Read Online Naked Hero - The Journey Away by J. K. Brighton - Free Book Online

went to the shared living quarters instead. As expected Jim Murdoch was there, whilst his wife Fiona had already gone to bed. Lewis knew the old bugger was waiting for his return, the vigil aided by some spies whose palms he would have greased - the hotel reception had undoubtedly already called up to confirm that Macleod was back safe and sound.
    Lewis cut straight to the chase, not giving Jim the chance to ask how the evening went and if he’d followed the advice of the ATP official. “I think we should leave tomorrow, mate. We both know that Sydney has too many temptations for the likes of me. Maybe we can do the training session in the morning and then head off after that. I need as much court time as possible now.”
    Jim looked up from the book he’d been half-heartedly reading, hiding his relief that Lewis was back at a decent time and wasn’t as drunk as he could have been. He also masked his delight at this decision... and the use of the term ‘mate’ which had been very rare of late in their conversations - or shouting matches as they too often turned into. “I’ll see what I can do,” he gruffly answered, knowing that he’d move mountains to make it so. “Are you sure you’re up for the court tomorrow, though?” Jim throwing in a little dig that he couldn’t resist.
    “No bother, mate,” answered Lewis dismissively. “I’ve had a few drinks tonight, I’ll grant you that, but I’ll be fine tomorrow... and Jim, that’s the end of the booze as well. I promise you.”
    “We’ll see, Lewis.”
    “No, I mean it... and it’s not the drink talking either, it’s me. I know what I’ve been like of late, and let’s just say - I’ve had my wake-up call... Can we try and put it behind us? Get our act together. Well, mine anyway… I want to, Jim, I need to… and I need your help to do it.”
    Jim looked at the lad intently. He’d heard this before and had always been disappointed, but instincts told him that Lewis was more serious about it this time. Perhaps his latest encounter with the tabloids had given him a bit of a shake up, and some good would come out of it after all. “Okay. I’ll help. We’ll get the plans sorted one way or the other.”
    “Fine.”
    As Lewis turned to wards his bedroom, he paused and looked back at his coach, seeing him properly for the first time in a while. It was a sobering image - mortality sat there in front of him, flaunting the years which had managed to catch up with Jim Murdoch all too quickly of late. His hair was thinning at an alarming rate, and what was left had now turned to grey. Too many worries sat on his face, clinging on to the bags under his eyes. That was Father Time for you - there could be no escape. Lewis absorbed it for a while before speaking, attempting to blank out the inevitability of it all. “Thanks, Jim… for sticking by me. I appreciate it, mate. I really do. I know I’ve been a pain in the arse lately.”
    Jim gave a cursory nod of acknowledgement then followed it up with words that might have been best left unsaid, but he’d never been soft when it came to his charge – he refused to allow sentiment to interfere with the job. “That’s what you pay me for, Lewis, now on you go. You need some sleep if you’re going to hit the court in the morning.”
    Lewis looked at him again, and wished that Jim could find it in himself to show that he actually cared, that it wasn’t just a job. For the umpteenth time he wondered what Jim Murdoch really thought of him. He knew once, but things had changed so much since the premature success and the spoiler that Lewis had thrown in at the end. There was a distance now between them that hadn’t existed before that day.
    “It’s not been easy for me of late, Jim . And I know it’ll be a bumpy ride ahead. I need you more than ever as a coach… but I need a friend as well… I hope you’ll still be there for me… like you always have been. We both know that I’d have been dead in the