He smiled. "I absolutely will. I won't miss a single game. I might even travel for some of the away games. The team can always use an extra voice to cheer them on."
"Phew." I swiped a hand over my brow. "For a minute there, I thought you were going to admit you wanted to cheer for someone else."
He barked a laugh. "Never! Once a Dusk Bay Smashers man, always a Dusk Bay Smashers man. Supporting them is in my blood."
"Mine too," I said. "I might even try to save you a seat on the plane when they play away games. Someone needs to keep the guys in line while we're flying."
"I was going to hand that job to you," he said pointedly. "I trust you can give them a kick up the bum when they need one. Tell them it came from me."
I laughed. "I can absolutely do that." The team wasn't going to be the same without him around.
While he was still here, I'd learn as much from him as I could, but I'd miss him more than I could express. He'd always been so kind to me. Sometimes I felt it was more than I deserved. "It's going to be difficult to replace you."
He scoffed. "If they don't offer the position to you or Otis Skinner, I'll be surprised."
"I don't think I'd have the experience," I said. "Unless you stay around for another five or so seasons." As for Skinner, he had to still be alive.
I mean, so did I, but I wasn't the one trying to take on the Brantley family. Whatever he was up to could get both of us killed. I preferred it to be him than me.
"There's more to consider than experience," he said, as though reading my mind. Of course, he didn't mean it in the way I was thinking, but I appreciated the vote of confidence.
"I guess we'll see," I said. "Either way, I'm glad to be able to work here. In whatever capacity that might be."
"The team is lucky to have you," he said. "It won't be long before other teams are trying to poach you. I've already spoken about you to a couple of my peers. Don't be surprised if they come poking around. I've already told them you won't leave, but that's unlikely to stop them."
My face heated. “That's sweet of you. You never know, they might come up with an amazing offer I can't refuse." Since it was unlikely they'd let me take six players along with me, I wouldn't even consider it.
"I'm sure they'll try," he said. "You may even want to take them up on it. No one would blame you if you did. You'd learn a lot from whoever you end up working with."
"It sounds like you're trying to encourage me to apply for jobs elsewhere," I said.
"Not at all." He picked up a pen and started to turn it around with his fingers. "All I'm saying is that you should keep your options open. Nothing more."
"I'll keep that in mind," I said. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?"
"No," he replied. He glanced at his watch, an old analog one. "You have a session in the pool with some of the players, I believe?"
"Yes, I do," I said. I was actually getting in the water with them today, and learning more about aqua therapy. If it wasn't for Otis Skinner, I'd be excited for it.
Instead, I was nervous as hell.
Chapter Nineteen
Chelsea
I ignoredthe looks as I stepped down carefully into the warm water. I was used to men staring at me like that. Admiring my body. Often when wearing a lot less than a swimsuit.
As long as they continued to behave professionally, it didn't bother me to have them look. Besides, I knew none of them would try anything anyway. Even if I wasn't involved with so many of the men on the team, there were other staff here, including Doctor Skinner.
"Mr Ramsey has kindly agreed to let you sit in on his session," Skinner was saying. "He's been working on easing minor knee discomfort and the levels of anxiety that come with playing sports at a professional level."
I reached the bottom of the shallow pool and bobbed over to Ramsey.
"Thanks for letting me watch," I said softly.
He leaned in and whispered. "Always happy to get wet with you."
I smiled and whispered back, "Don't be inappropriate with a member of the medical team."
