With a wave of his hand, Theo announced his departure, the other men following suit.

Daisha, noticing their absence, approached Stella, her curiosity piqued. "Where are they going?" she asked.

Stella shrugged, taking another sip of her beer. "I don't know," she replied, "Maybe they're going to talk outside."

Daisha, however, voiced her disapproval of Darrel's inclusion in the group. "They don't need Darrel to be there!" she commented, her tone laced with a hint of annoyance.

Stella ...