Chasing Daisy

I shudder as a memory comes back to me.
    ‘And where did you learn to swear in Italian?’
    I laugh. ‘Well, that was from an Italian boy I went out with.’
    ‘Aha! I see.’
    ‘Much to my father’s disgust,’ I add.
    He leans forward with interest. ‘That’s a bit hypocritical considering he married your mother.’
    ‘You don’t have to tell me my father’s a hypocrite,’ I reply. Hang on, why am I opening up to him about all of this?
    ‘What about you?’ I change the subject. ‘Do you get along with your family?’
    ‘There are a lot of us, but yes.’
    ‘A lot of you?’
    ‘Mum, dad, three sisters and four brothers.’
    ‘No way, that’s humungous!’
    ‘Thirteen cousins, five uncles and four aunties.’
    ‘Grandparents?’
    ‘Alive and well.’
    I sigh. ‘Wow. I’m jealous.’
    He leans back in his chair again. I lean back in mine and rest the tips of my silver-grey ballet pumps on the low table.
    ‘Do you want another?’ Luis motions towards my drink and clicks his fingers for service.
    ‘Sure.’
    A waiter comes over and takes our order. A few minutes later he returns with our drinks.
    ‘So,’ Luis says, crossing one leg over the other so that his ankle rests on the opposite knee. He’s wearing a red T-shirt and dark-denim jeans. ‘What’s going on with you and Will?’
    ‘What do you mean, what’s going on? Nothing’s going on!’ I can feel my face heating up.
    ‘You can tell me, I won’t tell anyone.’
    ‘Oh, sure,’ I reply sarcastically. ‘Just like you didn’t tell anyone I nearly broke your legs.’
    He cracks up laughing and almost spills his drink. ‘I was only joking.’ He waves his hand dismissively.
    ‘If Simon had heard you say that, I could have been fired,’ I point out, pedantically.
    ‘Simon did hear me say it.’
    ‘ WHAT? ’
    ‘Keep your bra on, bun tart, I didn’t know he was behind me.’
    ‘Keep my bra on? You are such a chauvinistic pig!’
    ‘Thanks.’ He flashes me a grin with his annoyingly white teeth.
    ‘How did he react?’ I push.
    ‘He just asked me if I was alright, if I’d been hurt, and I laughed and said of course not, you weren’t trying hard enough.’
    ‘Please tell me you’re joking . . . Oh my God, I can’t believe he hasn’t fired me.’
    ‘Far from it. You got a promotion.’
    ‘No thanks to you!’ I snipe.
    ‘Actually . . .’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘What, you thought Will had requested you?’ he asks, smirking.
    The disappointment is crushing. I look down at the table.
    ‘God, you crack me up. Have you met his girlfriend?’ he asks.
    ‘No. Have you?’ Now, I’m curious.
    ‘Yeah, at a do in London before the season started. Pretty.’
    I fall silent and study my drink.
    ‘Not as pretty as you, though,’ he adds. I look up at him and there’s a familiar twinkle in his eye.
    ‘Shut up.’ But I smile at his teasing. ‘What about you? Have you got a girlfriend?’
    ‘No. It would be cruel to limit myself to just one girl. I need to share myself around.’
    I shake my head at him in mock disgust. ‘How old are you?’
    ‘Twenty-six. Why?’
    ‘That’s the same age as me!’ I exclaim. I was about to tell him he’s immature, but I’m easily distracted.
    ‘And Will,’ he adds.
    ‘No shit? What a coincidence!’
    ‘Yes, what a coincidence.’ He’s being mildly sarcastic. He knocks back his drink and holds up his empty. ‘Another?’ I nod and he raises his hand for service.
    ‘Can we get a bottle of champagne, please?’ he asks the waiter who has just arrived at our table.
    ‘Certainly, sir,’ the waiter replies.
    I start to protest, but Luis interrupts. ‘As soon as possible, thanks.’
    ‘I thought you didn’t drink champagne?’ I’m confused as I watch the waiter rush away.
    ‘I don’t, but I want to freak Will out.’
    ‘ Will? ’
    ‘Don’t look!’ Luis hushes me, but I’m already sitting up in my chair like a hare in the headlights. ‘You are so obvious,’ he chides, half hiding his face with his hand.
    ‘Where is he?’ I demand to know.
    ‘Shh!’
    ‘ Where? ’ I can’t bear the thought of him going upstairs to his room without seeing me.
    The waiter comes out from behind the bar area with a bottle of champagne and at that point, Luis stands up.
    ‘Will!’ he calls.
    I still can’t see him, but I don’t have a clear line of vision towards the reception desk.
    ‘He’s coming.’ Luis grins at me as he sits down.
    ‘Are you winding me up?’ I