Laws of Love

The Partner's Play at Love

BLAZE

Willing my fingers to remain steady, I affix my neatest signature onto several pages of the partnership agreement. After seven years of working for Hawthorne Kennedy, dropping $150,000 to make a partner was the pinnacle of my career as a lawyer.

"This is what we've been waiting for since Cornell." My best friend, Miguel whispers excitedly.

Miguel and I had made a pact in law school that we would make partners in the same law firm.

"Congratulations, I couldn't be prouder of the both of you." Logan Hawthorne extends his hand for the both of us to shake.

We walk out of the conference room, and Miguel's wife, Jessica, runs up and hugs me.

"Hey," Miguel exclaims."Why did you hug him before me? "

"Come on Miguel, I saw Blaze first." Jessica grins, kissing him on the lips.

I walk behind the bantering couple down the halls of the office.

I couldn't help but feel envious of them. I saw the love I wanted for myself in them. The affection, laughter, loyalty, and commitment.

"So, who gets the bigger office? " Jessica asks as we walk up to the executive floor.

Miguel looks into a few of the new offices, before rushing into the one with a view of the city.

I run after him."I want this one," I breathe.

"Too bad, I saw it first. " He grins.

"No, you just entered it first." I step over to the large glass windows of the office and smile at the DC skyline.

"The offices are given on a first-come, first-serve basis ." Miguel retorts.

"But, I was the one to acknowledge wanting it audibly," I tell him.

"Just play a game of rock, paper, scissors and the winner gets the office." Jessica intervenes.

"Don't tell me you use rock, paper, scissors to settle your cases? " I ask.

Jessica was a mediator at Hawthorne Kennedy, and more than often the neutral party that settled tiffs between Miguel and me.

Since neither Miguel nor I was above childish antics, we go along with Jessica's advice. Three rounds of rock, paper, scissors later I beat Miguel 2 to 1.

It took a while for Miguel to accept that I got the larger office, but he gets over it when Jessica proposes a celebratory dinner of his favorite foods at his parents' house.

It didn't seem to matter how many visits I made to the Hawthorne's home, I still got mind blown by the splendor of their home.



The house is classic in style with well-kept hedges, and trees with leaves that always seemed to boast fall colors. Yet, despite how lavish of a lifestyle the Hawthornes led, they kept an air of humility.

The Hawthornes were unlike my hubris family who hid their supercilious attitude behind rehearsed civility.

"Well, aren't you coming ?" Miguel asks, keeping the front door half-opened.

I follow Miguel to the dining room where his mom and Jessica are around the table talking.

"Blaze, how lovely to see you." Marcella Hawthorne gets up from her chair and greets me with a kiss on my right cheek.

"You look lovely as usual." I compliment her.

"Is Mr. Hawthorne joining us for dinner ?" I ask curiously.