Improvising on the fly

Tom slid back into his airplane seat with a swagger, his knowing smirk catching Daisy's eye just as she glanced up from her glossy magazine. 

He leaned forward, one arm draped casually over the back of his chair, his dark eyes glinting with that trademark arrogance as he settled in. 

The hum of the plane's engines buzzed around them, mingling with the rustle of pages and the soft chatter of passengers, but Tom's presence seemed to carve out a private bubble in the cramped space.

"Hey," he said smoothly, his voice a velvet drawl as he flipped his gaze from Daisy to her friend, who was tucked against the window, her green hair catching the overhead light like a neon halo. "Gregor and I had to handle something super urgent." He stretched the words out, teasing, knowing the vagueness would hook them both.

Daisy lifted an eyebrow, her hazel eyes narrowing with a flicker of curiosity, her blonde hair falling over one shoulder as she tilted her head. "Oh? Something really important?" she asked, her tone flat but curious, the magazine lowering just enough to show she was more interested than she let on. 

Her fingers tapped the page, a restless beat that betrayed her cool facade.

Tom's smile widened, a flash of white against his tanned skin, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "Yeah, but I can't just tell you, top secret, you know." He leaned closer, his arm brushing the edge of her seat, his eyes locked on hers like he was daring her to push for more.

She laughed softly, a sound that was half-amused, half-intrigued, her lips curving in a way that made her look like she was in on the game. "Secret, huh? Sounds like a load of crap," she teased, flipping another page with a flick of her wrist, though her eyes stayed on him, sparkling with challenge.

"Mm-hmm," Tom hummed, his tone light but laced with that cocky edge, his smirk never wavering. He turned toward her friend, who had been quietly watching the clouds drift by, her presence soft and unassuming compared to Daisy's fire. 

"Is she always this quiet?" he asked, his voice teasing as he leaned toward her, his shoulder shifting just enough to draw her attention. "Or is she just saving her words for someone special?"

Julia glanced over, her cheeks warming with a faint pink blush, her gentle smile lighting up her face like a spark. "I'm not big on words," she said, her voice soft but warm, like a breeze cutting through the cabin's stale air. 

Her hair shimmered as she tucked a strand behind her ear, her eyes meeting Tom's briefly before darting away, a shy glimmer in them.

Tom leaned forward, one arm braced on his knee, the other hovering in mid-air as if ready to punctuate his next line. "What's your name?" he asked, his tone smooth,.

"Julia," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, her fingers twisting in her lap.

"Julia," he repeated, letting the name roll off his tongue like it was a line of poetry, his voice dripping with charm. "Beautiful name." 

He paused, watching her with that trademark smirk, his eyes raking over her with an appreciation that felt both genuine and calculated. "And you are beautiful. Tell me, is there a factory where they make stunning women where you're from, and they just ship 'em out like works of art?"

Julia's cheeks flared a deeper pink, her laugh soft and shy, a sound that seemed to bubble up from somewhere deep. "Oh… um, thank you," she stammered, her eyes wide with a mix of embarrassment and delight, her hands fidgeting like she didn't know what to do with the attention. 

She glanced at Daisy, who was now gripping her magazine a little too tightly, her knuckles whitening as she tried to focus on an article about summer fashion trends.

Tom let the moment linger, savoring the blush on Julia's cheeks and the surprised glimmer in her eyes. He turned slightly in his seat, still facing Julia but tossing a casual glance at Daisy, a subtle acknowledgment that he knew she was watching. 

He could feel the shift, Daisy's posture tensing, her composure slipping as she tried to read her magazine but couldn't stop stealing glances at them. Her fingers flipped a page with unnecessary force, the paper crinkling loudly in the quiet cabin.

Gotcha, Tom thought, his inward grin practically audible as he registered Daisy's jealousy, the exact reaction he'd been fishing for.

Julia leaned in slightly, her shyness giving way to a touch of confidence, her voice brighter now. "We're staying at the Brion Hotel when we land," she said, more animated, her eyes flicking to Tom like she was testing the waters.

Tom nodded with perfect timing, his grin smooth as silk, his mind already spinning even as his expression stayed cool. "Oh, is that right? That's wild, Gregor and I are crashing there too." 

The lie slipped out effortlessly, his voice wrapping it in lazy confidence, despite having no plans to stay at the Brion. He could feel Gregor's skeptical gaze burning into him from the next seat, but he ignored it, his focus locked on Julia.

Gregor jabbed him in the ribs with a sharp fingertip, hard enough to sting, but Tom caught himself from flinching, flashing a quick grin at Gregor like it was all part of the plan. "

The coincidence is… convenient," Tom said, his voice light and teasing, his eyes never leaving Julia's. "I actually have an errand to run when we land, but I'll swing by the hotel later." He slid his phone across the seat toward Julia, his fingers brushing hers as he handed it over. "Mind putting your number in here so I can hit you up?"

Julia reached for the phone shyly, her smile practically glowing as she typed. "Sure, no problem," she said, her voice soft but warm, handing it back with a nervous laugh. 

Tom pocketed the phone and turned to Daisy, who was now glaring at her magazine like it had stolen her spotlight. "Your turn," he said, his tone casual but laced with charm, handing her the phone. "Just in case I can't reach her."

Daisy hesitated, her lips pursing like she was chewing on a retort, but she reached into her purse, her movements sharp. She typed her number, her fingers tapping the screen with quick, deliberate jabs, then handed it back with a curt nod. 

****

The plane touched down with a gentle thud, the seatbelt signs blinking off as passengers began to shuffle toward the aisles. Tom and Gregor stood. 

Tom offered a practiced wave to both women, his voice smooth and teasing. "Great talking to you, ladies. Catch you at the Brion."

He pulled Julia into a hug, longer than necessary, his arms lingering around her waist, charged with intent. Her eyes widened slightly, but she hugged back, her green hair brushing his cheek. "See you," she murmured, her voice shy but warm. 

Daisy watched, setting her magazine aside, her expression polite but reserved, her hazel eyes narrowing just enough to show she wasn't thrilled.

Gregor gave a quick, curt nod, his voice flat. "Let's roll."

As they stepped off the plane, Daisy called out softly, "Bye!" Tom turned, flashing that same smirk, waving once more before blending into the crush of passengers heading toward baggage claim. 

The terminal was a chaos of rolling suitcases and hurried voices, but Tom's stride was easy, his confidence unshaken.

Gregor let the crowd carry them a few steps before breaking the silence, his tone sharp and exasperated. "What the hell was that, Tom?" he demanded, his brows furrowed, his hands gesturing like he was trying to shake sense into him. 

"Hotel Brion? We're not staying there! You just gonna make shit up and drag us into it?"