Page 43 of Hyperspeed
“How are you so bad at this already?” Kai complained. “Just follow my lead.”
“Like hell.”
The air horn blew, so we took a synchronised step . . . and immediately stumbled.
“Ow! What the—lift your leg!” I gripped Kai’s arm for balance, trying to pull myself up.
“I did lift it. Your long fucking limbs got in the way.”
“You’re taller than I am!”
“Stop talking!”
We lurched forward, half hopping, half dragging each other.
“You are theworstpartner—”
“Because I don’t want to lose!”
“You’re making us lose!”
“JustMOVE!”
In my frustration, I shoved him, forgetting that we were tied together. We tipped sideways, landing in a heap on the grass as dust rose around us. Lying flat on his back with my face smushed into his hard stomach, Kai burst out laughing.
I growled, the sound muffled by his T-shirt. “I hope you choke.”
He laughed harder, so I lifted my head and glared. Kai plucked a leaf from my hair. “As much as I wanted to win, losing was worth it to get you on top of me,” he teased, pumping his eyebrows.
I shoved off him, enjoying his grunt when I caught his ribs with my knee, and untied the rope with jerky fingers. The kids and volunteers thought it was hilarious, and the other drivers cackled from beyond the finish line.
Turned out we’d lost.
Spectacularly.
Because it was impossible for Kai and me to work together.
Without helping him up, I turned away, stomping across the grass towards our team.
“At least we almost made it to the halfway point!” he called out, running after me. I just rolled my eyes, taking a few calming breaths before I reached the kids.
“That was . . . so . . . funny!” Vaeri wheezed, tears in their eyes.
Lyla giggled, giving her friend a nudge. “Even Vaeri made it to the finish line, and they’ve got an extra leg.”
“I still thought you were good,” Korvi said, voice soft and sincere, sunshine yellow blooming across his skin as I ruffled his hair.
“Thanks, kid,” I replied, holding out my fist. When he bumped it, the yellow glow on my skin matched his.
“You wereterrible!” Jeremy bellowed, never one to mince his words.
Kai gripped his stomach, as if he’d been mortally wounded. “Woah, tone it down, Jer-Bear. We’re a team, remember.”
The kids continued to snicker as we strolled to the mini podium for the final results. Everyone sat on the grass, while Elyn stood at the front of the crowd with a microphone, waiting for us to settle.
“Well done to all of our Karting kids, and the Astro Space League drivers!” she said, making everyone cheer. “Winning’s great, but it means nothing without teamwork and kindness. All of you showed up and took part, and that’s where every champion begins.”
“I still think we’re the winners, though,” Kai muttered, and three of the kids bobbed their heads in agreement. Korvi kept his eyes on Elyn, fingers crossed in his lap. I didn’t even think he was breathing.
