ASH

Since Ash’s arrival at the Northeast Community police station, a meth head proposed marriage, a USC frat boy vomited on her shoes, and an elderly woman thrust a Bible into her hands, terrified Ash’s soul would “perish for all eternity unless you repent.”

Ash couldn’t believe how stupid she’d been. On the list of what not to do when you’re trying to score, getting busted by an undercover cop was number one. Sweat dripped down her back, and yet she couldn’t stop trembling. She wasn’t sure what was worse, sitting in this disgusting smelly room with all these freaks, or knowing she would have to face Becca.

She heard her voice before she saw her. “Ash, let’s go,” Becca said though clenched teeth. Ash spotted Becca standing in the center of the bull pen. She leapt to her feet and reached for her bag, catching Nina’s woeful gaze from across the room. Nina offered a half-hearted wave and mouthed, “Hang in there.”

Ash would need all of Nina’s encouragement to get through this. Becca’s green eyes were staring back at Ash with such fury, they could have been weaponized. “Becca,” Ash said softly. “I want to…”

“Not here. We’re not doing this here,” Becca replied impatiently, her voice low. Becca wasn’t one to cause a scene, always so calm and self-contained. Ash couldn’t remember ever seeing her this angry. She hesitated, not moving, her eyes scanning the room. “The officer, the one who busted me, he said he didn’t give a shit who I was related to…”

“Yeah, well you’re lucky that Nina has connections and is willing to use them to vouch for you. So move it. Unless you’d rather stay here?” Becca snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Ash grabbed her backpack and followed Becca out. She slumped down in the front seat of Becca’s SUV. The drive from Rampart to Silver Lake was less than four miles, but the traffic had slowed to a crawl, an accident turning the roads into a parking lot. Normally, Becca never stopped talking. Ash couldn’t stand this punishing silence. “I didn’t mean to, I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” Ash said.

Becca’s eyes never left the road, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles appeared translucent. “Hurt me? Hurt me? What about you, Ash? Why would you want to hurt yourself? Please enlighten me.”

Ash didn’t answer. What was she going to say? “I fucked up and wanted to forget.”

“I swear I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m just so disappointed in you.”

Ash’s eyes filled with tears and she sank even lower in her seat. She closed her eyes, and the next thing she knew Becca was shaking her awake. “Ash, wake up. We’re home,” Becca said.

Home. This was Ash’s home. The first time she saw the elegant craftsman, she thought Becca was fucking with her.

“There’s no way you live here,” Ash said. She didn’t know what kind of money shrinks made, but they definitely couldn’t afford a house like this.