While I share Pó Po’s and Auntie’s sentiments about online dating, I am pro–social media. Lunar Love may have thrived on word of mouth in Auntie and Pó Po’s time, but now people are moving online. No. They’ve been online. And we need to meet them where they are. I want to lean into the traditional elements of our business, but it’s time people know we exist. We can use digital marketing to bring people back to in-person connections. That’s the goal anyway.
“For sure! It looks like ZodiaCupid is really playing up the animal angle and providing trait fun facts,” Alisha analyzes.
“We need to be different.”
“We can share our favorite quotes about love!” Alisha says.
“And the moon! I can share songs and lyrics from my moon playlist,” I offer.
Alisha side-eyes me. “Wait, do you really have a moon-themed playlist?”
“Of course! Lots of Billie Holiday, Stevie Nicks, and Ella Fitzgerald. It’s the soundtrack to my matchmaking. It also doubles as the perfect background music for baking,” I explain. “What do you think about pushing the hashtag #LoveInTheMoonlight? Our clients can tag us on dates they go on, and we can respond with a first-date moon-themed song or something. I haven’t worked out the exact details.”
“Ooh, love that. Interactive. Doing a hashtag campaign can be a great way for people to learn about us and build community,” she confirms. “Look at us being more modern.” We snicker to each other.
A producer calls out something, and Alisha squeals. “I’ll leave you be. Enjoy the view from the stage. Good luck!” she says.
“Thanks! See you after,” I say, taking a deep inhale to calm my nerves. Alisha winds her way through the growing crowd to Randall, who has secured front-row seats in a show of support. I cross my arms over my stomach to self-soothe. I close my eyes and try to think of something calming when a memory of being curled up next to Bennett at the drive-in interrupts my meditation. A sense of calm washes over me. Guilt shortly follows.
When this podcast episode airs today, Bennett will know who I am. So much for only caring about my talking points. I need to speak to him first. I reach for my phone and craft a short text message: Hi! Do you have a second? Have something to talk to you about.
The timing isn’t ideal, but I have to tell Bennett who I really am for real this time. I can deal with his reaction later. No big deal. I’m sure he’ll understand, being a fellow small business owner. I hope. Then I can concentrate on doing this podcast. This is my first bit of press for Lunar Love, and I can’t let distractions derail my focus.
I turn to find Marcus, the Dating in La La Land host and moderator, approaching. He’s dressed in a sharp navy suit and smells strongly of cologne.
“Olivia! Are you ready? I never get to dress up like this. Usually we’re in sweats behind a microphone,” Marcus says in a peppy tone.
“Oh, true!” I laugh nervously, sneaking a look at my phone for a response from Bennett.
“Thanks, by the way, for your flexibility with the slight change,” he says. “The producers thought it might be fun to get a dialogue going about love and matchmaking.”
“Of course! I’m excited to meet everyone.” I stand up straighter, pulling at the sleeve of my plaid blazer.
“Absolutely. So how this will work is, I’ll introduce everyone when I’m on stage, and then you come out when your name is called. Simple enough, right?” Marcus says as he cracks his knuckles.
“Can you repeat that? I don’t think I followed,” I joke. “Kidding, just kidding.” I gulp my nerves down. Nothing yet from Bennett.
“Actually, would you mind repeating that? I was told we’d get our own song to walk out to,” a deep voice behind me says.
My eyes widen at the sound of the person’s voice.
Marcus grins. “Ah! Here’s the last-minute fill-in now. Allow me to introduce you two. Olivia, Bennett just started ZodiaCupid.”
No, no, no.
“And Bennett, meet Olivia. She’s the new owner of Lunar Love,” Marcus says, articulating every word. Before I can stop him, he’s exposed me. There it is. The truth’s out.
“I thought this was supposed to be an all-women panel,” I whisper to Marcus between gritted teeth.
“The ladies we reached out to were unavailable. Bennett generously canceled his afternoon to join us. We’ll have to find another angle to market this episode,” Marcus explains casually, like he hasn’t just blown my cover and set fire to my plans. “I’ll allow you two to get acquainted, but keep your ears out for your name. The audience may get testy if they have to wait too long.” He takes off before either of us say anything.
I slowly spin to see Bennett looking at me with an unreadable look in his eyes. For seconds that feel like hours, we stare at each other, speechless.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” Bennett finally says. “I assume that’s what your cryptic text message was about?”
“I—” I start. “I was going to tell you. I’m now in charge of Lunar Love.”
A deep blush spreads across Bennett’s cheeks. Oh no, he’s mad.
My stomach flips. I should’ve told him last night, especially after how honest he was with me. If he never wanted to see me again, I’d understand. Please say something, Bennett. I’ll take any vowel, verb, or expletive you want to throw my way. I’m ready.
My apology is on the tip of my tongue when Bennett meekly says, “I know.”
“You know…” I trail off confused, waiting for him to finish my sentence. “What do you know?”
Bennett looks at me with careful eyes. “I know who you are.”
I choke down my “sorrys” and “I meant to tell yous.” I was not ready for that. They’re just five simple words, but they hit me like a meteor.
“Wait. What?” I finally say. I feel the blood drain from my face.
Someone from behind the curtain shouts, “Places everyone!” On stage, Marcus gives an opening speech but I can’t process full words in this moment.
“I don’t understand,” I say, my mind running through all the different scenarios. At what point did he find out? Or did he know this entire time? Why wouldn’t he have told me? “Did you know who I was when we met at Lucky Monkey? I knew you were spying on me!”
“What? No! I didn’t know who you were until the end of the baking class,” he calmly explains.
“You knew who I was almost every time we saw each other, and you didn’t tell me? Why? Why did you ask me out last night?” I ask, processing it all. Was he trying to finish off Lunar Love? Is he trying to steal more of our ideas? I let my guard down for one night so this Rat could manipulate me. I know better.
Bennett looks down at the floor. “I was thrown off. I really was testing out the app on our first date. After having just seen you at Lucky Monkey, I don’t know, it was weird. When you started bombarding me with questions, it clicked. I brought up Lunar Love to see if you’d bite, but you didn’t. I caught on to what you were up to when you pretended to want to see my office, and I decided to join in. Knowing who you were made it easier to take a risk and ask you out. I had all the facts. It made me more comfortable.”
I lift my eyebrows in surprise. “You had all the facts on me so you felt in control? That’s why you asked me out?”