Free Chasing Daisy by Paige Toon

up to the lifts and push the call button. Inside, I watch the numbers above the lift door glow red as we pass each floor. Finally we reach my destination as it comes to a smooth stop. The doors swish open and Will is standing on the landing.
    ‘Hi!’ he says in surprise.
    ‘Hi!’ I reply with equal surprise. I step out. ‘I brought you your cap.’
    ‘Aah, thanks.’ He reaches out and takes it from me, turning it over in his hands. ‘I was just debating whether to come back down for it.’
    ‘I saved you the trouble. Why were you debating? Too tired to make the long journey?’ I ask, jokily.
    He puts his cap back on and leans against the wall, crossing his arms. ‘Er, no, I didn’t know if I should interrupt you and Luis again.’
    ‘Ha! You’ve got to be joking, you’d hardly be interrupting anything.’
    His face is dark under his cap, but I can see him watching me in amusement.
    ‘Seriously,’ I hurry on to explain. ‘I was bored out of my brains. That’s the only reason I’d go drinking with that moron.’
    He laughs. ‘That’s a relief,’ he says.
    ‘Is it? Why?’
    ‘I thought I was going to have to warn you off him, big brother-style.’
    I ignore the use of ‘brother’. ‘You don’t have to warn me about him. I know what he’s like. I think he’s just pulled a couple of Screwdrivers at the bar, actually.’
    He grins. ‘Well, you’re welcome to come and watch a movie with me next time you’re bored.’
    ‘Really?’ My heart starts to pound faster.
    ‘Sure.’
    I want to ask when, but don’t want to seem desperate. Now? Please, God, please, now.
    ‘Tomorrow if you like,’ he says, pushing himself away from the wall and standing up straight.
    That’ll do! I’m a bit trashed at the moment anyway.
    ‘It’s a date!’ I tell him enthusiastically. ‘I mean, it’s not a date, but, oh you know what I’m saying.’
    He laughs.
    ‘What shall we watch?’ I change tack. ‘It better not be a war movie.’
    ‘I can’t promise anything,’ he says as he sets off down the corridor to his suite. ‘But as long as you don’t make me watch any of that chick-flick crap, we’ll be alright.’
    ‘Okay!’ I call after him.
    ‘Thanks for my cap,’ he calls back, sliding his electronic key card into the slot and going inside.
    ‘Sure thing!’ But the door has already closed behind him.

 
Chapter 7
     
    The next evening at eight o’clock on the dot, I nervously knock on Will’s door. He seems a little flustered when he answers it.
    ‘Come in,’ he says, waving me inside.
    ‘Is this a bad time?’ I ask, warily.
    ‘No, it’s fine.’ He shuts the door behind me. It’s then that I notice he’s still wearing one of his team T-shirts and it looks more than a little sweaty.
    ‘Have you only just got back from your training session?’ I ask.
    ‘Yeah, Tarquin kept me out later today.’
    ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I should let you shower and eat and stuff.’ I stand by the door, hesitantly.
    ‘No, don’t worry. Well,’ he says, looking down at his T-shirt, ‘I could probably do with a shower.’
    ‘I’ll come back, then?’
    ‘Or just wait in front of the telly if you like? I’ll be quick.’
    ‘As is your forte!’ I quip, before groaning inwardly. He looks at me like he doesn’t get my dodgy fast-driving joke. I’m not about to explain it so I point towards what I assume is the living room area.
    ‘Yeah, go right through.’ He, in turn, heads into the bathroom.
    His suite is enormous and furnished with modern furniture. There are two grey suede-covered sofas facing a giant flatscreen television and I can see a huge super-kingsize bed in the bedroom behind the living room. Nice.
    I sit down on a sofa and put my feet up on the coffee table, then take them down again, crossing my legs instead and folding my arms. I hear the shower switch on in the bathroom. Sigh . . .
    I lean forward and pick up the complicated-looking remote. How do I work this thing? I point it at the