Page 43 of Speed Crush

June moves immediately, clearing space for the medics before circling to me.

"Come, Noah." she says under her breath, tugging gently but insistently. “Let them work.”

She steers me off to the side, just enough to get us out of the EMTs’ path. Her body angled protectively toward mine.

That’s when she notices it—the way I’m favoring my right side.

Her eyes narrow. “You’re limping.”

“I’m fine,” I lie. It comes out gruffer than I mean it to.

She doesn’t buy it.

“You scared me—leaping over that barrier like a lunatic.”

I can’t meet her eyes. So I smirk, weakly.

“Adrenaline. Poor landing. No permanent damage.”

“You didn’t even hesitate,” she adds, her voice lower now, full of something I can’t name.

“I couldn’t,” I say quietly. “Not when people were in danger.”

Trying to shift the energy, I glance sideways, mouth twitching.

“Did I do enough to impress you?”

She exhales, a soft sound that might be a laugh. The corner of her mouth lifts.

“Next time you want to impress me…”

Her eyes scan me—sweat, dirt, the wince I’m still trying to hide.

“Do it without the expense of your body.”

The chaos still swirls around us—shouting, sirens, cameras—but I’m steady now. Because June’s here with me. Her voice pulls me out of the tension I was holding.

Her hand is still on my arm—gentle now, like she forgot she was even touching me. Thumb brushing slow over my sleeve. Soothing. Lingering.

I grin, just a little.

“You saying you’re emotionally invested in this fine piece of machinery, Kennedy? Because I’m feeling a little high-maintenance today. I think I need a bona fide mechanic to get under the hood and make sure every vital piece is still working.”

She gives me a look—half exasperated, half amused—and I see the relief bleeding into her edges.

“I swear,” she mutters, voice dropping as she leans in, “you do this again and I’ll personally make sure you’re off the track... and on your back.”

I arch a brow, pulse kicking. “Is that a promise or a threat?”

Her eyes flash, smile curving slow. “Guess you’ll have to survive next time to find out.”

I lean in slightly, soaking it in, letting it settle between us.

“Then consider this machinery officially at your service. Full body inspection. No tools required—unless you’re into that.”

June rolls her eyes, but her hand lingers a second longer.

“Verelli, are you really okay?”

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