Page 50 of Craving Venom

What the fuck do you even say to a prisoner who barely cares about yourpersonallife?

I chew on my lip. Then, before I can overthink it, I send the simplest thing I can.

CHAPTER TEN

THE MONSTER

The soft ping from my computer makes me glance over.

I don’t check messages often. Most of the time, it’s bullshit—automated prison notices, legal crap I don’t care about, or some dumbass inmate trying to scam me into a card game.

But this?

This is different.

I already know who it is before I open it.

And fuck me, I’m smiling. That stupid, useless fucking smile that I can’t seem to wipe off my face whenever I talk to her.

How long cn i get imprisond for if i hypothetically plan a murder of an ex boyfriend?

I huff out a laugh, shaking my head.

That depends. How clean are you planning to make it? If you’re drunk texting me on a Tuesday afternoon, I’m guessing… not very.

It takes all of five seconds for the typing bubbles to pop up.

how do you even kno that

I could lie and tell you I’m psychic. That I have a gift and I just know what drunk people look like.

Or I could tell you I spotted at least four grammatical errors in your last two messages, and that shit doesn’t usually happen when you’re sober.

It takes her longer to reply this time.

What r u my grammar teacher now?

Well, someone has to be. Even my cellmate spells better than you, and he’s been stabbing motherfuckers since middle school. Oh, and I don’t have a cellmate.

sounds like someone I’d get along with

Yeah, if you want to get shanked over a game of poker.

I knew it. I attract psychos.

Clearly. Exhibit A: You’re texting one.

She doesn’t respond right away, and for a second, I wonder if she passed out. Wouldn’t surprise me, considering how much of a mess her messages are.

At least you don’t fake die to get out of a relationship.

I stare at the screen.

...What the fuck?

exactly my fucking thought

I don’t know why the thought of someone doing that pisses me off. Maybe because it’s cowardly. Maybe because I know what real death looks like, and some asshole playing pretend just rubs me the wrong way.