The laughter subsides, and Nathan continues with the story in his happy-hour-hoarse voice, “and then the text goes on, ‘…quitting job. Going to fla/tampa right now. Sorry for letting you down. Need a education, a car w a heater, my dog. A affordable place to live… And ultim. A salary 5 times higher.’” Nathan finishes reading/shouting the text from his phone, grimacing at the poor grammar, but loving that the story gets better the more times he tells it.

“Wait, so this guy really did that? He was late to the meeting in Philly and then just drove straight to Florida?” Inquires Jess.

“Yessir. But here’s the best part—“ Nathan’s friends wait for the ending of a story that already has them in tears. “I showed the texts to my boss during the presentation, saying, ‘Uh… I don’t think Justin is going to show up,’ and right then, my boss stands up in the middle of the meeting, opens his phone, calls HR, and tells them Justin is no longer with the company. Ridiculous!”Nathan and his friends grab the bucket of tasteless “genuine” beer from the waiter and huddle around their circular table like camp kids at a fire.

“Nathan, man,” Jess continues. “That Justin will be missed though. He did so much for the company.”

“Yeah, like what?” Nathan was genuinely curious.

“He left us this priceless story!” Drops of beer splash on the already-sticky table as the laughter begins again.

With the bucket of longnecks depleted and stories cycling back to where they started, the group disperses, and Nathan and Jess head back to their cars.

“You okay to drive?” Jess asks.

“Please. I’ve been a lot more messed up than this.”

“Alright, hotshot. See you tomorrow.” Jess blows a half-hearted kiss, which turns into a hand catching her slightly off-balance approach to her car and climbs in. Like every driving school teaches you, she does the first thing you aught to when you get in the car. She checks her phone.

“See ya.” Nathan folds himself into his new GLI and winds his way back to his apartment. “Justin…” he mumbles.

Wondering what Justin has been doing, months after the infamous texts, Nathan pictures Justin with his dog and a still-sputtering car, driving around Florida. He pictures Justin reuniting with his parents, smiling as he pulls into a familiar driveway, recollecting his impromptu fourteen-hour drive down 95. He pictures Justin easing into the bed Justin slept in so many nights growing up.

Pulling into his own place, Nathan unlocks the door, kicks the trash bags to the side, opens the refrigerator, and finds himself scrolling through his contact list, one name at a time.

He pictures Justin with his family and friends, back in a native setting. Justin tells his own story of corporate life and missing a meeting and ending up back where he really belongs, not chasing someone else’s dream. Nathan imagines the genuine smiles of Justin’s family and the contented bark of Justin’s dog.