Orlando

On January 12, 2014, I was asleep in Valeri Nichushkin’s guest bed at Tyler Seguin’s place. Kaitlyn, Jamie, Val and I had been partying with Tyler again. I blinked awake and walked out into the kitchen, to find everyone there. Kaitlyn was draped on Tyler, who was cooking. Jamie was moaning on the couch, with his hand on his head like a drama queen.

“Tyler, how much longer until breakfast?”

“Jamie, silence, it’s coming,” Tyler retorted.

I padded into the kitchen and found Val, sitting at the bar, just watching his friend and girlfriend cooking. He spotted me and smiled. I walked over and sat on the seat next to him, nuzzling against his shoulder. He put an arm around me and pulled me close to him.

“Good morning, Valeri.”

“Morning Evelyna.”

“It’s about time you joined us, Eve,” Tyler taunted.

“Shut up, Tyler, I’m not in the mood right now. When I’ve eaten and woken up, I’ll wrestle the shit out of you. Okay?”

Tyler turned from his meal and leaned over the counter toward me. “You can try to beat me, Eve, but I’m stronger.”

“Uh-huh, I place money on Eve. She beat you, Tyler,” Val said, grinning largely.

The young superstar pointed his spatula out at him. “Hey, watch it or you won’t get any breakfast, Valeri.”

Val frowned and pouted his lip. “Tyler’s meanie.”

Tyler turned back to his meal. Kaitlyn undraped herself from his back and face both Val and I. She didn’t look too happy or pleased. “Stop picking on Tyler, you guys, I - for one - think he will win.”

“Kait, whose side are you on and who is the one who got you that Dallas Princess?” I chirped back, just feelings it come on and push through me.

“Eve, he’s not a princess!” Kaitlyn protested.

“Geez, Kait, relax. You’re as wound up as Jamie last night. ‘Oh, Tyler, I think you’re the best hockey player every. I love you so much. Thanks for coming to Dallas and leaving Boston!’” I mimicked and then grabbed Val and made out with him a little bit.

“Wow, really. I thought we weren’t gonna talk about that,” Jamie commented from the couch. He was bright red in the face and not looking at Tyler at all. He was nervously pulling at his hair curls.

I looked at him and apologized, “Sorry Jamie, I know Tyler’s hot and all, but only two hockey players can pull off romantic crap like that. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.”

“Hey, no talk of Blackhawks in this house!” Tyler snapped. “This is Dallas, not Chicago.”

“Says the man who hung out and befriended the blond haired one!” I retorted, jumping to my feet.

“Who?” Kaitlyn and Val pressed.

“Patrick. It was Patrick Kane.”

“Oh!”

“But that was because we were--oh come on, I don’t need to explain myself...look food’s ready. Let’s eat and get to the rink. Lindy doesn’t like us being late, Valeri!”

“Hey, what I do?” Val asked, innocently from his place at the fridge now, where he was pouring some more orange juice for himself and for me.

“Don’t yell at him, you pain in the ass!” I snapped and grabbed Tyler by the shirt collar. “I so hate you.”

“Whoa, Evelyna, whoa, settle down. Let talk. Come on. Come with Val,” Val calmly said, as he set the glasses of OJ on the bar top and guided me over to the couch.

Jamie got up and went to the kitchen, where Tyler and Kaitlyn ignored us and let us be, while they set the table and got everything ready.

“What wrong?” Val asked me, sitting down on the couch.

I looked at him. “I’m just missing film stuff a little bit. I mean, I don’t want to not do anything, but there’s nothing in Dallas, apart from the AAC, but I could never get a job there, I mean, I could, but I’m not that advanced yet.”

Val grabbed my hands in his. “You save me from mean guy in Orlando and then help me get through injury. I help you out now.”

“But how?”

“I talk to Jamie and Tyler and we help out.”

“But Valeri--”

“No! I help!” He stood up from the couch and walked to the table. I saw him lean down over Tyler’s shoulder and motion Jamie, who was on his other side to get close. They whispered with one another and then I saw Tyler nod. Jamie did as well. They both looked at the couch, where I still sat.

Then Val came back in and helped me to my feet. He led me into the dining room, where the table was, which was just to the side of the kitchen, opposite the living room. We took our seats and I apologized to Tyler, who forgave me rather quickly.

We finished up the breakfast and then hopped in the car and made it to the rink. When we got to the rink, we all filed into the practice arena and then to the AAC, where I was told to hang with Kaitlyn in the locker room with the boys. I busied myself by chirping with Antoine Roussel. I even taught Kaitlyn how to “smack talk” or chirp.

When Tyler, Jamie and Val returned, they were all wearing smiles. They all came up to me and I turned to them, giving Roussel one last piece of my mind. Val grabbed my hands into his and looked into my eyes. For a second I thought he was going to propose, but then he snapped a look to Tyler and Jamie.

“What’s going on?” I questioned.

“You have Tyler to thank for this, mainly cause he was the one who pushed hard and didn’t let up. Jamie tried, but was unsuccessful, but you’re going to be apart of the AAC tech team!”

“Oh my God, Valeri!” I cried and yanked my hands free and threw them around my boyfriend, who embraced me back. “You’re the best, and,” I pulled back and looked to Tyler and Jamie. “Thank you both as well.” I motioned them in for a hug.

“You’re welcome. You’re apart of the Dallas Stars family now, so it’s only fitting we help you out and take care of your needs. Oh, and to mention you did help to save our little baby Russian in Orlando, so, it’s the least we can do. He’s happy now and I’m proud of him.”

“This is the best job I could ever hope and ask for. I’m going to be a techie at the AAC for the Stars!” I squealed.

Val and the boys all got suited up and then took to the rink to warm up. Kaitlyn and I, meanwhile went to take our seats in the arena, sitting behind the bench.

It was the best day ever and now it was guaranteed that I would see Valeri Nichushkin and the Dallas Stars each and every day. And I was super excited for that. It also meant that I could finally run my idea of putting the “Kiss Cam” on two certain Blackhawk forwards. Oh was I gonna do it, alright.

On that special evening, the Dallas Stars earned a huge 7-3 win with goals from Val, Tyler and Jamie. Val had two of them, but all three had four points at the end of the game and were the “3 Stars”.

Kaitlyn and I couldn’t be prouder or more happy for them. We loved our Dallas Stars. And starting tomorrow, I was officially apart of the Stars’ staff.

Notes

Haha, I'd totally kick Tyler's ass. :PPPP Just saying. :D
I almost did, but Val and Jamie...haha Jamie.


Next up: Tyler Seguin's Birthday, but guess what? I'm STILL older than him! Ha!