Page 61 of The Casting Couch

“Oh,” I said.“That’s confusing.”

“I like to keep people on their toes,” he said, winking.“Fun fact, I’m double-jointed, and I’ve been in a bukkake film before.”

Bradley rubbed his temples.

“I like him,” I said, mostly because Bradley looked like he was about to spontaneously combust.

“You would,” he mumbled.

“Listen, if you don’t pick fast,” Laura warned, “I’m going to start dragging people off the street and asking if they know what bukkake means.”

“Fine,” Bradley said.“Evan’s in.So is Kyler.”

Laura nodded.“God help us.”

As she left again to grab the next victim—sorry, auditionee—Bradley leaned back in his chair and exhaled hard.

I glanced over.“You okay?”

He looked at me.Really looked.And for a second, his face softened in a way that made my stomach flip.

“Yeah,” he said.“It’s just… I didn’t think my new life outside of prison would involve a clipboard and ranking strangers by how comfortable I am getting jizzed on by them.”

“Welcome to showbiz, baby,” I said, bumping my knee against his.“You’re gonna be a star.”

He gave me a crooked smile.“You think?”

“I know.”

Scene 2

After work, the studio emptied out in waves.First the camera guys, then the clipboard crowd.The sun had dipped just far enough to bathe the sidewalk in gold, and everything smelled faintly like sweat, makeup setting spray, and the trail mix Nessa kept yelling was only for talent.

Bradley and I exited through the side door just as Moira and Nessa came busting out the front, mid-conversation and loud enough to be heard in three boroughs.

“I still say he should wear goggles,” Moira was saying.“I’ve been doing some online, um, research, and saw a bukkake shoot go sideways.One guy tripped and took out the entire circle of men like bowling pins.”

“Goggles?Please,” Nessa said, waving a manicured hand.“He should wear a tiara and a raincoat.It’s called branding.”

Bradley’s face turned such a deep shade of red I thought he might just melt into the sidewalk and live there forever.

“G’night, boys!”Nessa called, winking.“Sleep tight and maybe don’t moisturize tonight, Bradley.You’re about to get drenched.”

Bradley gave a weak wave.“Goodnight…”

Moira blew him a kiss.“Can’t wait to see you glow up tomorrow, sugar.”

I waited until they turned the corner, then looked at him.“You okay?”

He was still staring into the distance like he’d just seen his obituary printed on a glittery flyer.

“I was gonna ask if being hungover would help,” he said after a beat.“Like, maybe if I’m barely conscious, I won’t care as much.”

I laughed.Couldn’t help it.“You planning on showing up blackout drunk to your first starring role?”

He shot me a look.“Don’t tempt me.”

Before I could think about it, I slung an arm around his shoulders.It was easy, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

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