Page 92 of Don't Cross Mo Ellery

She gasps. “I am notusinganyone.”

“Oh forsure,” I say. “It’s not selfish at all. Like Leslie just now, who’s so sweet and clearly adores you, and you can’t give her a second of your time? Even though she’s clearly bought in to the whole stupid UPGRADE thing.”

“Oh, my ‘stupid UPGRADE thing’ that got you a new life when you were fired and dumped on the same day?”

“I hate this new life!” I explode, letting go of all my frustration at trying to make my life, to make ME, more perfect, more like Hannah. “I did everything you said, and all it’s done is ruin everything!”

We glare at each other for a second.

“Seriously, Mo? You don’t need my help to ruin everything. It’s kind of your whole vibe. Here,” she says, tossing the folded-up green screen at me. “Iselfishlyspent like seventy-five bucks on rideshares today andselfishlystole this green screen andselfishlywaited for youto finish flirting with your rebound girlie after Itoldyou I needed to talk.” Tears are running down her face, and she wipes her nose roughly. “I did all of that when I should’ve been taking care of myself and contacting the police about my stupid stalker.” She slides across the booth, and I put my hand out to stop her.

“Wait, Hannah,” I say. “You have astalker? Like a real stalker? Are you okay?”

She blinks away tears. “I’ve tried to talk to you about this. You just didn’t listen.”

I rack my brain. Did she try to talk to me about this? I cannot remember. AmIthe selfish one?

She shakes her arm free and scoots out of the booth, leaving me there to clutch the green screen and feel like maybe she was right. Maybe I am the worst possible friend.

No. I’m not letting her walk out like this, not for anything. I peel my thighs off the vinyl seats with a weak little cry and stand up.

“Hannah, stop,” I say. And she does stop. She stops and turns to look at me, hand on hip.

I’m about to apologize for being a shitty, clueless friend. I’m about to beg her to please come back and sit with me, tell her I’ll buy her another round, and we’ll figure out what to do about her stalker, I really am. I’m just trying to figure outhowto say it.

And that’s precisely when the door to Dickie’s opens, and Benny walks in.

Benny.

Relief hits me like a tidal wave. I can’t manage to say anything, not a word, but I do break into ahugesmile, despite the fact that Benny is glaring daggers at me, which I definitely deserve.

Only when Hannah groans do I remember that I was about to be a good friend.

“Grow up, Mo,” she says, looking between me and Benny. She blows past him with no idea who he is, because maybe she’s right and I am a completely different person under all the dogs.

And then she’s gone.

Benny claps a hand on my shoulder, and not in a friendly way.

“Hello there,” he says. “Drinks on you.”

Chapter 30

Benny orders a red wine. At Dickie’s. Which, again—dive bar. But I suppose I’m not really in a position to give him shit about it. And maybe because he’s a regular with a Polaroid on the wall, the bartender actually gives him the drink he orders, even if it is straight from the fridge. Meanwhile, I get a Coors Light by ordering a Guinness.

I feel sick about Hannah. I promise myself I’ll make it up to her as soon as possible; I’ll tell her everything. But first, I have to talk to Benny.

I can’t stop staring at him, just to confirm he’s actually safe. The dogs are equally thrilled to see their guy. Louis clambers up on the seat and rests his chin on Benny’s shoulder with a contented sigh. Benny puts an arm around him like they’re on a date, looks the dog over, and then frowns at me. He opens his mouth to say something, but I get there first.

“Let’s just clear the air here,” I say, palms up in a sign of defeat. “I’m sorry I got you arrested. But, on the bright side, Ialsofigured out you were innocent and indirectly helped get you released.”

“And you really think those two things balance each other out, huh?”

“You looked suspicious in that doorbell footage.” My voice feels small, and I instinctively shrink back as Benny leans forward.

“Suspicious?” His voice is hard. “I was smellinggas. When I opened the mail slot, I knew something was wrong, and I had to get the dogs away and call 911. That’s what you were seeing in the doorbell video. That’s what you sent the cops.”

“You know,technicallyMarlowe sent it to the cops.”