Page 30 of Speed Crush

The group nods. But I watch her. Really watch her.

My turn. I could say something flippant. Instead: "I hope I never stop wanting to learn. Even the hard stuff."

She glances at me. And I swear… there's warmth there. Barely, but there.

We keep going. Laughing. Teasing. A few rounds in, Karla pulls a wildcard and reads aloud:

"If money wasn’t an issue, what would you do with your life?"

June and I both speak at the same time.

"Work with kids."

Everyone freezes. Then bursts out laughing.

“Jinx!” Lily grins.

I look at June. She looks at me. And something clicks in my chest.

She didn’t plan that. I didn’t either. But there it is. Raw. True.

She blinks first. Looks away. Scott elbows her lightly and says something, but I miss it.

Because I’m still looking at the woman who just unknowingly exposed a piece of her soul that matches mine.

Kids.

Why does that mean something to her?

What made her say it with so much certainty?

And why do I feel like if I knew the answer—I’d understand everything else too?

For me, maybe it’s because I didn’t have anyone like that growing up. No one older who showed up, asked the right questions, stuck around long enough to give a damn.

Sometimes I wonder how different things would’ve felt—if someone had.

Maybe that’s why I like coaching. Why it gets under my skin in the best way.

And maybe that’s what June sees too.

Later, all four ladies at our table get up to sing with the fire crew—Tara and Karla harmonizing beside June and Lily—the rest of the town crowds in like it’s the highlight of the night.

The song—some easy, familiar anthem half the room joins in on—lodges under my skin like it belongs there.

June glances toward the crowd mid-verse, laughing at something Karla does with the mic, and I make a silent vow right then: learn this song. Memorize every word so I can sing it with her next time.

Anything that makes her light up like that is something I want to understand.

Her voice cuts through the chatter. Strong. Clear. No bravado. Just presence.

She doesn’t sing like she’s performing. She sings like she’s letting you in.

And I want in so badly, it makes my fingers twitch.

I lean toward Levi, voice low. "Is this a musical town or does everyone just sing this much?"

He smirks. "You should see what we do at the Fourth of July cookout."

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