Page 18 of Work Me

“How are you feeling?” Dean asks both Jose and I.

Jose flexes his pecks and gives us a deep dimpled smile. “My guns are still firing,” he says. “Yours?”

I show him my “guns” and kiss each bicep. “I could do another round if you’re up for it.” Absolutely untrue. In fact, if my arms fell off I wouldn’t care because it would mean no more pain.

Dean laughs at us both, and says, “I’ll pass.”

We’re all laughing, until we turn to see Meg, standing to the side, doing her best not to cry. With the three of us having finished out the forty-five minutes, there’s no doubt she will be going home.

I can’t say that I liked Meg all that much. Partly because I didn’t really get to talk to her. But it doesn’t mean I revel in her loss. If anything, I admire her pride, how incredibly hard she fought. Sure, I joke with Dean about winning, but at the end of the day I wish we could all be winners.

The score is tallied, and Julie addresses the crowd. “The three competitors that will continue on with the Keys to Key West Challenge are, Dean Cooper, Jose Ortiz, and Catherine Eberhardt. Meg Lassiter, today you have done an amazing job, and have proven yourself a winner no matter what.”

Everyone claps and hollers. Meg’s mom, who I’d met a few days ago, joins the applause, tears rolling down her cheeks. I feel for her. If it were me, I’d want to take Reese into my arms and protect her from the pain of losing something you really want. But it’s not the way life works.

Speaking of, beside Meg’s mom are Reese and Liz. They’re looking at me with pride in their eyes. Well, Reese is. Liz is looking into her phone as usual.

“I love you, Mom,” Reese signs me.

Beside me I see Dean wave at a woman by the door. She’s beautiful, blonde hair perfectly straightened, blue eyes, dressed in a black pantsuit.

“Who’s that?” I ask.

“My mother.”

“Your mother?” I look at her again. “She barely looks older than me,” I say a little disturbed by that.

“She’s fifty-four. Do you want to meet her? She’s about to leave.”

“Uh…”

Sam from Fort Myers Today saves me from having to answer. She stands at the front of the room, microphone in hand, and begins the exit interview. “With us here, we have Meghan Lassiter, an amazing young woman, who has made it to the final four of the Keys to Key West Challenge. Tell us, Meg, what was it like to be a part of such an amazing event?”

She puts the mic to her mouth and it suddenly feels like I’m watching a beauty pageant interview. “Um, I have to say that this has been the most meaningful experience of my life. Even with it coming to an end, it is something that I will carry with me forever. That feeling of power. By my own merit I made it this far.

“I have made some friends along the way, met some great people,” she says pointing our way. “I will never forget this. Thank you so much to Julie Maxwell for giving us all the opportunity to be a part of something so big!”

With those last words, everyone erupts into applause. For someone who usually isn’t so sentimental, I feel my throat constrict and have to swallow down the knot that’s formed there, but when I see Meg wiping her red rimmed eyes, my own well up.

“You okay?” Dean scoots up and puts an arm around me.

I nod yes, enjoying the strength he’s conveying. That is until I realize what he’s doing. He’s taking care of me, or trying to. Shrugging him off with annoyance, I say, “Lay off, Coop. I’m not that fragile.”

“I never said you were. Just thought we could comfort each other.”

Grinning at him, I tease, “Do YOU need a hug?”

“I’d love one, actually.”

My lips part slightly as I think of something smart to say back to him, but I want to hug him so badly, I think, “Just this once shut up. Hug the man!”

I nod, opening my arms to him. Just as we’re about to embrace, Jose walks to us and takes us both into his arms. “It’s just us three, guys. I thought for sure she’d be top two.”

Frowning, I look up at him. “Who’d you think would be the other one?;”

“Me, of course.”

“Oh,” I say, looking at Dean and laughing.

We are all obviously planning on being top two, but I hadn’t thought of who might be left with me. Dean’s eyes lock on mine, as if he, too, is thinking the same thing.

I want him to be top two with me. And then I want to win.

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