Page 42 of Redline Baby

"You can see that?"

"I can see your entire left side hit the pavement."

"Oh." The little word is quieter than everything else he's said. I move closer but don't touch him.

"How bad is it?" I ask.

"It's fine."

Four people make essentially the same irritated sound at once.

Kit closes his eyes.

"Okay. Fine. It hurts. Everything fucking hurts. Happy?"

“No. Not remotely.”

Ni is already dialing.

Kit hears the first ring.

His eyes snap open.

"Who are you calling?"

"Emergency services."

"No. Fuck, no."

Ni pauses.

"Kit—"

"No ambulance! I mean it!" he exclaims.

"You're hurt." I say.

"I know."

"You crashed at highway speed."

"I was there."

Brat.

"Kit."

"No." His voice changes. Panic underneath the anger. "I can't pay for an ambulance."

Nobody speaks.

"We can handle the bill," Ni says.

"No."

"Redline has an emergency fund."

"No."