little pervert!" he exclaimed in response, actually sounding surprised and grossed out. I couldn't help but laugh and Freddy grabbed a pillow off the couch to hit me with. "I meant you're conversation with Hannah this morning."

"Slept in same bed? Yes. Had sex? No."

"That's not juicy gossip, A. I'm disappointed."

"I'll be sure to wear my 'didn't have sex' shirt for you next time it's questionable."

"Is that too much to ask?"

We shared a laugh before I snatched the pillow that Freddy was still holding and beat him over the head with it. Before he even got a chance to try and steal the pillow back, I threw it at Tyler and Hannah, hitting them both in the head.

"You yelled about breakfast when you came in, did you not?" I questioned when Tyler's attention was finally on me.

"Oh yeah! The Benn's are making breakfast for us at their place. We have to go," Tyler answered and already started making his way to the door.

"Ty, wait," Hannah called after him. "I don't want to disturb any game day routine you have."

"Han, breakfast. I'm starving," I complained back at her and Freddy nodded his head enthusiastically next me.

"This is game day routine. I always go over there after morning skate and have breakfast and nap in their guestroom," Tyler insisted and started gesturing for everyone to exit the house and go get in the car. I giggled to myself as I heard Freddy mumble something about co-dependency and living the domestic life while we were outside and Tyler was distracted with locking up the front door.

I texted Jamie while Tyler was driving us back to the hotel so Hannah and I could get changed really quick before we made our way to the Benn's.

Text Message to Jamie:
I request chocolate chip pancakes with extra chocolate chips and bonus chocolate on top.

**Jamie**
"You are not making her chocolate chip pancakes," Jordie chastised as I dipped my head to try and hide my blush. I made my way over to the pantry to grab the pancake mix and chocolate chips anyway. "Where did we even get that stuff?"

"Leftover from when Jenny was in town," was all I said in response while beginning to measure out the mix.

"Is it even still good?" The last time our sister had come to visit was before Christmas and it was now March.

"It's mix and chocolate, Jord, it doesn't go bad."

"I thought we were just doing eggs and bacon and toast, ya know, basics," he tried to reason with me, but he was already starting to measure out the water for the mix, so he knew he wasn't actually going to change my mind.

"Well, we still kinda have to. We don't exactly have enough mix to make pancakes for everyone," I replied and couldn't make myself make eye contact with my brother.

"How many people get pancakes?" Jordie questioned, but the look on his face said he already knew the answer.

"We have enough for one. But I can make the pancakes smaller and have enough for two."

"No no no, can't possibly make Avery eat smaller pancakes," my brother laughed out. "The rest of us will just sit here like peasants eating our basic breakfast while the queen chows down on her extravagant chocolate chip pancakes."

The blush that had been present on my face the entire conversation somehow managed to flush deeper. Jordie helped me finish making the pancakes so I knew he was accepting my behavior.

"You are so whipped for this girl and you've only known her a couple days," Jordie stated when there was a knock at the door a half hour later, signaling that Tyler, Freddy and the girls had arrived. His tone was more serious this time; more concerned for me and my feelings, which I appreciated.

"I really like her. And I want to make a good impression before we leave tomorrow morning, because she's not going to be here when we get back." Saying it aloud was kind of a slap in the face. I wasn't ready to leave. But I wasn't sure if we were at a place where I could tell her how much I didn't want her to go. Avery seemed easy to spook, and I didn't want to scare her off by talking about how attached I had gotten to her in such a short period of time.

After letting everyone in, we all made our way to the kitchen when Jordie and I had already set up the table with plates full of food. A giant smile took over Avery's face when she saw the plate of pancakes. That smile alone made all the chirping that I'd get from Tyler - not to mention, the entire team when Tyler spreads the word later - 100 percent worth it.

"You didn't actually have to do this, Jamie," she giggled and scurried over to the seat where her plate was. She was possible the cutest thing I had ever seen.

"I didn't have to, but I wanted to," I responded as I sat down in the seat next to her and placed a kiss on her cheek. A blush took over her face as she smiled to herself and it made me feel like I was doing something right.

"Where's my pancakes, Chubbs?" Tyler asked and sat down across from Avery and started laughing when I raised a questioning eyebrow at him.

"I don't remember you asking for pancakes."

"How was I supposed to know they were by request only?"

"They're by being pretty only," Jordie interrupted causing my face to heat up as I blushed. "And sorry, Segs, you just don't make the cut."

"I think you're pretty, babe," Freddy interjected and patted Tyler on the shoulder as he sat down next to him. Tyler enthusiastically smiled back with a smile that took up his entire face which made everyone laugh.

I looked down at my plate of food just in time to see Avery pick up a piece of bacon and pop it into her mouth. As half of it hung out of her mouth, she start pushing the rest of my food over to one side of my plate. I give her a questioning look and she shyly ducks her head finish eating her piece of bacon before turning and smiling at me.

"If being pretty is how you get pancakes, you have to have one too," Avery said sounding confident, but the look on her face told a different story. A chorus of gagging noises could be heard from the rest of the table causing Avery to blush. So I kissed her cheek one more time before eating breakfast as usual.

Avery and Hannah insisted that they clear the table and clean the dishes after everyone finished eating. Jordie had pointed out that they had a dishwasher for a reason, but these girls were hard to argue with when they had their minds set on something.

"Go start your nap, Jamie," Avery told me and swatted at me with a dishtowel when I tried to hang around in the kitchen after Tyler and Jordie and made their way down the hall and Freddy had set up camp on the couch in the living room.

"You gonna come join me when you're done?"

"She'll be there in ten minutes, Jamie," Hannah piped in when Avery blushed and hesitated to answer. "Now get lost," she added with a joking smile and I turned to make my way down to my bedroom. "And you thought he didn't like you. You're out of you freaking mind," Hannah snickered when she thought I was out of hearing distance. And then she began laughing when it sounded like Avery started hitting her repeatedly with the dishtowel.

When I got down to my bedroom, Tyler was sitting on my bed with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

"Segs?" I cautiously questioned as I walked over to sit down next to him.

"What are we doing, Benny?" he asked in return, barely turning his head to be able to look over at me. "The girls. We've known them two days and I already can't imagine them not being around all the time."

"We got ourselves in way too deep, I know," I answered and moved so I was sitting the same way he was. Everything was happening so fast and it was a lot to process all at once.

"I regret nothing," Tyler responded with an airy laugh. "I just don't know what to do from here."

"I don't think this is something that we can plan," I stated, feeling overwhelmed and powerless. "We've made it pretty clear how we feel, I think, so the ball is in their court."

"We just have to wait and see what they do with it."