Page 61 of Swipe Right for Stardust

As she walked away to address the other guests, I leaned against Zarnak. “What do you say? Shall we try to salvage some fun out of this evening?”

He smiled, offering me his arm. “I’d like nothing more.”

The party was winding down, the once-bustling atrium now filled with the soft murmur of tired conversations and the occasional clink of glasses. I leaned against the railing of the observation deck, gazing out at the star-studded expanse beyond. The events of the past few hours swirled in my mind like a cosmic nebula, beautiful and chaotic all at once.

Zarnak’s warm presence appeared beside me, his arm brushing mine as he joined me at the railing. I leaned into him almost unconsciously.

“Quite a night,” I murmured.

“Indeed,” Zarnak replied. “Though I find myself more captivated by the company than the view.”

I turned to face him, and caught my breath. There was something different about him, a nervous energy that I’d never seen before.

“Vanessa,” he began, then paused, clearing his throat. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

Before I could respond, Zarnak took a step back and, to my utter shock, lowered himself onto one knee.

“I’ve been researching human customs,” Zarnak said, his voice trembling slightly. “And I believe this is the traditional way to do this.”

My mind raced, legs shaking so hard I was sure everyone in the atrium could see them. Was this really happening?

“Vanessa Wilson,” Zarnak continued, reaching into his pocket and producing a small, shimmering object. “From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were unlike anyone I’d ever met. Your courage, your kindness, your ability to see beauty in the strangest of places - you are unique.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as Zarnak opened his hand, revealing a ring unlike any I’d ever seen. It seemed to be made of some sort of iridescent crystal, catching the starlight and refracting it into a thousand tiny rainbows.

“Our journey together has been unexpected, filled with challenges and wonders alike. But through it all, one thing has become crystal clear to me: I love you, Vanessa. With every fiber of my being, I love you.”

I could barely breathe, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me completely.

“I want to spend the rest of my life exploring the cosmos with you by my side. Will you marry me?”

The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving just Zarnak and me in this perfect, suspended moment. I opened my mouth to speak, but what came out was not at all what I’d intended.

“What about Taffy?”

Zarnak blinked, clearly taken aback. “I... didn’t expect that to be your first concern,” he said, amusement creeping into his voice. “But of course, Taffy would always have a place with us. Our little family wouldn’t be complete without them.”

Heat rushed to my face as I realized what I’d said. “Oh god, I’m so sorry,” I stammered. “I didn’t mean to say that. I’m just... I’m so happy, Zarnak. So incredibly, unbelievably happy.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I dropped to my knees in front of him, taking his hands in mine. “Yes,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you, too, so much.”

Zarnak’s face lit up with a joy so pure it took my breath away. He slipped the ring onto my finger, and it fit perfectly, as if it had been made just for me.

Unable to contain myself any longer, I threw my arms around Zarnak’s neck, pulling him into a deep, passionate kiss. He returned it with equal fervor, his strong arms wrapping around me and lifting me off my feet as he stood.

When we finally broke apart, both breathless and giddy, I finally noticed the sound of applause around us. The remaining partygoers had gathered to witness our moment, their faces beaming with secondhand joy.

“Well, it’s about time!” Lysandra called out, raising her glass in a toast. “To the happy couple!”

The crowd echoed her sentiment, and I buried my face in Zarnak’s chest, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.

As the excitement died down and people began to disperse, offering their congratulations as they passed, I looked up at Zarnak, my heart so full I thought it might burst.

“I can’t believe this is real,” I whispered, running my fingers over the smooth surface of the ring. “How did you even find something like this?”

Zarnak smiled mischievously. “Let’s just say I had some help picking it out from a certain tentacled friend of ours. It turns out Taffy has quite the eye for jewelry.”

I could only laugh. “Of course it does. I should have known.”

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