Naked Hero - The Journey Away

Perhaps you might feel more comfortable if Jim and Fiona were to come along,” he suggested.
    Scott knew the reason for Lewis’s reticence, and tried to suppress his own reservations as he attempted to rectify his earlier mistake. “Everyone knows what the situation is now, Lewis. There’s no problem with us being seen out together. I should have said something when it all started then there would never have been a problem in the first place.”
    Again Lewis was far from convinced, but he did like the concept. It harped back to his earlier fantasy of a platonic friendship with his American idol. And not only had Scott helped him reach the final, but they were actually going out on a date! In the same way he had gone out on a platonic date with Lee.
    Lee! Why the hell was he suddenly feeling guilty again when Lee Porter flashed through his mind. That matter had supposedly been laid to rest – they were friends, nothing more, so why shouldn’t he go out with some other bloke who happened to be straight anyway? They were friends! And it was a comfortable friendship that had followed a comfortable pattern over the last couple of days... Lee would come round to the house once Lewis had finished his match or training session, and stay for dinner. They would chat for a while, but much of the time Lee was busy, speaking to various people on the telephone: late evening was a good time for him to deal with the agents in London and manage the bids that were coming in for the clothing sponsorship. That pattern would now be broken, and it was Friday, the start of the weekend. Lewis visualised Lee hitting the scene, and occupying his evening with someone else: someone who would probably be nameless to them both, unless it appeared a few days later in the Herald. But that was all part of the reality he had resolved to live with, and it was time to put it into practice. He wasn’t going to torture himself as he had once before, imagining what Lee got up to when he buggered off out for the evening. Lee was free to be with whoever he wished... as of course was Lewis.
    Refusal was not an option anyway - not after everything Scott had done to help him. So Lewis placed his reservations aside and hoped for the best as he accepted the invite.
    ***
    Serendipity had served great food but had left a rather sour taste in his mouth, so Scott selected a different venue, just as classy, but more refrained in its decor and traditional in its menu. He got there ten minutes early, in a suit as usual but minus a tie – the shirt open at the neck where a tuft of auburn chest hair could be seen spouting. Scott was nervous enough without getting all hot and sweaty under a buttoned up collar! He’d been fretting about this for the past two days, although one could argue it had been almost two decades. As he’d got on with his life under a facade of normality, he’d tossed around arguments in his head and still hadn’t come up with an answer. He knew what he wanted on two particular fronts - but they were diametrically opposed. Was there a compromise, and if so, was it worth it?
    A beaming Scottish smile said the answer was ‘yes’ to the last part. Even with eyes all around watching, Scott felt elated when Lewis arrived. And he was chuffed to bits when a gift was presented – a very stylish watch that had been engraved at the back with the words ‘From Lewis with thanks to his American Idol’ . It was put on immediately in place of the one he’d been wearing. There had to be a compromise... and by God it would be worth it.
    Food was ordered along with some wine for Scott, Lewis fighting back the temptation to join him , but sensibly he stuck to water. Whilst they waited for the starters, the day’s match was discussed, both men naturally delighted with how it had gone – a hiccup in the second set where Lewis had lost it on a tie-break, but otherwise it was fine. But both appreciated that Lewis had not really been tested to the full - Livyenko had lost the match as much as Macleod had won it – the man running out of steam and belief at the end. There would be little chance of a repeat of that in the final - not against Tommy Jackson who had won his semi-final at a canter. The reigning champion would be fresh for their second Grand Slam final encounter, and hungry for revenge.
    As they tucked into the first course, Scott mentioned that he had managed to free himself from his commitments for the big day. He would be able to watch the