Page 9

Looking up, she saw that there was little to no hope of getting near the hotel bar anytime soon and stepped out of the line. Walking over to one of the sofas, she sat and listened to Jason’s second message.

“Okay, so clearly, you’re really busy. I’ll tell you what, we’re having dinner at Carmine’s in Times Square. We’ve got reservations for 7:00. Please try to join us. It’s been far too long since we’ve seen each other in person. Hope to see you then. Bye.”

It was almost five, but that still gave her time to go up to her room to freshen up and change. Standing, she walked over to the bank of elevators and was relieved that there were no lines. Her room was up on the fifth floor, and even though this particular Marriott was massive, her room wasn’t overly lavish. It was fine for sleeping, but not a place she wanted to spend her downtime.

The invitation to dinner was a nice surprise and once she was in her room with her shoes off, she tapped out a quick text to her brother.

Sienna: Sorry I missed your messages, but I am looking forward to catching up with you and Bree over dinner. I’ll meet you there! xoxo

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see her brother and his wife, or that she purposely didn’t reach out to them. It was just...

Sigh.

Sienna knew she tended to get hyper-focused when she attended conferences, and it probably would have occurred to her to call Jason sometime over the next two weeks while she was off.

He just beat her to it.

Still, it was going to be nice to spend some time with him and Bree over some good Italian food. Carmine’s was a favorite of theirs, and she found it sweet that he made a reservation for them someplace he knew she’d enjoy.

Jason was always sweet. In the sibling lottery, Sienna knew she truly hit the jackpot with having him as an older brother. They were five years apart in age, but because she had skipped two grades in school, they were probably closer than they would have been. He never made her feel weird about her intellect or how awkward she could be at times, and he always accepted how her studying and career sometimes left her too distracted to remember to pick up the phone and call.

Like this week.

Still, she appreciated that he cared about her enough to reach out and want to see her. She couldn’t wait to hear all about how his job was going, and catch up with her sister-in-law about what was new in her life, and then hearing all about their kids and what sort of antics they were up to. Whenever she went back to Long Island to visit, it was both enjoyable and exhausting. Honestly, she didn’t know how the two of them managed to balance work and home life.

And she really wished she did.

Like...on a personal level.

What would have happened if she hadn’t been born with a high I.Q? What if she’d just been a regular, above-average student who wasn’t obsessed with research and learning? What if she’d put more emphasis on a social life rather than an academic one?

Sighing, she gently put her phone down because tears began to sting her eyes.

What if she’d allowed someone to get close enough to fall in love and have babies with?

Yeah, that last one was the kicker because she had dated a few men who she could have married and had kids with, but...she never felt a strong enough connection to want to do it.

And now she had regrets.

Lots of them.

Shaking her head to clear it of those wayward thoughts, she sat down at her desk and stared at the large manila envelope she’d been avoiding for days. With a small huff, she reached for it and pulled out the top sheet.

A book.

Back in the spring, Sienna had pitched the idea for a book on her research to a literary agent she had met at a conference in Dallas. It was something she’d toyed with—writing—but she didn’t think she’d ever have the time or be brave enough to actually do it. But because she knew she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t at least write a proposal, she had forced herself to sit down and do it.

And now there was a publisher who was interested.

It was a project that would take a lot of her time, but it would be something different—a change from her every day, boring routine.

And she desperately needed that.

Hence, the vacation.

“Okay, don’t think about this now,” she quietly chided herself. “You can think about this after the vacation.” And with that, she shoved the entire packet back into her satchel. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

For the next hour, she checked her emails and changed her outfit three times until she found something chic and comfortable. Ultimately, she opted for a pair of black skinny jeans, her favorite ankle boots, and an emerald green, wide-necked sweater. It was fall and the temperature after dark was quite cool, so she knew she’d need to bring her coat too. Even if she took a cab to and from the restaurant, she’d still have to be outside for several minutes.