When I get to school the next afternoon, I swing into the staff room to pick up my paycheck and find Principal Monroe draining the last of the coffee from the pot into his travel mug.
“Marcus!” he says, giving me a clap on the back. “I was just headed over to the pool to see if you were here yet.”
“What’s up?” I ask, swiping the envelope out of my box and shoving it in my pocket.
He takes a long sip of his coffee. “I want to preface this by saying no one’s accusing you of anything, but some unsettling rumors have come to our attention and I think we need to be careful to nip them in the bud.”
My blood freezes in my veins. “Rumors?”
He gives half an eye roll. “It’s not unusual when we have a young attractive teacher or coach that this happens, but it would be prudent on your part to avoid anything that could appear unseemly.”
“Can I ask what these rumors are about?”
He waves a hand dismissively. “Nothing specific, or this would be a much more serious conversation, but you need to be extra mindful of how you communicate with your team members. Be sure there’s no way any contact could be misconstrued, and don’t make any comment that has any sort of sexual connotation or interpretation.”
Other than that day over a month ago with Addie in the park, I’m fairly certain I haven’t done any of those things. Corinne’s boobs falling out of her swimsuit are not my fault, and I don’t look.
But, thinking back on last night, I have no doubt that several lines were crossed. I remember how soft Addie’s hair felt under my fingers, and how her gaze heated when she held mine. And discussing her virginity probably wasn’t within the scope of my role as a coach.
There’s a rush to my stomach as I remember her face: how she blushed and lowered her lashes. I can’t deny I care about Addie, but nothing inappropriate happened between us. I understand where she’s at, and I just want to help her.
“Got it,” I say, heading for the door.
And I’m convinced I do…until I pull myself out of the water after my lap swim and see Addie walking toward me. When my heart speeds faster than can be accounted for by the workout, and a buzz settles under my skin, I’m suddenly not sure I’ve “got” anything.
Chapter 10
Addie
I’m not sure how to read what happened last night when Marcus dropped me at the house. He was right there, so close, and there was a second I was sure he was going to kiss me.
But then, instead, he said I was strong and called me a survivor. Suddenly I felt like I was suffocating. I couldn’t look him in the eye without him seeing the truth, and I don’t want him to know how weak I really am. Because there was a time I didn’t want to survive. If I’d planned better, I wouldn’t have.
But last night when I slipped into bed and closed my eyes, what happened with Marcus went differently. In my dreams, I leaned in and closed the distance between us. In my dreams, when our lips touched, he grabbed me and pulled me closer. I moaned as he devoured me.
And I woke up gasping.
I do that a lot, but it’s usually from an entirely different dream. One that makes my pulse race in a whole different way. But I didn’t dream about Mom at all last night. Part of me is relieved. But a bigger part of me aches with something I can’t quite put a name to, except to say that having to relive what I did every night seems like the bare minimum punishment I deserve.
I’m not sure whether it’s embarrassment because I ran away, or because of what I did to him in my sleep afterward that has heat creeping up my neck as I walk toward him on the pool deck after school. Maybe it’s just him, because I can’t deny my body’s reaction to seeing him. His hair is slicked back and his swim trunks are wet from his pre-practice swim. He’s just pulling his T-shirt over those incredible pecs and abs. I wish I could dive into the water to cool off before talking to him.
He looks up as I pass through the gate and once he’s locked me in his gaze, his eyes don’t let mine escape. “Did you make a decision?” he asks as I approach.
“I’m staying on the team.” I don’t think my voice shook. That’s good.
A smile blooms on his face. “Right answer.”
“So, I’ll just…” I flick a wrist at the bleachers. “…be over there.”
“Nope,” he says, grasping my elbow and tugging me over to where the team is starting to gather near the pool. “Until you’re ready to get back in the water, you’re my honorary assistant coach.”
My pulse pounds at his touch and I can’t think. “Is there a salary involved?”
He grins at my lame joke. “Only prestige and glory.”
I glance to where Corinne and Melanie are just coming out of the locker room. “That’s going to win me friends,” I mutter.
He gives me a sideways smile and his hand tightens on my arm. “Didn’t think you were too concerned about that.”