Tom introduces himself to Liam and then turns to me. “I should be going.”
“No, not at all.” Liam thumps Tom on the shoulder, and I wince, throwing Tom an apologetic look. Before I can speak, Liam says, “Why don’t we all head inside for that... cold drink, was it, Tommy?”
“Tom, please. And I really should...” His gaze shifts, and I spot Daisy coming around from the front.
“Hey,” she says, looking across our faces uncertainly. “I heard voices. I was just coming to tell Tom that the bike is in his truck.”
“Daisy!” Liam says, arms outstretched as if she’s just returned from a month-long hike in the Andes. “Just who I wanted to see.”
Her gaze flits to us. Tom’s jaw sets, and he rocks forward, but Liam continues. This isn’t going as planned. But can I use it? Maybe.
“I was just asking Tommy to stay for a drink,” Liam says. “Now that you’re here, Daisy, we have four hands for Friday night poker.”
Daisy’s brows start to rise, as if certain he’s kidding, her gaze going to Tom for confirmation that she’s walked in midjoke.
“I should really be going,” Tom says, brushing past Liam, who claps a hand on his shoulder.
“Oh, come on,” Liam says. “Stay and play with us.”
Tom looks at Liam’s hand. Liam only grips tighter and continues in that false hearty tone. “Fine, go on. We’ll find a three-handed game.”
Daisy demurs, but Liam insists. Tom’s gaze cuts to her, and then he says, “Sure, let’s play a little poker.”