If you are looking at new bikes, both are worth avoiding due to Trek deciding to switch to internal cable routing that goes through the headset. It greatly complicates servicing the bike while offering zero benefit, and if they route it incorrectly in the factory and the mechanic building the bike doesn't feel like spending an extra hour to fix it, it can be a safety hazard having your brake housing grinding against the steerer tube till one fails. If there is another shop that carries something other than Trek, go check them out.

The main things that factor into how fast a bike is are aerodynamics, gearing, and tires. Aerodynamics will primarily be affected by your position on the bike, an upright bike like the Verve puts your body in a position where there will be more air resistance. Adjusting your stem so the handlebars are lower can put your body in a more aerodynamic position, and might help with comfort on longer rides by having less weight on the saddle. If you find that your highest gear isn't quite as high as you want, you are going fast enough that you can't spin your legs fast enough to add more speed, then your gearing is a limiting factor. Higher quality tires generally roll faster than lower quality tires, whether they be wide or narrow. Aside from hybrids, I'd also take a road bike and gravel bike for a test ride, the drop bars offer multiple hand positions so you can change up things as you ride, potentially leading to increased comfort over longer distances, and typically offer more aerodynamic positions than you get with a bike like the Verve.

My usual technique for getting on a bike is to stand on the left side, lean the bike towards me, bend the right knee all of the way so you your right foot comes close to your butt, then swing the knee over the bike. If you are trying to swing your leg over while your knee isn't bent, trying this instead might help out.