“Oh, you think this is funny, do you?” Luke muttered, as Harry and Sally resumed kissing. Thankfully, not on top of him this time.

“What?” Julia gestured at the couple now entwined in the grass nearby. “You don’t find this situation humorous?”

“I find it a tad disturbing.” He paused, face breaking into a grin. “And yes, I admit, completely hilarious.”

“I admit, I was a bit disturbed at the sight that greeted me when I came around that hay bale.” She moved closer and squatted down next to him. “The game’s over.”

“Did we win?”

“Yeah, Kat captured the red team’s flag.”

“I didn’t see that one coming.” Luke shook his head. “How’d she manage to pull that off?

“After the sneak attack almost got us—thanks for the warning, by the way—I told Kat that instead of being distracted by Zach she should be the distraction.”

“So what did she—” He paused as Julia mimed unzipping her coveralls. “Oh.”

“It worked.” Julia’s eyes twinkled, brown and green swirling with mischief.

“I bet it did.”

“I came back here to deliver the good news.” She pursed her lips. “But then I was the one who got distracted.”

“Understandable.”

“Hey, where did Harry and Sally go?”

“Horny and Hornier?” Luke glanced around, and sure enough, the couple had disappeared. “If we’re lucky, they went back to their room.”

She grinned. “They did mention they were hoping this place would rekindle the spark.”

“I’d say that’s mission accomplished.” He shook his head, shrugging. “If love is a battlefield, maybe paintball is couple’s therapy.”

“Maybe.” Julia straightened. “Everybody is headed down to the beach to cool off.” She held out her hand. “Wanna come?”

“I would, but there’s a problem.”

“What?”

Luke winced. “I can’t move my legs.”

“Are you injured?”

“Not exactly.”

“Are they numb from two people making out on top of you?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then, what happened?”

“I ran.”

“Did you twist something?” Her brow furrowed in concern. “I thought you said you weren’t injured.”

“I didn’t. I’m not. I just … I’m out of shape,” he admitted. “Really, really out of shape.”

Julia plopped down into the grass next to him. “Welcome to the club.”

“Please,” Luke snorted. “Your legs aren’t atrophied skin sacks.”

“Gross,” she giggled.

His heart did a funny little hiccup at the sound. He liked hearing her laugh. He loved being the one to make her laugh.

“I can’t just leave you here,” she said.

“Sure you can. Abandon me to the elements. Once I expire, the vultures will come and peck at my pathetic corpse.”

“I don’t think there are any vultures in Wisconsin.”

“Hush. You’re ruining my dramatic imagery.”

She erupted into giggles again.