Free Dreams (New Beginnings Book 3) by Michelle Lynn Page A

it’s good.” He eyed him carefully. “You’ll make a good coach one day.”
    “Hopefully once I’ve played myself into old age.”
    To Josh’s surprise, Coach laughed. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. With Mack too.”
    “I’m not doing anything with Mack,” Josh said, confused.
    “You are,” Coach Scott disagreed. “You can read him. You know what he’s thinking and he knows where you’ll be. Never underestimate the importance of line chemistry. You aren’t the prototypical first-liner, but it’s working right now.”
    “He’s been playing really well.”
    “Stop being so damn humble, Walker!” Coach Scott pounded a fist on his desk. “Learn to take credit when credit is due.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Now, get out and go tell Olle I’d like a word with my captain.” Before Josh made it out the door, Coach said one more thing. “You have an off-day tomorrow, Walker, and I’m insisting you take it. Do not set foot in this building. No weight room. No exercise bike. It’s a long season. Rest. Do you hear me?”
    Josh turned back and then looked away from his coach’s blunt stare. “Yeah. I got it.”
    “Good. Now, go enjoy the win. It’s back to the grindstone on Saturday.”
     
    ###
     
    The next morning was Friday, and Josh wasn’t sure what to do if he wasn’t going to train. He could have hit the gym in his building, but decided to listen to the coach. His body felt sore from the bruising game the night before.
    Pulling on a pair of sweats over his boxers, he walked out into the kitchen. As he was cracking eggs into a bowl, a woman came stumbling out of Mack’s room. Josh glanced towards her and recognized her immediately. She quickly tried to tame her wild blond curls with her fingers when she saw him, but then stopped, her mouth hanging open as she openly assessed his bare chest.
    “Abigail, right?” Josh asked, trying to halt her obvious ogling. He set the bowl of eggs down on the counter.
    “Yep.” Her lips turned up in a smile. “That’s me.”
    “You hungry?” It was the first time he’d ever offered breakfast to one of Mack’s sleepover buddies, but she was a friend of Taylor’s and that made her different.
    “Starved.” He knew she didn’t mean the food as her eyes scanned his broad chest once more.
    He scratched the back of his head, but stopped as he realized it only made it worse, flexing the muscles in his chest as he raised his arm. “I’m going to grab a shirt, then I’ll make us some eggs.”
    “Oh, you’re shy,” she said to his retreating back. “That’s cute.”
    He returned a moment later, T-shirt in place. She smirked at him as he picked the bowl back up and continued to scramble the eggs.
    “Does Taylor know you’re here?” he asked.
    “She knows I’m okay, if that’s what you’re asking. But, no, she doesn’t know I hooked up with a super-hot hockey player last night. That story has to be told in person.”
    “You know … Mack …”
    “Stop,” she interrupted him. “You don’t have to say it. I know what this was. Plus, I have a boyfriend.”
    Josh grunted.
    “Before you get all judgy, like I know Taylor will be, we haven’t been together long and we made lists.”
    “Lists?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
    “You know, people you’re allowed to sleep with. You never expect to actually meet people on the list. I mean, come on, Colin has Emma Watson on his. After meeting Grant, I put him on it.” She shrugged. “Colin won’t be mad. It’s not like I’m going to fall madly in love with a hockey player. No offense.”
    He set a plate in front of her. “None taken.”
    She took a bite and her eyes widened. “These are the best eggs I’ve ever had.”
    “Josher’s a great cook,” Mack said, walking in wearing only his boxers. He took the other plate Josh had prepared and sat across from Abigail.
    “Guess I’m not hungry,” Josh sighed.
    “That’s good,” Mack replied with a mouth full of food. “Because