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Treading Water Golden strings of lights dotted the chalky purple dusk and crisscrossed the perfectly
manicured hedges. Tea candles flickered on the tall cocktail tables and floated on faux flowers in the pool. The lights glinted off martini and wine glasses. It was one of my company’s monthly cocktail parties to impress our clients but this time it was at the home of the company president. The ritzy party felt more like an upscale rooftop lounge than someone’s backyard. A fog hung over the party as if to keep it a secret.
“So where do you think the bar is?” Liam’s voice cut through the music and chatter.
“Around here somewhere. Let’s go find it. I could really use a drink,” I answered. I
definitely did not need a drink. I was so nervous before the party I downed two vodka sodas before the company car picked us up but I knew I should stay clear headed tonight. Unfortunately, my boss insisted that Liam, my annoyingly almost-‐famous boyfriend come along. You become a semi-‐successful painter and suddenly everyone who has ever picked up a copy of The New Yorker wants a piece of you.
After meandering around the outskirts of the party, smile plastered to my cheeks,
we found the bar. Liam ordered our usuals—whiskey soda for him and vodka cranberry for me. I sipped rapidly at the tiny cocktail straw, downing half of my drink, which was noticeably strong, making me clench my teeth. Liam was already ordering his second. I turned away from the bar and rested my elbows on its edge, scanning the gathering crowd.
“So you these are the parties you’re always going to Kate?” Liam asked.
“Yes,” I mumbled, trying to see if any of my few, unimportant clients had arrived,
“more or less. Just so you know, we’re going to have to do some awkward standing and
© Alison Coolidge 2015