Alisha was having a hell of a time. Becki had called for a changeover of climbers, much to Devon’s disgust, since no one had managed to complete the challenging move.
Marcus sent Xavier to work with the other pair before moving to Becki’s side to view Alisha and Devon more closely.
“More power, Alisha. You’re nearly—”
“Shut up, Devon. I’m powering all I can,” Alisha snapped.
Devon lifted his brows at Marcus as if to say, What can I do?
Becki shook her head as Alisha dropped to the floor and shook out her arms. “I get that you’re frustrated, but you can do this.”
“I’m six inches shorter than Tripp and Devon, more than that for the other two guys. My overall reach is smaller, and even with their height advantage they never succeeded before you had us switch.” Alisha dragged her hand through her hair and readjusted her ponytail holder, snapping it tight. “I’m not trying to be disagreeable, but it seems the point of this exercise is to prove there are some things we can’t climb. Is that it?”
Becki shook her head. “Success will take two things. First, you need to use more core body—you’re holding back from hitting your full extension. Come on, I’ll show you.” She stepped in behind Alisha. “Permission to touch you?”
“Of course. I want to do this.” The young woman’s frustration was clear.
Becki placed her hands on Alisha’s stomach. “Scrunch up a little. That’s it. Now when you press, you’re using your legs, arms all the way out, but you’re not elongating your abdominal muscles enough.” She curled herself over Alisha, holding on tight. “Slow motion, extend up, yeah, that’s it. Now finish the stretch, right here.” Becki slid her hands apart, stopping just shy of covering Alisha’s breasts and crotch.
Alisha finished in a vertical stance, still obviously confused. “Nope. I thought I was doing that.”
“Okay, try this.”
Becki peeled off her shirt, and Marcus swallowed hard at the instant rush of chemicals that shot through him. She wore a sports bra underneath, but damn . . .
“Put your hands on my stomach so you can feel it.” Becki pulled Alisha in behind her and placed the other woman’s hands on her flat abdomen. She bent over, and Alisha pressed against her back to keep her hands in position as Becki took her through the move a couple of times.
Devon shuffled his feet uneasily, and Marcus glanced at him.
“I’m getting a fucking boner watching this,” Devon confessed quietly.
Marcus, too, but he wasn’t about to admit it.
“Okay, maybe I felt something different. I’m still going to get stuck where the guys got hung up.” Alisha moved away from Becki to stare up the expanse of the wall. “Unless you have a magic pill for me?”
“I have something better.” Becki shook her head, turning to take in the team one by one. “You’ve all worked under Marcus for a while, and you still can’t figure out what I’m looking for in this exercise?”
They blinked at each other sheepishly.
“Or do I blame Marcus?” Becki inquired.
“Me?” Marcus stepped forward. “How did I get called into this mess?”
“Just double-checking something. You still as fond of lists these days as”—Becki paused for such a split second, he was probably the only one who caught it—“as before? You teach these guys your four rules for surviving and thriving?”
“Of course he taught us. They’re plastered on the staff room walls,” Xavier said. “Be patient, move decisively—”
“Oh, God . . .” Alisha dropped her head into her hands. “Rule Three. Trust your team? Is that all you were going for?”
“All?” Becki barked out the word. “Do you have any idea how quickly you could have gotten this task over and done with if all you’d done is worked as a team with your partner? And I don’t mean looking for pretty holds for him to grab. I mean brainstorming and thinking outside the box.”
Marcus’s admiration grew as Becki stepped forward and pointed at individuals in turn.
“Right off the bat Xavier attempted an innovative move. But because the distance was impossible for individual success, he gave up instead of sharing it with the rest of you. His idea could have triggered others.
“Tripp—you’ve got more sheer upper body strength than anyone else here. Devon, your agility set you into a starting position fast and easy. Alisha—you will be able to hit that hold, and once you’re there you’ve got the flexibility for moves these guys can only dream of. Since you’re the lightest, you also have other advantages.”
“So we can’t complete this challenge on our own?” Tripp asked.
Becki shrugged. “Maybe you could, but as a team maybe goes all the way up to yes. And if that’s the difference between saving someone’s life or not, which is more important? Getting to crow as an individual, or sharing the celebration among the team?”
She moved to face them all, her back toward the climbing wall. “I’m going to make some wild assumptions right now, but I doubt I’m wrong. When you heard that Marcus had asked me to come train you, I bet what instantly came to mind were things like Devon mentioned that night at the pub. Becki James’s reputation as a climber extraordinaire. My solo records here at the school, my famous single-handed rescue last year. Am I wrong?”
Tripp shook his head. “Can you blame us?”
“Not for it being the first thing you thought of, but I’ll be damned if it should have been the last thing you focused on.” Becki planted her fists on her hips. “This isn’t school boot camp. You’re not trying to win a job placement; you have one. You’re no longer six individuals, but a team. Every single training exercise should be done with that in mind, even if your instructors fail to emphasize the fact.
“Don’t try to be me. I got lucky. You guys are the ones who got attention for your joint skills, your teamwork. You’re all incredible individuals, but as Lifeline, you’re a whole lot more. Don’t forget that. You fought for that honor. You deserve that honor. Now don’t let yourselves slack off—don’t let your teammates take the easy way out—fight to keep making the team stronger.”
Alisha’s chin had lifted. Devon grinned. Someone clapped and the entire team joined in, the staccato sound echoing off the walls and ringing in his ears. Becki’s cheeks flushed red, but she smiled.
Marcus wanted to give her more than a standing ovation.
“Go on.” Becki waved them off. “You’re done, at least with me. Check your schedule for the rest of the day, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Marcus waited until the gym was empty, the gear put away as the crew left one by one. “I’m still applauding. That was damn impressive.”
Becki blew a sigh of relief. “That . . . is reassuring. I’m a little lost right now, feeling my way, and I don’t want to mess this up.”
“Training my team?”
“That, and the teaching gig in a month for David. Just—starting a new life in a way.” She laughed, bitterness in the sound. “A new life because there’s still so damn many holes in the old one, I can’t walk forward without falling out the bottom.”
“Hey.” Marcus caught her by the arm. “You go on and listen to your own lecture. You don’t have to do this alone. I said I’d help you. The team will help you.”
She paused. Nodded. “You’re right. You’re right, and I said I was going to face the future and move on. Damn yo-yo emotions.”
“Girl stuff. Can’t help you there.”
Another laugh escaped her. “Don’t be an ass.”