Page 91 of Don't Cross Mo Ellery

“You’re so popular! So famous!” I say as Hannah speed walks ahead of me. “And isn’t that lady nice? She told me I was doing a great job with the dogs—”

“What is the deal with these dogs, Mo?” she says curtly over her shoulder.

“I told you,” I say. “They’re just temporary.”

She stops abruptly and turns to face me. “We need to talk.”

“Yeah, fine. That’s what we’re doing,” I say, and it comes out harshly because I’m annoyed, but I can’t explain why except in a way that makes me sound like a jealous asshole. “What’s up?”

“There,” she says, waving toward Dickie’s Tavern a few storefronts away.

“Maybe we should go to a park or something?” I say. “As you so astutely observed, I am the guardian of three dogs right now.”

“Dogs are allowed,” she says, pointing to a sign on the exterior that saysDoggos Welcome. “And I need a drink.”

We slide into a booth and the three dogs curl up under the table, surprisingly without any fuss. It’s the same booth I sat in with Tasha, which makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and proprietary and excited to tell Hannah all about it. Finally I have something to report that will make her proud, and, more specifically, that isn’t about murder.

We have beers in front of us—not the beers we ordered, of course, but Hannah doesn’t seem to care because she’s already housing her pint.

Now that I have a second to notice, it looks like she hasn’t slept. Her eyes are puffy and her usually glossy brown hair is pulled back in a rough pony. Her vintage sundress looks stylish at first glance, but up close it’s wrinkled like she’s been sleeping in it, and her bra straps are sticking out awkwardly. They don’t match the dress at all.

I realize with a start: My bff is rattled by something. And even though my first reaction is,Guess she’s not so perfect after all, I obviously mean it in agoodway. What’s the point in keeping the bar so high that you can’t even be a real person?

“You look terrible,” I say approvingly.

“Um—”

“And I know you barely got to meet her, but that was Tasha! The hot chick with the glasses.”

Hannah looks lost. “What?”

“Remember? The girl I maybe might have a thing with? My steamy government conquest? My spicy civil hookup? My risqué municipal bang?”

She just blinks and I’m not sure why she isn’t giving me credit for this incredibly mature step I’ve taken of not just pining away for Chris nonstop. I thought this was what she wanted.

“Itoldyou about her,” I say. “She’s super cool and smart and a ton of fun—”

“Your rebound.” Hannah nods, glancing at her phone. “Right.”

I feel like I’ve been slapped across the face. That’s it? That’s all she’s got to say? What happened to the Hannah who demands every little detail? Who actually cares about my stuff and not just her own empire?

“What, got a new collab in your DMs? Too big-time to be happy for me?” I snap, regretting it almost instantly, but not willing to take it back either. Sometimes the truth sucks.

“Are youkidding?” she asks incredulously and then throws her hands in the air. “I wouldn’t know what to be happyfor.Do you realize we only ever talk when you need something from me? You’ve turned into a completely different person! A person with three dogs! Who does that?”

“I’m still the same person under all the dogs!” I say defensively. “And I told you, they’re tempora—”

“Seriously, let’s just look at the last twenty-four hours.” She starts counting on her fingers. “Yesterday, you didn’t call me when yousaid you would. This morning, when Icame to your corner with your favorite coffee, you blew me off and made me run errands for you, made me lie to Eva about the green screen because you’re too scared of her to just ask her yourself and then conveniently forget that I specifically asked you to make some time for me—”

“I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Hannah shakes her head. “I’ve spent so much time trying to be a good friend to you, and you know what? I’m starting to think it’s not worth it.”

“Ouch, Han.”

“I havefollowerswho are better friends to me!” she says, her voice rising.

“Well, sucks to be them since clearly you don’t give a shit about your fans,” I say, my voice rising too. “You’re just using them to enhance your brand.”