Chasing Daisy

shoulder.
    ‘They look like they’ve got – what do you say? – pokers shoved up their arses.’ Luis appears out of nowhere.
    I meet his eyes and my nose starts to prickle. Oh God, please don’t cry. He looks shocked as he realises I’m about to do just that, but I quickly rush off to the bathroom.
    No, no, no, I tell myself after I’ve locked the door and sat down on the seat. I will not cry. This is ridiculous. I haven’t cried over him yet, and I can handle this situation. The end is nigh, Daisy, the end is nigh! I wave my hands in front of my face and try not to be melodramatic. Happy things. Think happy things. Puppies, kittens . . . I’ve always wanted a pet, but my father wouldn’t let me. No! That’s not a happy thought! Nonna . . . Nice Nonna. I miss her. I hardly ever see her. No! Another horrid thought! Holly . . . Laughing, smiling Holly . . . Who’s lying to me about her relationship with a married man. Argh! Luis and I in Monaco pestering the French bartender for new swear words. I start to smirk and moments later feel better about returning outside. Luis has gone, but Holly looks at me with concern.
    ‘Don’t give me any sympathy,’ I warn. She understands it will only set me off again, so we work away in silence.
    Mr and Mrs Trust are sitting with Laura at a table. Will isn’t with them, but after a while he comes downstairs kitted out in his racing gear. He goes straight over to them.
    ‘I have to get to the pits for qualifying,’ I overhear him say. ‘Would you like to come?’
    ‘Fine, yes,’ his mother replies, sipping the last of her tea. She turns to Laura. ‘Will you join us?’
    ‘Yes. Thank you.’ Laura smiles and all three stand up. Will doesn’t look my way as they follow him out of the hospitality area.
    ‘Are you coming to watch qualifying?’ Holly asks as soon as they’re out of eyesight.
    ‘No.’ My reply is blunt. I damn well won’t.
    It was an exciting session, I discover later, when team members start to spill back into the hospitality area. Will sneaked pole position with Luis less than one tenth of a second behind him, so he’ll start in second place on the grid tomorrow. I don’t feel as happy as I know I should. My run-in with Will’s parents has left a seriously nasty taste in my mouth, and the other thing that’s bothering me is how I feel about Laura. She seems like a nice person and if I feel bad about breaking her heart, how is everyone else going to feel about me?
    Will is completely oblivious to my dilemma when he returns from the pits with a spring in his step. He comes over to me, grinning.
    ‘Did you see it?’
    ‘No, I was here. Well done,’ I add unsmiling.
    He gives me a querying look, but doesn’t say anything because people are in earshot. ‘Can you sort me out with a team shirt?’ he prompts eventually.
    ‘Now?’
    ‘Yes, please.’
    I come out from behind the serving table and stalk off towards the stairs.
    ‘What’s up with you?’ he asks as soon as we’re inside his private room.
    ‘I met your parents,’ I reply sombrely.
    ‘Were they okay with you?’
    ‘Not really, Will. I get the feeling they don’t like Americans very much.’
    ‘Well . . .’ He looks away from me. ‘I told you what they were like.’
    ‘I didn’t think they’d be that bad. And they’re going to hate me even more when they discover . . .’ I can feel myself getting slightly hysterical now.
    ‘It will be alright,’ he lies. ‘Anyway, I don’t care what my parents think. If my dad writes me out of his will, fuck it!’
    ‘Writes you out of his will?’ I ask, horrified. ‘Would it really come to that? Over your relationship with me?’
    ‘Calm down,’ he insists, putting his hands on my arms. I shrug him off. ‘I can’t handle this.’ I turn to leave. ‘It’s all too much, Will.’
    ‘Daisy, please . . .’ He tries to grab my hand, but I won’t let him. I start to open the door, but he slams it shut again.
    ‘You almost got my fingers!’ I squawk.
    ‘Sorry,’ he says. ‘Just wait a minute, would you?’ He’s frustrated now. I glare at him. ‘Why don’t we go for a drive tonight? Just the two of us?’
    ‘Oh, that sounds like such a fun night out,’ I reply sarcastically.
    He frowns at me.
    ‘Did you sleep well last night?’ I snap.
    ‘No. I slept on the sofa,’ he replies pedantically.
    ‘Did you?’ My heart lifts a little.
    ‘Yes, of course.’ He takes my hand and pulls me to him, staring into my