Chapter 2: Sienna’s Friends

I sit next to Nora. She is wearing a bohemian sparkly sequined dress; the gleaming brightness of her dress contrasts her sexy tanned skin.

“Hello, professor, I’m back. What did I miss? How are our people?” The woman who is sipping red wine gave me a teasing smile. Nora is doing a fellowship in Archaeology. I don’t know much about her work, we have been friends since undergrad in Cambridge, and since we studied different degrees, I did Economics, and she did Archaeology, our career interests are not exactly aligned, but she is good fun at parties and an outstanding museum tour guide. And not to forget, the biggest gossip I have ever known. The girl is observant.

“Nothing much. Yvonne went home early since she had an early meeting tomorrow. And before the meeting, she told me she will have a yoga session at 5 AM. Can you believe that girl?” Yvonne is a fashion designer and a business executive. She runs the London office of her family’s luxury brand in Paris. She probably throws herself into work after the phenomenon breakup with her boyfriend.

“Yeah…she is disciplined. What else is new? Give me something spicy.”

“Ernie and his girl just had a big fight, and she stormed off. He is there at a corner hugging his beloved bottle of gin. I am certain he will make out with it soon.” Nora talked into my ear. The music is getting too loud for a normal conversation.

I turn and see Ernie dancing to the music and drinking from a bottle. His white bow tie is gone, and there is a stain on his white shirt, most likely wine. I don’t expect to see that from an esteemed lawyer such as himself. After he got together with this girl he met at work, his blonde hair and blue eyes good look started to wane. I haven’t seen him smile in weeks. Being Cameron’s little brother that I have known for years, I can’t help but feel worried about him.

“Your best friend Kyle is dancing with a girl I've never seen before. I bet he is going home with her tonight.” Nora points with her wine glass to the dance floor, and there Kyle is; devilishly handsome and tall, his muscular arms lift a girl I have never seen up in the air and twirl around.

“I bet twenty quid they will do it in his Bentley instead of home,” I said dryly. Kyle’s success with women becomes boring since it makes him a failed wingman. We often go to a club together, and he leaves first. That shouldn’t be how things work.

“How about our dear Cynthia?” I wondered about another friend since college in the UK. Cynthia is the daughter of a conglomerate mogul in Korea. I believe their business is called a chaebol. With her father's money, she doesn’t have to work for several lifetimes. Her family doesn’t expect her to take over the business anytime soon. She just lives in a giant penthouse in Hyde Park and is the star in all social scenes.

“Look on the stage, and you shall see, darling.”

I follow Nora’s gaze and see Cynthia, in a pair of shorts and tank top, spreading her legs 180 degrees wide, upside down in the air, while holding on to a pole. Wide-eyed but not surprised, I always appreciate her pole dancing talent.

“Do you think she still has feelings for Kyle?”

“I think they have both moved on. She seems fine hanging out with him if we are around, though. Exes can be friends. And besides, it has been a few months. I think they are fine.”

“And where is your other half?” I asked when I think of Peter, Nora’s boyfriend.

“At home. Probably coding something new to save the world. I don’t want to know.” She says wearily and drinks more wine, finishing her glass and refills.

“Well, seems like a lot happened when I was gone.”

“You were gone for a long time, my dear. Cameron again? I thought you guys were over.” She is questioning me, and I have no answer.

I look across the room to see Cameron drinking and laughing with his friends.

“It will officially end when I move back to the states.” I don’t want to think about it.

“Is that the agreement then? I don’t think he is over you, though.” Nora turned to the table Cameron is sitting at. I follow her gaze and find him already looking in our direction. He lifts his wine glass and mouths the word cheers once he knows we are looking.

“Yup, it doesn’t seem over from what I see just now,” Nora concluded.

“I don’t know. I loved him. But it’s over. Again. We fight all the time except when we have sex.” I sigh. The relationship is a mistake, albeit a sweet mistake, but a mistake nonetheless.

“Sienna, you said that way too many times in these past few years. Well, you deserve better anyway. You can find someone better.” Nora said dismissively. She sips more wine, and her face turns red.

“You know, every time I talk about him to my friends, people keep saying that. But Cameron is nice! He was supportive of me when I needed him most. But it ended now.” Just like most relationships, I could sense when it was over. This one with Cameron is supposed to be a fun short-term fling anyway. I did fall for him. A little bit. Maybe. I feel a little heartbroken, but a least we shared good memories.

“Will you go back to see Sophia?” She asked about the love of my life. And I smile bitterly.

“She said she will free up her calendar as soon as I land. I’m flying back next week.”

“I hope things are good between you two. You are a super cute couple.” I keep up the smile and invite Nora to watch Cynthia and her show. Enough about me.

Distracted, I pull up my phone and find the latest text I sent Sophia. I sent my itinerary, flight number, time of landing, the hotel I will be staying at, and suggestions of the restaurants we both love in Palo Alto.

I sent that five days ago. There is yet a response.