Naked Hero - The Journey Away

she had at the time as to its nature, but she had seen it within him. And his was the biggest battle of all.
    That battled intensified a s they left the restaurant. Thanks to a tip off from an unscrupulous waiter, a photographer was waiting outside Serendipity, and their picture was duly taken. It was not an unusual event for any of them, though for a flustered Scott Taylor whose cool facade finally cracked with a glare of annoyance, it was something that lay more in his past. But tonight, he suspected, it would be him, rather than the others that any story would be centred on. He joined Chantal and Marie in their cab, returning to the Langham Hotel feeling anxious and subdued, leaving Lewis to make his own way back to the house.

Chapter 34
    It was quiet when Lewis returned. Mike had gone out for the evening to a comedy club, whilst Jim was meeting up with some old friends for a drink leaving poor old Fiona home on her own. As was her want, she quizzed him about his evening as soon as he got in. How was the restaurant, the decor, the service, and was the food any good? Lewis wasn’t really in the mood for a chinwag, but when it came to Fiona he always made an effort – she certainly deserved it after all she’d done for him, acting as a surrogate mother for half his life. So he sat himself in a chair and gave her the lowdown, trying to remember what people had been wearing beyond a smart Italian suit – women’s dresses never made much of an impression on Lewis, much to Fiona’s perpetual annoyance.
    Having exhausted the topic, the conversation then turned to the big day on Monday – the match, and of course the intrigue around it.
    “And your friend, Lee... he’ll be arriving about lunch time. Will he come over here first before going to Melbourne Park?” Fiona asked.
    It was here that Lewis perked himself up for this was a question he’d been asking himself. It would be good to get Fiona’s opinion on the matter, especially where it concerned her cantankerous husband. “To be honest, I’m not really sure. I suppose if it’s in the evening then it would make sense if he did, but... Well, what do you think? Should he come over, or just meet us there?”
    “The pair of you should do as you please. It would be nice to meet him, though. I know he means a lot to you ... And don’t worry about Jim. He’ll be fine.”
    Her smile was so reassuring, but Lewis still asked the question anyway. “Are you certain about that? I know he’s finding this awkward.”
    Fiona reached over and patted his hand. “There are lots of awkward things in life, Lewis, but we deal with them. I think it would rude not to ask him round. Don’t worry - we’re not going to scare him off. He’ll be made welcome... And he’ll be made welcome if you decide you want him to stay the night. I’ve made the arrangements for a hotel though, and the flight ticket will be with him tomorrow. I’ve left the return open. There’s a whole week to go yet.”
    Lewis could feel a blush coming to his cheeks. He’d thought about a bed, but not the practicalities. It was good to have such an open and pragmatic person to help him out. “Thanks, Fiona, I’ll away to my room now and get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “ Aye, you do that. Goodnight.”
    Once in his room, Lewis was unable to settle. So many things were disturbing him and running through his mind, like his idiotic behaviour at times over dinner, and the expression on Scott’s face when their photograph was taken outside the restaurant, with ‘Serendipity’ flashing in the background. That was no happy accident, and Lewis had a horrible feeling it would come back to haunt them.
    He hoped that it wouldn’t though. He valued Scott too much – as a mentor, a friend, as idol he could look up to, the perfect role model for a lad like himself, both in and out of his sport. Ruggedly good looking and sexy with it, he was the perfect man in so many ways. Sadly straight, but there you go – everyone had to have some fault to their character, and as far as Lewis was concerned, that one was a whopper.
    Slouched on his bed, Lewis wondered what Scott was up to now. Young, single, rich and famous, easy on the eye and probably hacked off – the chances were he’d gone to the hotel bar where there were always some tennis groupies to be found - obliging young ladies on the lookout for a star. That would be a way for Scott to finish the night well and put paid to any potential