She angles her head. “Something like that. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, but I also believe that Asher and I, while yes, we have our differences, are supposed to be together.”
“You only disappoint me when you’re late for our brunch dates,” I joke.
She laughs. “But you have to admit that you didn’t agree with our relationship at first,” she says. “I don’t want to feel like I’m betraying my family by not marrying someone who isn’t a match in the way you all believe.”
“Betraying is a strong word. The family just wants you to be happy. That’s what matters.”
“I hope so,” she says.
“The zodiac helps us understand ourselves and our partners. It’s like Pó Po said, life is not all or nothing.” I lift a fallen, waxy leaf and turn it between my fingers. “At first, yes,” I continue, “I was hesitant about the incompatibility. My life’s purpose is to help people find their compatible partners. And I know firsthand how incompatible boyfriends can turn out. But now that I’ve gotten to know Asher and have seen you two together over the years, there’s no question in my mind that you were meant to be.”
“You promise?” Nina asks.
I nod. “Asher’s confident and fights for what he wants. You’re considerate and take the time to make sure things are done the right way. Sure, you might butt heads every now and then, but I see two people who are strong individuals who are even stronger together. If there were blockers that you both felt you couldn’t get past, that would be a different story.”
“Mmm,” Nina groans and leans her head up to face the sky. “You don’t sound like you. You can’t really believe all that.”
“I believe in compatibility, and I want you to be happy. You’re my sister and my best friend. You’re the exception.” I give Nina a light nudge on her knee.
She gives me a small smile. “It must be nice to have guidelines for yourself. Love is so messy.”
I laugh humorlessly. “Want to know a secret?” I draw in a quick breath. “Sometimes I envy your freedom of not being tethered to the confines of the zodiac.”
Nina reaches out to hold my forearm. “Olivia, neither are you.”
I make a disbelieving face.
“You’ve always been determined,” she continues. “You act tough, but you’re a romantic. Love is your oxygen. Maybe you need to put your mask on first before helping others.”
My phone lights up with a text message, and I quickly pick it up. I tap into a text from Asshole, a code name I assigned to Bennett in case anyone looks at my phone when a message comes through. An uncontrollable smile spreads across my face.
We moved up the product launch just so I could use it to find you the best match possible. Get ready for a good time.
“What’s that smirk for? Was it something Asshole said?” Nina asks, her voice thick with curiosity.
“It’s just spam,” I say offhandedly.
“Yeah, right. And don’t tell me it’s a client. You are way too professional to name a client Asshole in your phone.”
“Fine. His name is Bennett,” I answer after a long pause. “He’s the founder of ZodiaCupid, Lunar Love’s new competitor. I tried to gain intel from him at a baking class. It’s a long story that I don’t want to get into now, but trust me when I say it’s nothing.”
Nina stares at me with a look of surprise and amusement. “It’s nothing, but he’s texting you? Bennett,” Nina says, trying out how the name sounds. “What are you, dating or something? The irony.”
“Please. When’s the last time I went on a date?”
“Uh, sounds like when you went to this baking class,” Nina says, like it’s the most obvious fact in the world.
I balk. “That wasn’t a real date. I don’t have time to spend on anyone with all the work I have. The to-do list never ends.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t let your need to get ahead stand in the way of love.”
“Isn’t success ultimately more satisfying?” I ask, half joking.
“How very American of you. You know the two aren’t mutually exclusive, right?” Nina asks. “If you want, you can totally bring him to the wedding!”
“Not you, too!”
Nina laughs. “Sorry! Maybe Pó Po’s matchmaking is rubbing off on me. Is she still trying to find you a plus one? Either way, the invite stands for you to bring him.”
I cough out a laugh. “God, no! He’s not…anything. We’re not dating, and I definitely can’t bring him to your wedding,” I say. Because he’s my archenemy who I’m in the middle of taking down. There’s absolutely no future for us as prospective partners, and mixing business with my family would be disastrous.
“Why not?” Nina asks, humored. “Are you going to get in trouble if you do?”
“Well, he is a Rat,” I say.
“And that makes you, what, opposites or something?” Nina asks, looking way too entertained. Her eyes widen as though she’s figured something out. “Wait. This is why you’re being so positive about me and Asher.”
“I’m always positive about love, Nina. It’s my job!”
Nina smirks. “Not like this.”
“This guy…he’s my complete opposite,” I articulate, thinking out loud. “I can see it now. His hunger for money and obsession with data will be too overwhelming for me and how I make decisions, which some might call too emotional. He’s secretive and doesn’t show his cards right away, whereas I like to know things immediately. I wouldn’t be able to tell what his true motives are, and that would annoy me. He’ll want feedback on every little thing, and I’ll be turned off by someone who isn’t self-assured. You see? It’s useless to even pretend there could ever be something between us.”
Nina leans over, her elbows digging into the side of her knees. “I haven’t decided yet if it’s charming or exhausting when you do that ‘I can see it now’ thing. You know, just because you and your ex weren’t compatible doesn’t mean you can’t ever be with someone incompatible again, right?”
“He has nothing to do with this,” I say, putting my hands up in defense. “I’m providing context based on what I’ve learned about Bennett so far.”
“You really learned a lot about this guy at one baking class,” Nina says skeptically.
“I get paid to analyze people quickly,” I rationalize.
“I think it’s a matter of perspective. His data is numbers. Your data is traits,” Nina says.
“My data? That’s not how I view love. Based on traits and elements, I help create a—”
“Spark, right?” Nina asks.
I hold my hands out toward her. “Exactly.”
“Just like an algorithm, you’re trying to make sense of love. You bring order to it for others.”
“I’m not trying to have a debate about this.”
Still, her words linger.
She sticks out her lip to pout. Nina lives for a good debate. It’s what makes her a respectable, albeit exasperating, comic book editor. If authors can reasonably explain their points, Nina’s willing to go along with them.
“I just want you to be as happy as I am,” Nina says. “You used to love being in love.”