Chasing Daisy

is feeling this morning,’ I muse, when Frederick leaves us alone for a moment to harass a couple of other front-of-house staff, a husband and wife team from Germany called Klaus and Gertrude. They’re weird as hell when you chat to them socially, but scarily efficient at their jobs.
    ‘Concerned for Luis’s welfare now, are you?’ Holly raises one eyebrow at me.
    ‘No,’ I answer, annoyed.
    ‘I imagine he’s feeling on top of the world after his shag last night,’ she says.
    ‘You reckon they did the dirty deed?’ I struggle to keep my tone light.
    ‘I know they did the dirty deed,’ she says, ominously. ‘Alberta came out of Luis’s room at three o’clock this morning looking very much like the cat that got the cream.’
    ‘How do you know these things?’ I shake my head in awe.
    She just smiles secretively. ‘Never give away my sources. Anyway, Luis will be in for a tough time with Simon if he doesn’t pull out all the stops in qualifying today.’
    ‘Haven’t you finished yet?’ Frederick snaps, coming back over to us.
    ‘Yes, Chef!’ we chorus.
    ‘Then get outside to the serving table, both of you!’
    Ten minutes later, I’m trying not to let the smell of frying bacon turn my stomach when a dishevelled-looking Luis walks through the hospitality doors. He’s unshaven and wearing sunglasses, and everyone knows Simon likes his drivers to be well turned out.
    He comes straight over to us.
    ‘What can I get you?’ Holly asks, ever-chirpy.
    ‘Just a coffee. Strong,’ he adds.
    ‘Get lucky last night, did you?’ I give him a dry look.
    ‘You have got such a mouth on you,’ he answers, not amused.
    I should be careful, actually. I shouldn’t really speak to a ‘revered’ driver like this, but when it comes to Luis, I just can’t help myself.
    ‘You look a bit worse for wear yourself,’ he adds, still staring at me.
    ‘Why, thank you very much, sir. You sure know how to please a lady.’
    ‘That’s what I was told last night.’
    I look at him, open-mouthed. He takes his coffee and wanders off, nonchalantly.
    ‘Did you hear what he just said?’ My voice has risen an octave.
    ‘Yes, yes, I heard it. You don’t half ask for it, though.’ Holly rolls her eyes.
    ‘I knew Alberta was a Screwdriver the minute I clapped eyes on her,’ I say hotly.
    A ‘Screwdriver’ is a term we use in the business for women who chase after racing drivers. Or, to put it another way, for women who screw drivers. Nice, huh?
    ‘Why should you care, anyway?’ Holly asks. ‘You can’t stand the guy.’
    ‘He’s a jerk,’ I respond, just to reaffirm my feelings if they were at all unclear.
    ‘Freakishly good-looking though,’ she says.
    ‘Good-looking?’ I scoff. ‘How can you say that?’
    She just laughs. ‘Ooh, look, it’s Prince Charming.’ She nods towards the door and I glance up to see Will walk in.
    He heads over to the serving table, looking different to how I remembered him. I could have sworn his face was rounder.
    ‘Alright?’ he says.
    Holly gives me a discreet shove when I don’t immediately find my voice. ‘Hello! What can I get you?’ I ask him sweetly, coming to life.
    ‘That looks good,’ he says, eyeing up the bacon. ‘But I’d better go for some of that.’ He points to Holly’s muesli instead.
    I feel dejected as I watch her serve him.
    ‘Out last night with the lads?’ Will looks straight at me.
    ‘How did you know . . . Oh, looking a bit rough, am I?’
    ‘No, I just heard from a couple of the guys that you were out on the town. Good night?’
    ‘Great,’ I respond, delighted from the top of my head down to the tips of my rose-coloured toenails. He was talking about me!
    ‘Where did you go?’
    ‘St Kilda. It’s just on the other side of the—’
    ‘I know it.’
    ‘Skimmed, semi or full fat?’ Holly interrupts, indicating the silver milk jugs.
    ‘Semi.’
    She pours some milk into his bowl and he takes it from her.
    ‘Would you like a coffee or anything to drink?’ I ask.
    ‘An orange juice, thanks.
    ’ I pass him a glass, my hand shaking ever so slightly.
    He grins and nods at it. ‘Is that a result of your scooter accident or alcohol withdrawal?’
    Actually it’s because I’m so nervous about being this close to you. But I lie and tell him it’s probably alcohol related.
    ‘You should have come out with us!’ Holly gushes.
    ‘Nah,’ he replies.
    ‘Too dedicated.’ I smile at him warmly. I can see Holly out of the