But the biggest curveball of today—and perhaps the most distressing realization—is that for the rest of the inning, all I can think about is Bennett O’Brien and when I’ll get to see him next.
Chapter 14
I wait at the handoff point near the bottom of the Getty Center Tram for Bennett and Harper to arrive. The Drinking with the Stars event at the Getty Center was so perfect that I full-on squealed when I discovered it was happening. An hour of learning about the history of the Getty’s most famous paintings followed by a wine pairing under the “stars” of Los Angeles. And with the view from the top, they won’t be able to resist each other.
While I wait, I check for any new emails. The name Carol Rogers sits at the top of my inbox.
Hello Olivia,
Lovely meeting you last week! Let me know when you’re available for a coffee chat and we can nail down a time. I’ll be bringing by interested clients next week, if that’s okay? We’ll be quick and quiet. Talk soon!
Stay silver, Carol and Poppy
I sigh and close out of Carol’s email. I’ll respond later.
Bennett arrives early, looking dashing in an olive cashmere sweater and dark jeans. He smells like pine trees and shampoo, as though he just stepped out of an outdoor shower in the forest.
His face lights up as soon as he sees me. I return his smile and reach forward with the tickets.
“You look very nice. Will you be lingering again tonight?” he asks.
“Not this time. I want you two to have a real chance,” I say. “That’s probably hard with me being distracting.”
Bennett exhales a disappointed-sounding oh. “Too bad. I was hoping for a food runner,” he jokes, his mouth turned downward.
“You’re on your own tonight,” I say with a laugh. “We still need to debrief about Owen.”
“So formal. Normally, users figure it out among themselves, but you’re right, this is a different situation. Let’s debrief,” Bennett says. “What’s your verdict?”
I reflect for a minute. “He was nice, but I can see it now. The required hours of working in our family businesses might take time away from each other because we’d both be so committed. We’d enjoy each other’s company, but how long can that really last? As a Tiger, he’s adventurous enough to do what he wants while giving me my freedom, but he mentioned something about expanding into different vineyards in various regions around the world, and while that sounds cool, it might be a little too much unpredictability for me.” I cross my right foot over my left. “I think that’s most of it.”
Bennett stares at me, his eyes widened. “What happened to all the good things you said a couple of days ago?”
I watch a cloud float by overhead. “I didn’t despise his company. And he did laugh at my jokes—”
“Did he make you laugh?” Bennett asks. His question is oddly specific.
“Uh, I can’t recall specific examples,” I say.
“So then, it wasn’t love?”
I laugh. Definitely not. “Maybe,” I say, stringing him along. “Isn’t that what you want?”
Bennett’s jaw flexes. His tenseness makes me want to keep talking about Owen, purely to see what he’ll do. “I just didn’t think it would be that easy,” he mutters.
“Wait, you believe me?” I say, playfully thwacking his arm with my hand. “Of course it wasn’t love! First dates are for sparks, like with you and Harper. And date two, well, date two can lay the groundwork for L-O-V-E. You’ll see tonight.”
“Were there sparks? With you and Owen?”
I let the silence drag on to make him squirm. “No,” I finally admit. “Owen and I didn’t have the initial fireworks that I like to see in long-lasting couples.”
“We’ll have to try again on date number two,” he says. “Unless we decide right now to call the whole thing off?”
I fold my arms. “And why would we do that?”
“I think we’ve established by now that while you see the zodiac one way, I see it in a slightly different way. But we’re essentially talking about the same thing.”
“You really also think the Chinese zodiac is a language for love and guide to better understanding ourselves and relationships?” I ask.
Bennett is quiet for a moment. “It’s a tool in the toolbox. There are more variables at play when it comes to love, but I don’t disagree with your version.”
“Of course there are other variables, but no. No one’s calling anything off,” I say. I will prove that my way is the best way. That Lunar Love is right.
Bennett drops his shoulders forward in an exhale. “Okay then. But since I’m having a second date, you need to have a second date.”
I consider this. Can ZodiaCupid strike twice with a decent match? Highly doubtful. “Fine. One more date. But that’s it. I’m a busy woman with podcasts to record and features to be interviewed for,” I say with a winner’s confidence. “I’m having dinner with Pó Po tomorrow but I can do it on Sunday.”
Bennett smiles, looking relieved. “Sunday it is. I was between a few choices for the first date so I already have someone in mind. I’ll see if he’s available on short notice.”
My phone buzzes with a call. “One second, it’s Harper,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows at him. “She must be running late.”
I step aside to answer the call as Bennett looks on curiously.
“Harper? Hey! Are you on your way?” I ask.
“Olivia! I’m caught up at a restaurant launch that I completely forgot about. I won’t be able to make it. I’m so sorry. Is Bennett there?”
“Oh no! He is. Do you want to talk to him?” I ask.
“Can you just tell him I feel awful? I look like such a flake. Between you and me, though, I don’t know if he’s quite what I’m looking for. He’s a great guy, but we didn’t really hit it off. Sorry! Do you have any other matches lined up?”
I deflate with disappointment. Tonight’s event was so perfect for Bennett and Harper! “Don’t think another second about it,” I say in a strained upbeat tone. “I’ll get started on your next match. Good luck with your event.”
“She’s not coming, is she?” Bennett asks when I return.
I shake my head. “How many fun facts did you tell her?”
“Actually none!” he says with genuine surprise.
“I’m sorry for the trouble, Bennett.”
“Was this your plan all along?” he asks, reading my face.
“My plan was for you to have a second shot with Harper, but she’s caught up at work,” I say, maintaining my professional tone.
Bennett nods in understanding. “I get it. No problem.” He holds up the two tickets and extends his elbow in my direction. “Shall we?”
“Shall we…what?” I ask, looking at his arm.
“Attend the event,” Bennett clarifies.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Together?”
I imagine slipping my arm around his and being interlocked with Bennett as we peruse beautiful art and drink probably not inexpensive wine. Even that simple gesture would allow me to confirm all the thoughts I shouldn’t be having about his arms. Get it out of the way so I don’t have to ever think about them again. An evening drinking under the stars. With Bennett. It shouldn’t be a thrilling thought, but it is.