Josh Arnold sat in Pete's Tavern slowing drinking his beer. At 24 he was fairly well set-up. Three years earlier he had finished his B.A. in accounting from a small-city regional university not far from his family home. That led him quickly to an entry-level job with a small accounting firm and with support from his boss Josh had studied for, and passed, the exam to become a CPA. His salary wasn't huge but it was enough to allow him to have his own apartment, buy a car and begin to pay back his college loans.
But Josh's career success was overshadowed by his crashed love life. He met his former fiancee, Amanda, when they were both juniors in college. They announced their engagement in the spring of their senior years, with an anticipated wedding date for the following Spring. Three months before the planned date Amanda suddenly called it off, moved away and found a new boyfriend within a month. Josh as devastated.
In part to separate himself from his sorrows Josh moved to a larger city, a full two hours distant from where he and Amanda had been living. In the ensuing 18 months he had had dates with only three women, one of which turned out to be a one-night stand. The other two barely got beyond "hello".
There was one small bright spot though. Josh's old college buddy, Luna Goddess had recently moved here also. Josh met Luna as a part of overlapping circles of friends when he was a college senior and she a freshman. There was never anything sexual or romantic about their social relationship. They simply quickly became friends. Though he never quite said it, Josh thought of Luna as something like the younger sister that he never had.
In the 18 months between his graduating from college and moving to the city, he and Luna continued their friendship, often even including Amanda in their get togethers. Since moving Josh and Luna continued to connect via Instagram and email, though the frequency of their contacts had dropped off some.
At Jason's initiative, Luna had agreed to meet up at Pete's just to catch up on each other's lives. Jason could hardly wait. A broad smile crossed his face as he spied Luna's unmistakable profile as she entered through the door.
But Josh's career success was overshadowed by his crashed love life. He met his former fiancee, Amanda, when they were both juniors in college. They announced their engagement in the spring of their senior years, with an anticipated wedding date for the following Spring. Three months before the planned date Amanda suddenly called it off, moved away and found a new boyfriend within a month. Josh as devastated.
In part to separate himself from his sorrows Josh moved to a larger city, a full two hours distant from where he and Amanda had been living. In the ensuing 18 months he had had dates with only three women, one of which turned out to be a one-night stand. The other two barely got beyond "hello".
There was one small bright spot though. Josh's old college buddy, Luna Goddess had recently moved here also. Josh met Luna as a part of overlapping circles of friends when he was a college senior and she a freshman. There was never anything sexual or romantic about their social relationship. They simply quickly became friends. Though he never quite said it, Josh thought of Luna as something like the younger sister that he never had.
In the 18 months between his graduating from college and moving to the city, he and Luna continued their friendship, often even including Amanda in their get togethers. Since moving Josh and Luna continued to connect via Instagram and email, though the frequency of their contacts had dropped off some.
At Jason's initiative, Luna had agreed to meet up at Pete's just to catch up on each other's lives. Jason could hardly wait. A broad smile crossed his face as he spied Luna's unmistakable profile as she entered through the door.
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