Page 33 of Don't Cross Mo Ellery

Photo after photo of him, slumped over the steering wheel, at different angles and with varying amounts of gruesomeness. The pepperoni in my stomach revolts.

Me:Please stop sending me snuff photos????

Claudia immediately texts back.

Claudia:Then meet me at the corner.

And she sends me another photo.

I take a deep breath. I’m handling it! I have it under control! Hot messes do not take deep breaths! I go back to the Hannah thread.

Me:Quick Q!

How to phrase this? Casual. Non-needy.

Me:Got any UPGRADE tips on how to say no to a job you don’t want?

Me:If like the hiring manager is beingrealpushy? Oof!

While I wait for an answer, Claudia sends me two identical close-ups of Cran’s bloody nose.Help.

Claudia:Sorry for the repeat

Right, that’s definitely the problem here.

And then, to my relief, Hannah finally responds.

Hannah:OMG a new job! Mo! Congrats!

Wait.

No. I was clearly too casual.Toonot-needy. Faking being normal isso hard.

Me:Hahaha thanks but like what if I REALLY don’t want this job

Hannah:You can totally keep looking for your dream job while you’re pulling in a paycheck at not-dream job! Right now money is the thing, right? Go go go! You got this!!

Something still feels off. Is Hannah faking normal too? She’s not usuallythischeerful.

But then I wonder if she has a point. Would Claudia pay me? I wonder.

My phone pings with a close-up of Cran’s vacant eyes. Jesus.

Nope. There’s no money in this, only suffering.

Hannah:What’s the job??

Oh. Oops. Of course she would ask. She’s a good friend.

Time to pivot.

Me:Tell ya later - oh hey btw guess who flirted with a hot government official yesterday?

Hannah:!!!

Hannah:Nature is healing

Me:Ha ha, yep!