Chasing Daisy

it.’
    ‘What? Race?’
    ‘Yes. How did you get behind the wheel again after that?’
    ‘I didn’t for a while. Only because I broke my leg,’ he explains, grinning.
    ‘How can you smile about it?’ Nausea has crept up into my throat. ‘Aren’t you worried it might happen again?’
    ‘You can’t think about that, otherwise it will affect your driving. But I tell you what, if I ever end up paralysed after a crash, somebody had better shoot me, because I don’t want to do anything else. My girlfriend is under strict instructions.’
    ‘To do what?’ I don’t even baulk at the mention of Laura because I’m too distracted by our morbid discussion. ‘Shoot you?’
    ‘Well . . . A lethal injection would be neater.’
    ‘I hope she told you to go fuck yourself,’ I say crossly.
    He laughs. ‘Yeah, she did, actually.’
    I take a deep breath. ‘I think we’d better talk about something else.’
    ‘Aw, sorry.’ He straightens his leg out and kicks my foot. ‘I didn’t think that sort of thing would bother you.’
    ‘What, the thought of you dying ?’ I ask, outraged.
    He laughs, unfazed by my reaction. ‘You’re just like my girlfriend.’
    I’m in two minds about whether or not that’s a good thing. I give him a wry look and ask something I’ve been wondering for some time. ‘Do you two live together?’
    ‘No. Well, half and half. She has her own apartment in town.’
    ‘How long have you been a couple?’
    ‘I’ve known her most of my life, but we got together when we were about fifteen.’
    My stomach churns as reality sinks in. I’ve been living in a fantasy crush world, but he’s in love with Laura. He’s not going to leave her. He’ll never be in love with me. I have to get over him.
    ‘Do you think you’ll get married?’ I don’t want to ask these questions, but I can’t stop myself. I hold my breath as he shrugs, oblivious to my pain.
    ‘I don’t know. Maybe.’
    Only maybe? Is there still some hope? No, no, no!
    ‘Are you getting me back for all my prying in Barcelona?’ He raises one eyebrow.
    ‘I told you I would.’
    His smile turns into a very loud yawn.
    ‘Tired, are you?’ I ask with amusement.
    ‘Shattered.’
    ‘I guess I’d better let you get some sleep, then.’ I start to get up. He doesn’t try to stop me, sadly.
    ‘Hey, you’d better cancel your taxi for the morning,’ he says.
    ‘That’s a good point. I’ll call them now. Thanks.’
    ‘Night.’
    ‘Sleep well.’
    I throw my quilt over my shoulder and head out the door, looking back to see him snuggle down under the covers and lay his head on the armrest. How on earth I’m going to get any sleep knowing he’s in the next room, is beyond me.

 
Chapter 12
     
    Another day, another plane to catch. This time I’m off to Istanbul for the Turkish Grand Prix and I’m flying straight there from Italy. I stayed on for a couple of days to spend some time with Nonna and it was beautifully relaxing, even if I did have a lot on my mind.
    Will and I needn’t have worried about the weather, because when we woke up, the skies were blue as far as the eye could see and the only reminder of the storm were the puddles on the road.
    The last day of filming passed by in such a blur that I barely even spoke to Holly, let alone Will. Holly seemed distracted and not that interested in my evening the night before. I guess it’s because she disapproves, and I was reluctant to talk about him for fear of her tainting my memories. Even now we’re in Istanbul, she’s not saying much.
    On the Friday morning before the race, Will comes into the hospitality area where I’m sitting at one of the tables, tidying up the flower arrangement. I start when I see him, because I’d got it into my head that he looked like Leonardo DiCaprio and now I realise that their resemblance is slim.
    ‘Hey,’ he says, coming over. ‘How was your break?’
    ‘Lovely.’ I beam. ‘Nonna said to wish you luck, by the way.’
    At that moment, Luis walks past. ‘No girlfriend this weekend?’ he asks Will, slyly.
    Will stares at him. ‘No. Why?’
    ‘Just wondering.’ Luis gives me a look and keeps on going. I feel my face heat up so I quickly go back to my flower arranging.
    Will looks after him and frowns. ‘Weirdo.’
    I giggle and stand up. ‘Do you want me to get you some breakfast?’
    ‘No, you carry on. Gertrude can do it.’
    I look over to see Gertrude behind the serving table. Will heads off before I have a