Shock of shocks, Julian didn't blow—no roar, no grill.
He dragged his dulled gaze up, pinning Nancy solid.
One beat, two, three... dragged so long her skin crawled, Miles coiling to yank him back—then he broke the lock.
Turned on his heel, ghosted out the exam room, no backward glance.
"Julian! Julian!" Nancy hustled after a couple steps, whipping to Miles. "What went down?"
A glint of wild glee flickered in Miles's eyes, gone in a blink—then innocent shrug. "Beats me."
He slung an arm loose around her shoulders. "Crash was light, you're golden. Ain't we due in the next town over for that auction? Got a pickup anyway."
Nancy flicked a look down Julian's vanishing trail.
Gut churning uneasy for no good reason.
Like... some big shoe was dropping.
But Miles? Cool as a winter house.
