Chasing Daisy

pair of childhood sweethearts . . .’ I moan, then apologise for bringing the conversation back to me. ‘So does that theory work for you? Has it taken twice as much time as you were together for you to get over her?’
    ‘Hell no, much more. But I’m over her now. I may not have gone to her wedding, but I am over her.’
    ‘Wedding? Who did she marry?’
    He gives me a wry look.
    ‘Not your best friend?’ I pull a face.
    He laughs. ‘Well, I wouldn’t call him that anymore.’
    ‘No, I guess not.’ I swallow a mouthful of whisky as the bartender plonks a couple of refills back on the bar top.
    ‘Cheers!’ Luis says again. ‘I shouldn’t really be drinking all this the night before qualifying. Simon and João would go mad.’
    I glance at my watch. It’s getting close to two a.m. ‘Do you think we should call it quits?’ I look around. My friends have already left.
    ‘Yeah, you’re probably right,’ Luis replies, putting his bottle of beer on the bar top.
    I slide off my stool and almost topple down a step that I forgot was there.
    ‘Whoa,’ Luis says, putting his hands on my arms to steady me. I look up into his dark-brown eyes and a hundred butterflies swarm through my stomach, taking me completely by surprise. I feel my face heat up and quickly look away.
    And considering how openly we both spoke earlier on in the night, on the walk back to the hotel we find we have very little to say to each other at all.

 
Chapter 14
     
    ‘Have you told him to fuck off in French yet?’ Luis asks me the next day during morning tea service.
    I laugh. All appears to be normal between us. I don’t know what was going on with those butterflies, but my blame falls squarely on the alcohol.
    I got back before Holly last night. I tried to ring her because I was worried, then realised she’d already texted me to say everything was fine and they were going to Jimmyz nightclub. Infamous Eurotrash heaven, apparently.
    I nod at Luis. ‘You look alright considering how much you had to drink.’ Klaus and Gertrude did the early shift so this is the first time we’ve seen each other today.
    ‘Are you saying I normally look like a man who can’t hold his drink?’
    I consider him. ‘Well, you are a bit scrawny.’
    He laughs and throws a napkin at me.
    ‘Oi!’ I’m about to throw it back at him, but spy Frederick by the kitchen door. ‘I’ll get you back, right when you least expect it,’ I warn, evilly.
    ‘Just you try, bun tart.’
    We’re still chuckling when Will and Laura appear.
    ‘Good morning,’ I say, not sounding quite as forced chirpy as I did the day before. ‘I’ll be with you in a minute.’
    ‘Tucking into the pastries, are you, Luis?’ Will says.
    ‘I need something to help me get over my hangover,’ Luis casually explains.
    ‘Out drinking the night before qualifying?’ Will raises his eyebrows.
    ‘Blame Daisy,’ Luis answers, as I hand him tiny pots of butter and jam to go with his croissant.
    Will frowns and indicates me with his thumb. ‘Daisy? This Daisy?’
    Luis nods, picking up a knife and leaning against the serving table. ‘Yeah, we had a few, didn’t we?’
    ‘That we did,’ I agree.
    ‘Were you guys all out together or something?’ Will nods towards the kitchen where Holly is working away.
    ‘No, just Daisy and me,’ Luis explains, slathering his croissant with butter.
    The corners of Will’s mouth turn down.
    ‘Aw, did you head off early from the charity event?’ Laura pipes up.
    ‘Afraid so.’ Luis pulls a face. ‘Not really my scene, all that stuff. But don’t worry, I left a little something. Anyway, better get this down me before we hit the track. See ya later.’ He winks at me and wanders away.
    ‘What can I get for you?’ I force a smile at Laura.
    ‘Just a juice, please.’
    ‘Orange? Apple? Grapefruit?’ I wave my hand at the glass jugs to my right.
    ‘Ooh, I don’t know,’ she replies, sweetly. ‘Maybe . . . Apple? Are you a little short?’ She examines the contents of the jug.
    ‘There’s more out the back,’ I tell her, trying to keep my tone even. Just hurry up and bugger off.
    ‘Okay, apple then,’ she decides.
    ‘Will?’ I turn to him.
    ‘Nothing, thanks.’
    I serve Laura and then watch as they walk off to an empty table.
    ‘What’s up with you?’ Holly asks, coming out of the kitchen with a platter of mini lemon tarts. ‘You look like you want to murder someone . . . Oh,’ she says, spying Will and Laura.
    I