“Hi,” he says.
“Thank you for coming to the funeral. And for the comfort food.” I think for a moment. “You danced. In public.”
“It was my honor,” he says. “Thanks for coming to the pitch.”
“I wish I could’ve stayed longer.”
“When you saw me on stage stumbling over my words, all I could think about was you and if you would ever forgive me. You saved me from making a fool of myself. My words only came out clearly because I imagined that I was only talking to you.”
“You spoke from the heart,” I say.
“I’m not so good at that,” he says, gently nudging me with his elbow.
“It’s a start.” I bite my lip. “It sounded like you spoke from the heart on the podcast, too.”
Bennett lifts his shoulders up in a half shrug. “I told them I didn’t want to do it anymore and to replace me with you, but they said that if I wasn’t going to do it, neither of us would. So I figured I’d use the platform to talk about Lunar Love. I hope that was okay.” He sighs. “And for the record, I meant what I said.”
“Youwerethe winner, so it was right for you to be on it,” I say.
“I was the winner?” Bennett asks curiously. “That can’t be easy for you to say.”
I dip my head. “You were a formidable opponent, I’ll admit.”
He holds up his phone. “So this was true then?”
On his phone is my second WhizDash article. When I sent it to Alisha’s friend last week, I promised her three months of free matchmaking services if she could expedite posting it. Luckily for me, she’s still Team Lunar Love and was open to trying something new.
In my last list, I wrote about all the things that ZodiaCupid wasn’t. Turns out, the only one with an identity crisis here…is me. Instead of figuring out who I am or what I want to be, I projected my insecurities onto a digital app. Truth is, through the app I bashed, I met someone great.
He reads a line from it out loud. “This Horse fell in love with an incompatible match by accident, but it turned out to be the best thing for her.” His eyes flash up at me. “Do you mean it?”
My eyes flick from his phone to his eyes. “Every word.”
His face lights up. “Well, this Rat fell in love with a Horse, but I don’t think we’re mismatched.”
Heat rises in my chest. “As much as it shocks me to say, we did match on the app so I guess you really technically did win.”
“That’stechnicallytrue,” Bennett says happily.
“Even though we’re the signs that we are,” I say.
Bennett laughs. “Right! So, if I recall correctly, your evaluation of me being a Rat is that I’m a freeloader, afraid of rejection, dishonest, and misleading?” he says, throwing the words I directed at him at the Halloween party back at me.
I cringe hearing those words again. “No. Because you’re resourceful, ambitious, easy to get along with, and caring. You’re a good listener, have a great sense of humor, and have a kind heart. And I…I’m sorry,” I say, stretching out the words.
“We may have different approaches to life, but I think that can be a good thing,” Bennett says.
I reach out to grab Bennett’s hand. “Even though we’re incompatible according to the Chinese zodiac, I’ve never felt more myself than when I’m with you. And life’s too short not to be with someone you feel most yourself with.”
Bennett clasps my hand in return and scoots closer to me on the blanket. “You’re not the only one who feels that way. You’ve made me a better version of myself.”
“It’s safe to say that you’ve been slightly influential on me, too,” I admit.
Bennett pulls me closer. “I hope you believe that I never tried to put Lunar Love out of business. I may not completely change your mind about compatibility, but I hope I can at the very least change your mind about me.”
I take a deep breath. “I can see it now. My need for adventure will balance nicely with your intellectual pursuits. Your flexibility and forthrightness will help counteract my stubbornness, which, let’s be honest, I need. You’ll respect that I crave my independence while I’ll appreciate, after learning over time, that being together can be just as fulfilling.”
“I’ll do my best, but I like how independent you are,” Bennett whispers, leaning his forehead against mine.
