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“You are the dream I’m not willing to give up, Dean Cooper.”
“More than that, I’m the man who loves you. So what do you say? Will you come to Key West with me?”
“Yes. If you’ll still have me. I could be your head trainer, if you haven’t already…”
He lifts a hand to stop me. “Sorry, kitty cat. I already have someone. Jose, in fact.”
“Oh. Oh, yeah of course. I’m sure I’d find something.” I wave it away as though it’s not a big deal.
“What about co-owner of Maxx Boot Camp,” he offers.
“What?”
Out of his back pocket he pulls out the contract with two signatures already in place: Julie Maxwell and Dean Cooper. Beside his name, there is an empty line, highlighted and waiting for the stroke of a pen.
“You sign there,” he points.
“You’re giving me half?” I ask in disbelief.
“Under the by-laws, I’m allowed to sell to an approved franchisee. Julie has already approved you.”
“I can’t accept...” I look at his hopeful eyes as he waits for my answer. Part of me wants to say this is too much. He’s taking care of me. Then I remember my promise. If I accepted his love, I’d have to accept everything that came with it. “I don’t have a pen.”
“You do.” Dean pulls on the key he’d given me. The one I’d put on a chain and hung around my neck to feel him close. “It’s not a necklace.” He pulls on a little nub on the side, and it splits in two.
“It’s a pen?” I ask in amazement.
“Meant for you to sign this,” he says.
I take the document, and sign my name beside his. He puts it back in his pocket when he’s done, and reaches out for my hand. We walk through the cemetery hand in hand. It’s poetic, really, starting our lives in this place.
“Hey,” I say, stopping him. “What would you have done if I won? About the key pen, I mean?”
He laughs at that. “I didn’t intend on losing, kitty cat.”
I grab him by the shirt and bring him to me for a kiss. “Are you ready for your prize, then? And by prize, I mean me naked on your bed.”
“Catherine, you’re about to get prized until you limp.”
“Is that a promise?” I ask, biting my lower lip, already heading to my car.
His laughter follows me there, along with the word I know means so much more. “Promise.”
