Page 27 of Serve
“Emm is meeting Tina in Barcelona, her hometown. They’re spending a couple of weeks with her family.” He went to the closet and pulled their empty bags out and placed them on the bed.
“So, what are we doing? Weren’t we supposed to be going to Barcelona too? What’s going on with Scott?”
“There’s been a change in plans. Scott showed up, was seated just a couple of places behind you and Emm in fact. I have no idea what he’s up to, and right now I don’t care. We’ve got to get out of here. Places to see, that sort of thing.” He chuckled, then started throwing clothes in the bags. Chip stood, grabbed him by the shoulders.
“What’s going on? Where are we going?”
Tyler pecked him on the lips.
“It’s a surprise.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tyler- Nice
“This is more than I ever dreamed of seeing. Is it possible to live in such a place year round and grow immune to the beauty?”
Chip’s reaction to the resort city of Nice in the south of France made cancelling the next tournament worth it. Tyler didn’t bother responding. His silence was agreement, and his hand on the small of Chip’s back his reassurance that his eyes weren’t deceiving him.
“Nissa la bella.” He murmured.
“What does that mean?” Chip asked.
“Nice the beautiful, and it is stunning. I love visiting, but I’d never live here. I’d hate to become accustomed to its beauty.” Dixie had rented a house outside of Nice for them, and after a couple of days resting, they’d finally ventured into the city.
They were in a tiny park on a cliff overlooking the port. The brightly colored homes were like glittering jewels, and the intense blue of the Mediterranean intensified the effect.
He’d pulled out of the next tournament, claiming fatigue. It wasn’t entirely untrue. Playing on clay courts was grueling, and his body needed to recuperate.
Plus, he needed to figure out what the hell Scott was up to.
“Enjoy this while you can. We’re off to Madrid in a few days, and Emm and Tina will both be joining us. Tina will be a mess, so I’m glad you will be here with her.” He said.
“Why will she be a mess?” Chip asked.
“Who isn’t a mess when visiting your in-laws? I’m sure Tina will be glad to put the visit behind her. There’s a reason they live in Texas; Emm is a huge star in Spain. The press will be all over her, especially now that she’s my coach. This is going to put more eyes on us.” Tyler grimaced. He hoped Chip would get the hint without him having to spell it out. He’d need him to lie low because of the press.
“She’s a huge star? Oh yeah, I keep forgetting she’s a former champion. Poor Tina.” Chip said.
“Why do you say that?” Tyler asked.
“Because, she probably hid from the press too.” He turned away, then sat on the bench behind them
“I’m truly sorry, Chip. This isn’t easy for either of us.”
They never spoke of this, the hiding and subterfuge. Tyler understood the pressure Chip was feeling all too well, having lived with it for years. He’d never experienced it at this intensity though, because he’d never felt like this for anyone before. He’d thought of sending Chip home, away from the prying eyes that stalked them, but the thought of waking up alone in a strange hotel room kept him from doing it.
“Why don’t you tell them the truth? I mean, wouldn’t that put an end to it all? They can’t sniff out what they already know.” Chip said.
Tyler’s heart leapt up into his throat. The thought of his life laid out in front of the eyes of the world was terrifying. He sat next to Chip, looked around to see if anyone was around. Satisfied they were alone, he took Chip’s hand in his.
“It sounds easy, doesn’t it? I mean, telling the truth. It’s also scary. Have I ever told you about my first press conference?”
“No. Was it scary?” Chip squeezed Tyler’s hand and let it go.
“I’d made it to the quarterfinals of my first professional tournament. I was being hailed as the next major American player, the next Agassi, or Roddick. The pressure was huge. I could handle that. Hell, it even went to my head. I remember bragging about my win that day. Then I got asked a question I didn’t know how to answer.” He fell silent, remembering the discomfort he felt then. He rarely thought about it, but that day prepared him to become one of the most elusive players on tour when it came to the press.
“What did they ask?”
