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“Good luck,” I tell him, then losing my smile, I look at Dean. “You, too.”
“Sounds heartfelt,” Dean says, but before I can answer, the timer begins.
One of Tony’s favorite nineties mixes plays overhead as I force my butt to give it all its got. It’s a little hard to do with some of the boy band music he’s got going, and I fall behind. Leg day has always been my least favorite, but leg day with music that has no beat I can follow might be what ends me. Just when I think all hope is lost - still stuck on my second round while Dean and Jose are already on their third - Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” starts up.
“Yeah!” I yell, getting that burst of energy I needed.
Weighted lunges and squats do nothing to slow me down when I picture myself twerking a nice big booty. Slowly but surely I leave Jose in my sweaty dust. Dean follows shortly after. Losing myself in the music, in my workout, I don’t stop once. I can’t. These two men have no mercy, neither should I.
By the time it’s over, my heart is threatening to stop. I’m drenched in sweat, breathing so hard my throat burns. As for my legs, I can’t feel them anymore. Which is probably a good thing.
I’ve been so engrossed with my own workout, that I have no idea who lost. All I know is it’s not me. That’s until I turn to see Jose kneeling with his head down, Dean at his side.
I go to him, too, circling his shoulders with my arms. I don’t say anything. What can I say?
Jose pats my hand and looks at me. “It’s okay,” he says without a hint of a smile.
This is the first time I’ve ever seen Jose without his dimples, answering my question of whether or not those were permanent marks on his face.
My heart breaks for him because I know how badly he wanted this. He’s the first in his family who’s ever achieved financial stability, and he did it all on his own.
We watch him as he walks somberly to the front of the room, taking the mic from Julie after she’s said her part. None of us want to give our exit interview, but we’re all prepared for it. Even me, who plans on getting Key West, have it all written and memorized. Reese wrote it for me, because I couldn’t bring myself to bring pen to paper on that.
As Jose begins to speak, to say his emotional goodbye, I thank god it’s not me up there.
“Thank you to my dad, who came out to support me today. And everyone who has been a part of this crazy ride. Dean and Cat,” he looks to us. “I’m rooting for you.”
Everyone claps, and he moves away.
Julie takes the microphone and calls us forward. Dean and I flank her, looking to the people in the class, our families, the cameras. “It is my privilege to announce Dean Cooper and Catherine Eberhardt, as the two finalists that will travel next week to the final destination. Key West, here we come!”
She holds our hands up, wrestler style, and the crowd goes nuts. A powerful emotion overtakes me, and my eyes sting with tears of sheer joy, pride, and a little fear.
People surround us, asking questions, hugging our sweaty bodies. “Cat, what will you do if you win?” “Miss Eberhardt, have you considered your next move should you lose?”
My mind is spinning from the reality of it all. My emotions all over the place.
On the one hand, I ache for Jose’s loss. On the other, I wanted Dean to win. Even though I’m angry with him, deep down I wanted him to win.
I want him in Key West with me. And I want to be the one to take him down.
