Page 27 of The Casting Couch

“Thinking of hitting that bar near my place.You know, Metropolitan, the gay bar.”

I smiled despite myself.“Sounds perfect.After the call I just had, I’d drink mouthwash if it came with a lime wedge.”

“Classy as always,” she teased.“Oh, and just so you know… my sister’s tagging along.”

That caught me off guard.I’d known Laura for years—worked with her, laughed with her, but I’d never met her sister.I wasn’t even sure I knew she had a sister.

Still.Drinks and distraction were exactly what I needed.

“Cool with me,” I said.“You want me to meet you there?”

“Yep.Eight o’clock.”

“Done.”

We hung up, and for the first time all day, I felt something close to normal.

Funny how a little human connection could do that.

Or maybe it was just the promise of whiskey.

Either way… I grabbed my jacket, shoved my phone in my pocket, and got ready to drown the day.

* * *

The second I stepped inside Metropolitan, the smell hit me like a glitter-covered brick: sweat, vodka, and whatever brand of air freshener they sprayed in the bathrooms to cover up the smell of extremely poor life choices.

It was early for a Saturday night crowd, just a slow trickle of guys pre-gaming for something better.The lighting was low, and the music was some remix of an early 2000s pop song.A layer of persistent stickiness clung to the floor.

I scanned the room, but Laura wasn’t here yet.At least, not that I could see.

What I saw… was a nun.

Sitting at a corner table near the back, like the punchline of a joke nobody told me.Full habit.Rosary beads.Hands neatly folded on the table like she was waiting for Jesus to bring her a Miller Lite.

I blinked, shook my head, then blinked again.

Nope.Still there.

And somehow, not a single person in the bar seemed phased.

I pulled out my phone, thumbing out a text to Laura:

“Are you here?Also… minor thing… There’s an actual nun at Metro.”

Before I could hit send, Laura came out of the restroom, laughing at something on her phone as she walked straight toward the nun… and sat down across from her.

I lowered my phone, staring like I’d just seen Bigfoot ordering a Cosmo.

What the actual hell?

Laura spotted me and waved me over like nothing was weird at all.

I crossed the room in a daze and slid into the booth next to her.

“Nico, meet my sister, Sister Mary Grace,” she said cheerfully, like she was introducing me to her barista, not a member of an actual religious order.

Sister Mary Grace gave me the patented nun smile.Sweet but judgmental, like she could see every poor decision I’d ever made and was mentally bookmarking them for later.

---