I search his face for derision as we move toward the group, but find only respect. “Fine. What do you want me to do?”
“You’ll run drills and watch. I need to finalize my starting lineup this week and I’ll expect your input based on what you’re seeing out there,” he says with a wave at the pool.
We stop where the team is waiting at the pool edge and Corinne’s eyes move between Marcus and me, lingering for a moment on his hand, still on my arm. “Feeling dizzy again, Addie?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.
Marcus drops my elbow as if he’d forgotten he was holding it. “Listen up!”
Everyone stops talking and turns their attention to Marcus.
“We’ve got league matches starting a week from tomorrow, so practices from here on out are going to focus on situational drills and scrimmage. After watching you all very closely for the last few weeks, I’m ready to name the team captain for his season.”
Corinne nudges Melanie with a bony elbow and a self-assured smile slips over her face. A stone sinks in my gut and I hope Marcus has reconsidered since our last conversation on the topic.
“This decision was based on several factors,” he continues, “work ethic being the most important.” He looks at me and smiles, and everyone’s gaze follows his. “Addie Grace is this season’s captain.”
“But…” All eyes turn at Corinne’s protest, and I take the opportunity to glare at Marcus. “…she can’t even play,” she says with an exasperated fling of her hand at me.
“While she’s confined to land, she’s going to be helping out with drills,” Marcus says. “She’s functioning as my assistant, which means no one gives her any lip. Got it?”
Most of the team nods or grumbles a “yes” or “got it,” but Corinne just stares a deathbeam at me.
“Everybody in the pool,” Marcus says with a clap of his hands. “Four warm up laps.”
They file in and Corinne gives me one more glare over her shoulder before she follows. I’ve got a bad feeling about this in the pit of my stomach, even though there’s nothing sordid happening between Marcus and me. All the sordidness is in my dreams, and Corinne can’t see into those. But just the fact I’m dreaming those things, and now he’s made me captain, is enough to make me feel self-conscious and exposed.
Sixth key to invisibility: Don’t crush on your hot water polo coach.
Marcus’s fingertips brush my arm and I jump as sparklers ignite under my skin. “If there are any offensive drills you know that might help, feel free to run them. Without you in the pool, that’s our weakness.”
I look at him as the team starts on laps. “You’re sure this is a good idea? I don’t really think they’re feeling it.”
“They start feeling it or they don’t play.” He shrugs. “Their choice.”
“You’d bench them for not listening to me?”
He walks over to the bleachers and settles his long frame onto the bottom row, looking out over his team. “If they’re not listening to you, then by extension they’re not listening to me, so, yeah.”
I’m living in a nightmare. Invisibility keys two and four just went up in a plume of smoke that can be seen for miles. I drop onto the bench next to him. “I really don’t want this, Marcus.”
He must hear something in my voice, probably the panic I feel rising up inside me like a monsoon, because he turns and those eyes I can’t seem to hide from lock on mine. “I’m not going to pretend I know what you’re dealing with, Addie, but what I do know is this is the right move. Whatever it is, being out here in your element is only going to help.”
I shake my head. “But part of being captain is leading the team. They’d have to respect me for that.” I glance at Corinne. “Or at least fear me. They don’t do any of those things.”
He rests his elbows on his knees and leans closer. “You’re right about not fearing you, but they admire your ability.”
I shake my head again. “They ignore me.”
His gaze softens and melts through another layer of my armor. “Because you’ve wanted them to, Addie. But if you let them see the part of you I see…share yourself with them just the tiniest bit, you’ll find you’ve got friends here.”
I take a deep breath. “I think you’re going to regret this when you have a full-blown mutiny on your hands.”
A smile lightens his eyes, and a gleam dances there. “When you have a mutiny, oh captain, my captain.”
I glare at him. “You’re seriously quoting Walt Whitman? You’re aware the captain dies in that one, right?”
His smile widens as he pushes off the bench and heads toward the pool. “Got meself a right fine crew, ay!” he calls out to the team in surprisingly good pirate. “Ye smell like ye been swimmin' in the bilge!”
I catch myself laughing despite myself.