Dreams (New Beginnings Book 3)
Page 22
“Do you remember what I said to you the first time we met?” he asked.
“That I had bad positioning and worse hands.” Josh offered him a weak smile.
“That you were smart, and I can’t teach that. You’ve been a coach all year and you don’t even realize it. I’ve seen Carter improve by leaps and bounds while working with you. You won’t be coaching the whole team, only a few of the guys at first. If it goes well, they’ll have an assistant position open in the fall, and they’d love to have a student coach.”
“Student?”
“Sounds like a logical step for you, doesn’t it?”
Josh nodded and stood up when his coach did, taking the offered hand to shake.
“Promise me you’ll think about it,” Coach said, stopping at the door.
“Yeah,” Josh responded. “I will.”
Josh shut the door behind him and leaned against it. His lips twitched. Once. Twice. Then they settled into a full on smile.
Who was he kidding? Think about it? The game was sending him a life raft, a way to stay connected to it. A way to stay whole.
Josh sent a text to Coach minutes after he left.
I’m in. Thank you.
Twenty-four
One month later.
“Hi, babe,” Taylor said, wrapping an arm around Josh’s waist. He leaned down to kiss her, smiling against her lips. “Mind if I watch practice?”
“Just don’t distract my boys,” he laughed, pulling on her ponytail. She’d been so excited when her hair had grown long enough to tie it back.
“Me? A distraction?” She winked at him. “Never. I’m only here for the hockey. Oh, and the hot coach.”
She’d watched a few practices over the past couple weeks, and the guys liked her. She was a girl who knew her hockey. There weren’t enough of them around, and this one was his.
The head coach had Josh working with three of his forwards. They were all good, very good, but needed to learn the kind of work ethic and attitude that would get them to the NHL. They were problem players, typical college students. Only, as NHL prospects, being a typical college student wasn’t an option.
He enjoyed teaching them, feeling like he was helping. Some days were harder than others. There was still a huge gulf between him and the game, but every day he spent on the ice with these kids was chipping away at the distance. Everything seemed easier when he had skates on his feet.
When they got to the practice facility, Josh went to the locker room to put his gear on, and Taylor went out to sit in her favorite spot where she said she could see everything they were doing on the ice. She liked to sit there with her sketchbook and let the sounds of the rink envelop her.
She taught him a lot of things, but the biggest was that there was more than one way to love the game. She’d never played a day in her life, but that didn’t diminish her passion. She’d lost a lot to the game as well, but somehow found her way back.
The locker room was empty, and he hoped that meant the guys were already out on the ice and not just late again. His worries were unfounded when he walked down the tunnel and found the three guys standing out on the ice, with a fourth who was in street shoes.
His back was to the glass, but Josh immediately knew who it was. The tall, lanky frame gave it all away.
“You guys want to hear the advice that kept me up with the Jackets this year?” Carter Neil asked.
The three nodded, and Carter went on. “Be the hardest worker out there. The most willing to drop down to block a shot. The first to jump into the fight. Keep your feet moving and your head up. Don't take stupid penalties. Don’t worry too much about scoring. The chances will find you if the rest of your game is solid.”
Josh grinned at Carter’s words and started laughing. Carter turned sheepishly.
“Who told you that?” one of the guys asked.
“Your coach,” he answered, his eyes meeting Josh’s. “Words to live by.”
“Carter,” Josh said, stepping out onto the ice.
Carter brushed his unruly curls out of his eyes. “I figured this was the only way to see you.”
“I know, Man,” Josh said. “I’m sorry. I just needed to be away from the team for a while.”
“I get that. Coach Peterson called me into his office today and said they’re keeping me up through the playoffs. I just …” he paused. “You’re the first person I wanted to tell.”
A bite of jealousy rushed through Josh, but as quickly as it came, it was gone.
“That’s great.” Josh clapped his friend on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”
“Well,” Carter said, looking around. “I’ll let you guys get started. Mind if I stick around?”
“Sure,” Josh shrugged. “Taylor’s over in the corner if you want to sit with her.”
Carter’s face blanched. “Coach’s daughter?”
“She doesn’t bite.” Josh laughed. “Just go.”
He watched Carter make his way over to Taylor. She stopped drawing and smiled up at him before meeting Josh’s gaze.
“Alright.” Josh clapped his hands together, tearing his eyes from Taylor’s and turning back to the young men on the ice. “Let’s get to work.”
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Books by Michelle Lynn
The Dawn of Rebellion Series
Dawn of Rebellion
Day of Reckoning
Eve of Tomorrow
The New Beginnings series
Choices
Promises
Dreams
Choices
A New Beginnings novel
Everyone makes lots of little decisions from the moment they wake up until they sink back into sleep at night. Decisions that have no consequences or expectations. But, what about the rare choices that could change everything? How do you know what is right for you?
Happiness is something you have to choose again and again, each day.
Michaela Matthews wants that more than anything. Standing in her way is a family pushing her down a specific path and the man she loves preventing her from choosing anything different. When she moves to the city for the next step in her parent’s plan, she starts to figure out what she wants - or more importantly, what she doesn’t want. She thinks she has to leave her old life behind to discover a new one. This throws every choice she has made into question. It isn’t until tragedy strikes that she learns that sometimes there is no choice at all. Sometimes you can have it all.
Jason Marks has had the kind of life where things have seemed to just happen to him, no choice involved at all. It’s a struggle for him to keep the past at bay while he tries to move forward. He is no longer the unwanted foster kid. He is a business owner, surrounded by people that love him. But, he isn’t in love. He’s not even sure he believes in it. Not anymore. At least, not until a heartbroken girl falls apart in his arms. It’s enough to make him a believer. Make him a dreamer. Enough to force him to answer that question. Do you give all of yourself to someone who might not choose you in return?
Yes. Yes, you do.
Promises
A New Beginnings novel
Do you promise you’ll always be here for me?
It was a game they played, only it wasn’t a game. Maggie Marks held on to Elijah’s childhood promises as a way of escaping a life that was far from perfect. Elijah Lugo was her neighbor, her best friend, her family. He was everything her parents refused to be, everything she needed. He was her first kiss and a witness to more of her father’s drunken rants than she could count. He was there at her wedding and then held her when it all fell apart. Elijah was in love with her, but she was afraid loving him would eventually mean losing him too.
They were no longer kids, pretending everything would work out in the end.
When Maggie’s father reenters her life in an unexpected way, revealing long held secrets, her world is turned upside down and she will need Elijah more than ever.
A story of friendship and family. The promises you make and the ones you keep.