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confidence in me.
    Being the middle child, it was like I was always trying to keep up with my older brother Shane, or get the attention Blake, my little sister, got. However, I was lucky to have the family I did. I loved them all completely.
    Success had always been something I chased for myself. Still, I knew in part that I chased it for them too. It made me happy to see how my father’s eyes lit up when I would visit. Or how my mom would kiss me about thirty times after I’d been gone for months. Blake still called me about once a week. Shane was a different story, but he knew I was always there.
    Sure, I was the only one who didn’t live near my parents in Seattle, having ventured out on my own, but I think they were proud of me.
    As I walked down the hall of the building where I’d rented for the past few years, I got excited about moving into the new place.
    Some people didn’t like change, and on most accounts that was me. I loved routine and structure. Yet, I plowed ahead, and that meant things were evolving, progressing. That alone was a reason to celebrate.
    The event was at the Harbor, a swanky hotel not far from the Lunar Building, and since I knew I’d be drinking, I’d chosen to take a cab.
    When I walked into the party, it was already busy. People mingled with champagne flutes, and servers passed by with hors d’oeuvres. I plucked a bacon wrapped shrimp thing off a shiny silver platter as one of them passed and headed to the bar. One of those little bastards was never enough; I could have eaten a plateful.
    Champagne was all right, but I wanted something I didn’t have to sip. Toasts, sure champagne. I even enjoyed good wine, when I was at home or with a nice meal, but that wasn’t what I wanted either.
    The bartender acknowledged me as I approached, and before I even touched the bar, he looked at me with expectant eyes.
    “I’ll have an ice-cold Heineken.” I rested my side against the mahogany top and looked out over the people. Some faces I knew from work, others I knew from the business section of the newspaper. The crowd was full of wealth, and it was exactly where I wanted to be.
    “Hey, Reggie, congrats on the deal. Hear you and Beckham wrapped it up this week. Good one,” said Craig, another senior partner, as he walked up and offered me his hand to shake.
    “Thanks. I think it will be a profitable partnership.” I was proud, but I wasn’t arrogant. Justin had done as much work as I had. “I think we have a good team in place. If we can keep the momentum going, I think this year will be our best yet.”
    “Yeah, I’ll drink to that,” he said as he lifted an almost empty glass in the air. I reached for the Heineken, and we toasted in agreement.
    “I’ll have another Black Label,” he said to the bartender.
    “Are you here solo, Warren?”
    I nodded.
    “Lucky man. My wife begs me to bring her to these things, then spends the entire night gossiping with the other ladies in the corner. When I get home, I’ll hear about how I didn’t pay enough attention to her. But she likes getting dressed up, and I can’t say I hate it either.” He leaned against the wood top and nodded in the direction of a group of women.
    I read his expression as genuine as opposed to salacious, and I followed his gaze to take stock of them.
    Perfectly done hair, makeup, and nails.
    Designer dresses and shoes.
    All holding crystal flutes. Pinkies out.
    Was that my future?
    My thoughts must have been obvious on my face, and he nudged my arm with his elbow. “It’s not all bad though. She’s actually got me more clients than I can count. Bringing her to these things, having her make friends with their wives, it’s actually great for business.”
    I hadn’t thought about it like that, and I laughed. “That’s an interesting way to look at marriage,” I jested, only half joking.
    He took a sip of his refilled glass, squinted as he swallowed, then added, “It is what it is. Make no mistake, I love that