He turned to see Vijay crossing the field. “What makes you say that?”

“You’re making the same face you did when you found that Atari system at a yard sale.”

“It was a boxed fifty-two hundred. In mint condition.”

“You’re right.” Vijay grinned. “It was pretty sweet.” His smile faded as he took in Luke’s clothes. “Dude. What was the point of doing a makeover montage if you’re just going to keep wearing your old shit?”

“No one is going to see my ‘old shit’ underneath the paintball stuff,” Luke argued.

“Oh. My bad. I didn’t realize you were planning to spend the entire day in those coveralls like some serial killer,” Jay snarked, his tone indicating that he considered Luke to be a lost cause. “A Pac-Man shirt. Really?”

“Pac-Man is a legend,” Luke declared haughtily.

Jay groaned. “At least I know what to bury you in.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Your sister is ready to kill you.” Jay shook his head. “Pen guessed you’d be out here. She told me to tell you to get your bossy ass back to the hotel.”

Luke’s stomach dropped. “What’d I do this time?” Immediately, his thoughts turned to Julia. Had Penelope found out about their little woodland tryst after all? Guilt prickled in his chest. He’d let things go too far.

“You got into it with Zach. Again.” Jay tsked. “After Pen explicitly said she was going to handle him. And she can, you know.”

“I know she can.”

“Then give her a chance.” His friend’s reproach was mild, but Luke detected the undercurrent of frustration. And disappointment.

“I’m trying to let go of being in charge.” Luke shifted uncomfortably under Jay’s doubtful gaze, the back of his neck hot with shame. It was true, he hated not being in control. It was a constant struggle to resist double-checking everything Penelope did. But he’d made his sister game master, and more than that, he’d promised to respect her position. He’d already bent that promise multiple times. “I’ll do better.”

“I hope so, for Pen’s sake,” Jay said. “And for yours,” he added, mouth curving in a sardonic grin. “You need to learn how to loosen up. Stop trying to control everything all the time.”

“Funny you should say that.” Luke observed sarcastically. “Lately I feel like nothing is in my control.” Maybe that was his problem. Ever since he’d rashly decided to put Pen in charge, it was as if a seal had been broken. That one impulsive choice to jump into the game had been the first domino, setting off a chain reaction of other impulsive acts. Like yesterday in the woods with Julia. “Have you ever met someone who made it impossible to think straight?”

His friend cocked his head, studying him. “I’m guessing you have?”