"Nothing inappropriate. You're my girlfriend." He straightened up as Skinner looked at both of us, eyes narrowed.
"As I was saying,” Skinner continued, “you're all familiar with the traditional types of aqua therapy. Using the water as resistance while taking the pressure off muscles. The benefits on players’ mental health is something I know we're all passionate about."
He looked around those gathered, as though daring them to disagree with him. Of course, no one did. Nor would they.
Instead, we agreed, vocalising with a murmur that passed through the handful of people gathered.
Skinner nodded to me and bobbed to the other side of Ramsey. "We're going to put out our arms and Mr Ramsey will lie back, letting us support him in the water." He nodded to both of us.
I held out my arms, mimicking him, while Ramsey relaxed, floating on his back.
"This is nice," Ramsey said.
"Close your eyes," Skinner said.
Ramsey did as he was asked.
At the same time, a shiver passed through me. It would be all too easy for Skinner to press a hand down on Ramsey's face, pushing him under the water. If the people gathered around us were working for Skinner and King, they might make no move to stop him. They might even help, because I sure as hell had no intention of standing here and letting him kill one of my boyfriends.
"Is there a problem, Doctor Miller?" Skinner asked.
My eyes snapped to him. "Of course not. I was thinking how nice it would be to have nets to lie on in the water. Something that would support weight, and allow the players to do this if there aren't others present."
I wasn’t thinking that, but I gave myself a pat on the back for coming up with it on the fly.
"I like that idea," Ramsey said before Skinner could respond. "This is good too." He kept his eyes closed the whole time.
"Indeed," Skinner said. "However, that is not the point of this therapy. Doctor Miller, kneel down in the water and place your arm under his neck. Take hold of his opposite arm, as you might if bathing a baby."
I knelt and did as he asked, while he stepped back from us. I was supporting Ramsey now, while the rest of his body floated gently.
"Good, now swivel your upper body and arm in the water, taking him slowly in a semicircle around you," Skinner directed.
Careful to keep my grip, I did as he asked, moving Ramsey slowly all the way to my left, then back all the way to my right.
"This is nice," Ramsey said. The sides of his mouth twitched upward.
"Shhh, relax," Skinner told him. "Let the motion be the only thing in your mind."
The sides of Ramsey's mouth twitched again, but he pressed his lips together and relaxed a little more on my arm.
"Good, now remove your hand from his arm and support him only with yours," Skinner directed.
I glanced at him for a moment, but did as he instructed. I wasn't able to move Ramsey as much, and I had to go slower, but I guided him with a small amount of touch while still keeping his head out of the water.
Thankfully it was him I was doing this with. I suspected Jay wouldn't like it, and the others would resist giving up control. Except for Dallas. He'd be all for it. Frost too, if he could stop making jokes and laughing.
"Now, don't stop your movements," Skinner said. "Place one hand on his shoulder and let the opposite rest under one knee."
Without losing rhythm, I followed his instructions, supporting Ramsey's leg while his other dropped deeper under the water.
I didn't know about his mental health, but this was doing wonders for mine. The movement was almost hypnotic and the water deliciously warm.
Was there room at our new house to add a pool like this? We could all take turns practising the Watsu method on each other. Not to mention all the other aqua therapy methods people had developed. We might even develop some of our own.
"Very good," Skinner said. "Now place your arm under both his knees. Then bring them up slowly towards his face and down again."
I felt like I was holding a large, muscular baby, but Ramsey was so relaxed by now, he gave me no resistance. Still, a few of these would be good exercise for me.
