Page 15 of Serve (Men of Hidden Creek Season 1, #5)
“Now I’ve got your contact information and you have mine.
We’ll be in communication daily.” She put her phone in her briefcase and shut it.
“I’m out of here.” Sania hugged Tyler and Dixie, then shook Emm’s hand.
When she got to Chip she took him by the elbow and walked him a few feet away from the others.
“We’ve never had a chance to talk at length, so unfortunately this will be brief.
You need to be aware that I care for Tyler deeply, not just as a client, but as a close friend.
I have the best intentions, and am always working for his success.
Sometimes I come across as cold. I’m very aware of that, but I want this to be taken as a sincere truth.
I really like you too. Anyone who can put up with this life is either insane, or an angel.
I’m choosing to believe the latter. We had some issues with Scott, and you got to witness it without knowing the full situation.
I apologize, but since you are an integral part of Tyler’s life now, going forward, I will do my best to be as upfront with you as possible. Am I making myself understood?”
“Um, yes. I’m no angel, but I appreciate your thinking I am. Sania, I’m also on Tyler’s side. I want you to know that, okay?” Chip’s cheeks burned red. Her brusque, business-like attitude toward everything intimidated him. He detected sincerity in her voice, and hoped she really was.
“I do.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m going to be late for my flight, and it’s halfway across the airport.” She air-kissed Chip on each cheek, then turned to the group.
“I’ll talk to each and every one of you tomorrow. Bye!” Sania jogged off, then Dixie and Tina made their exit. Chip sat next to Tyler, while Emm leaned against a pole playing games on her phone.
Tyler’s smile stretched across his face, and hadn’t stopped since he'd won the tournament. Despite deep shadows under his eyes, he looked alert, ready for anything. Chip figured now was the best time to ask him about the match.
“So, what happened today? Travis was winning, then suddenly your ex-coach was pissed, and you were winning, and I know it has something to do with Sania.”
“Does it really matter? All’s well that ends well, right?” Tyler reached out and mussed Chip’s hair. Chip jumped in his seat, and shook his head,
“I need to know what’s going on. Don’t you trust me?” He asked. Emm glanced over, then resumed her game.
“Keep your voice down. Scott was trying to blackmail me into losing.” Tyler whispered.
“What?” Chip said, louder than he thought. Emm shook her head at them and placed a finger over her lips.
“He was going to the press and telling them I’m gay.
Sania called her secretary and had her find the non-disclosure agreement he signed when he originally became my coach.
Dumb ass had forgotten about it. Sania got it to him at the very last minute, if you couldn’t tell.
She gave me the thumbs up after the end of the first set.
I put the pedal to the metal and blew Travis away after that.
” He leaned back in his chair, a grin plastered to his face.
Chip’s mouth was open, eyes glazed over as this information settled in.
“You were going to let him win? Throw the match? Isn’t that wrong?” He whispered. Tyler’s smile faded.
“What else could I do? If he went public, my entire comeback would have been ruined. Trust me, I didn’t like the idea of tanking, but I had no choice.
” Tyler stood up as a flight attendant approached to let them know they were boarding first class passengers.
Chip and Emm got their bags together and followed Tyler on to the plane.
Emm leaned in and whispered in Chip’s ear as she took the seat behind them.
“Let him sleep. You and I can talk after he dozes off.”
He nodded his head, and wondered for the first time if he’d made the right decision to quit his job and follow Tyler halfway across the globe.
Tyler’s eyes closed as the plane took off, and stayed that way through the rest of the flight. His first tournament back was a success, but it took a toll on him mentally and physically. An hour after takeoff, Chip felt Emm tap his shoulder, so he slid into the empty seat beside her.
“Tyler did well, but I doubt anyone has told you the same. You’ve been awesome, dude.” Emm said, a rare smile escaping her normally placid features. Chip nodded his thanks.
“This life is tough. I’m sure you’re figuring that out, but it doesn’t have to be. Let me tell you what I told Tina when she first hit the road with me. Just hang back, and keep the spotlight on him. As long as you do that, everything is going to be fine, okay?” Emm whispered.
Chip leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a second. He didn’t have a problem letting Tyler have the lion’s share of attention. In fact, he preferred it. But did this mean he’d have to live his life in the shadows?
“I get what you’re saying, Emm.” He whispered. “But isn’t that hard to do? What if, I don’t know, somebody catches on? I can only pretend for so long before I blurt the truth out without meaning to, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, but as long as Tyler stays in the closet, that’s where you have to be too. Look, if it gets to be too much, just head home. He played on the circuit for over a decade without you following him around. I’m sure he’ll survive a few months every year without you.” She replied.
“A few months?” He said, his voice louder and higher. Tyler shifted in the seat in front of them. Emm elbowed him and put her finger to her lips.
“This isn’t like football or baseball. The tennis season runs for eleven months a year. He’s always going to be on the road, that’s just a fact of life you’re going to have to accept.” She said, then noticed the worried look in his eyes.
“Hey, if the world were a perfect place, you two could live openly, like me and Tina. It’s not, though, so make the best of it. Who knows, maybe he’ll come to his senses and make history.” Emm said.
“What do you mean, make history?”
“Come out of the closet. He’d be the first male tennis player to be open about it.
What, you don’t think that would be all over the news?
He’d be on the cover of Time magazine, the New York Times.
They care more about who he fucks than how many titles he’s won.
” She snorted and shook her head. “It’s stupid, but that’s the world we live in. ”
Chip thanked her, then returned to his seat. He closed his eyes, praying for sleep, but it wouldn’t come. One thought played in his head, repeating itself on a continuous loop of despair.
“What if I ruin his career?”