Luke winced. Again, he’d acted without thinking, the question spilling out of his mouth before he could stop it. But he realized he didn’t regret it. Despite his discomfort and the potential for embarrassment, he wanted to know Jay’s answer. “Obviously, since I’m asking.”

Jay was silent for a moment. “Yeah, I have.” His mouth quirked. “Your sister.”

Luke laughed. There was no question Pen got under his friend’s skin and scrambled his brain. She could do that to him, too. But that was a sibling thing. Not at all like what he felt around Julia. Clearly, Jay had misunderstood his meaning. Luke shook his head, deciding it was best to change the subject. “Where is she, anyway?”

“Checking on the thing Mrs. W. asked for.”

“Right.” Luke eyed his friend. “I remember you saying something about that yesterday. What is this thing?”

“Oh, you’ll see,” Jay hedged.

“Not even a little hint?” Luke wheedled.

“Nope,” Jay said breezily, blatantly enjoying taunting him. “Now stop fretting and get moving. The teams are supposed to meet in the lobby in less than an hour.”

Not long after he arrived back at the hotel, the lobby began to fill with players. Luke noted with satisfaction that Zach was among the first to arrive. The actor had changed from his rom-com hero uniform of V-neck, jeans, and boots into sweats and sneakers, but somehow the dude still looked like a cologne ad. He’d probably look good even in the paintball coveralls they were all forced to wear.

Sure enough, once everyone had checked in, signed their waivers, and zipped up their coveralls, Zach managed to look like a superhero while Luke was a scarecrow, arms and legs sticking out awkwardly from his ill-fitting uniform. Glancing around the room, he noticed Julia and her dark-haired friend putting on their uniforms while chatting with an older couple. He tried to casually make his way over to where they stood.

His attempt at subtlety was blown when the man glanced over at Luke and guffawed. “So much ‘for one size fits all,’ eh?” He chortled, tugging at the zipper on his coveralls, where it strained over his generous middle. “Doesn’t work so well for us big and tall fellas.”

The woman next to the man patted his belly affectionately. “We know you’re the big part of that equation.” She turned to Luke. “And you’re definitely the tall part.” She smiled up at him. “I’m Sally. This is my husband, Harry.”

Luke returned the smile and was debating whether to introduce himself as Lance or Luke when Julia made that decision for him.

“Luke!” Julia beamed and reached for him, then abruptly drew back, smile fading and arms dropping to her sides.

Luke’s gut tightened. He offered her an awkward, apologetic grin, noticing how her sleeves were dangling past her fingers. “Can I help?”

“Um, sure.” She held her arm out to him.