Page 1 of Unfinished

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The clinkof ice hitting the side of Edgar’s glass had her transfixed. Sienna watched as a drop of condensation wobbled, just on the edge of rolling. She held her breath until it fell, snaking its way down the glass until it reached the white tablecloth. It left a damp, dark blot. An imperfection. A blemish on what should’ve been pristine. The sight of it made her want to smile.

Edgar was speaking, and she knew she should be listening, but her body wouldn’t let her. Her knees bounced beneath the table, and all she heard whooshing in her ears was the sound of her own blood pumping.

Something momentous was going to occur tonight. Edgar had insisted upon this particular restaurant, the site of countless anniversary dinners, and he’d taken extra care with his appearance. She wouldn’t be surprised if an engagement ring showed up in a champagne flute later that evening, but she couldn’t honestly say what her answer would be if it happened. For now, she’d go along for the ride, let the atmosphere wash over her, and hope she made the right choice when the fateful moment came. Whatever it would be would change things—she could feel it.

Their silent server appeared out of what felt like thin air, efficiently sliding their salads in front of them and retreating just as quickly. Only the best for Edgar. Human servers instead of servbots. He’d always thought they had so much in common, but although she’d been ambitious, Sienna liked to think she’d never been pretentious. Her wants were simple. Too bad Edgar didn’t share them.

“I’ve been thinking, Sienna.”

She looked up. Edgar had a half smile on his handsome face as he watched her. She wasn’t sure whether he reminded her of a snake or a spider, but she knew whatever he’d say next would be designed to blindside her. He was tricky like that. She could recognize it now.

His grin grew as he slid one hand forward over the tablecloth, strong fingers with a light dusting of dark hair extending and curving as he gave the table a negligent rap. “You know I care for you, but this,” he motioned back and forth in the air between them, “isn’t working. It’s over, Sienna. I hope you can take this gracefully.”

She didn’t think about what to do next. Her fingers wrapped around the stem of her wine glass all on their own, and she took a delicate sip, watching Edgar’s dark eyes all the while. She could read the glee there, hidden behind a sort of mocking, false sorrow.

Sienna set down her glass and sighed with satisfaction. “A good vintage.”

She’d been restless since the moment they’d sat down that night, but for the first time since she’d entered the restaurant, the energy that rushed jittery and manic through her veins was excitement, not anxious anticipation. She had her answer now—she and Edgar were over, and the reality was strangely freeing.

“We just aren’t looking for the same things. This focus on marriage and family—gosh, Sienna, if I’d known you just wanted to pop out babies I never would’ve invested so much time in you.”

She plucked her napkin off her lap and set it on the table, pushing her chair in as she stepped back. Sienna touched the back of her teeth with her tongue and considered saying nothing. Then she looked right back at him. “That’s the problem with investments, isn’t it? They’re inherently risky. Better luck next time, Edgar. You’ll need it.”

She turned towards the front of the restaurant and started walking, shoulders back, head held high. She smiled politely at the host and offered her wrist. “I’d like to pay my portion of the bill for table nineteen, please.”

A quick turn of her arm was all it took for the host to scan the credits from her comm device, and then Sienna was leaving the restaurant behind, drawing in a deep breath of night air. The moon hung low and bright, overpowering the lights of the city, and the stars sparkled above. Sienna closed her eyes and basked in its glow as if it were the sun, a smile pulling at her lips.

This feeling—it must’ve been peace. It’d been a long time coming.

She didn’t want to go home. She wasn’t ready to face Edgar again that night, even if it were only in the shape of his spare clothes in her closet, or the particular soap he liked best sitting nestled in the little basket on her bathroom counter. That should’ve been her first clue. Five years as a couple and he’d still refused to live together. Now it felt like a blessing.

She walked to the end of the street and turned the corner so she’d face the waterfront. It’d been easy to forget how beautiful it could be here in this city—she’d kept her head in the sand for far too long. Sienna lifted her wrist closer to her face and swiped her finger across her comm device to access her friend Tasha’s ID sequence. The chill evening wind raked through her hair and reddened her cheeks, but if there was one thing she knew, it was that she wasn’t ready to go home yet. Sienna was due a celebration, and she didn’t intend to let the moment pass her by.

* * *

“He actually said that?With those exact words?”

Tasha was waiting for Sienna’s response with her mouth half open in shock. They were sitting at the end of the bar in an understated little place she’d spotted while walking the block around the restaurant. Her friend had been more than happy to oblige when Sienna had commed asking for some company.

“Yep,” she replied, still tasting a little of the bitterness that’d soured her throat earlier that evening. “Pop out babies. I picked a real winner, didn’t I?” Sienna lifted her martini glass and took a sip. She wasn’t looking to get drunk, but she wasn’t exactly worried about staying sober that evening either.

“I’m not quite sure what to say—I mean, it was no secret good old Ed was never my favorite person, but I guess I didn’t realize he wasthatbad. If that’s not what he wants out of life, fine, but he doesn’t need to be a disrespectful shit about it. I’m assuming he knew you wanted a family.” Tasha’s voice lifted slightly, not quite in question, but testing the waters.

“Yes, he knew.”

Sienna took another sip of her martini. It should’ve hurt more, but it didn’t. The worst of the pain was knowing how many years she’d wasted. Freedom lit up her body, along with the gin, yet it didn’t feel comfortable yet. She’d had a plan—a purpose. She might not have loved Edgar any longer, even if she hadn’t realized it until he’d given her such a strong dose of clarity that evening, but she’d known where she was headed. At least she’d thought she had.

She tapped at her wrist comm and a blank holo-doc appeared above her arm.

“What are you doing?” asked Tasha.

“I lost five years waiting on someone else to decide it was time for me to start living my life the way I wanted to. I can’t let myself do that again.” Sienna glanced at the translucent doc wavering over her forearm. “I’m going to write some resolutions—new life resolutions, not new year’s.”

Tasha frowned and took a drink of her beer. The bottom of the glass hit the bar a little too hard when she set it down, and Sienna had to force herself to stay still—her shoulders wanted to jump at the sound.

“Are you sure that’s the best idea? I mean, I’m all for you making changes, but maybe it’s time to be a little more impulsive. Let loose, see what happens without a plan, what do you think?”

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