“No. We move there. Start fresh. Start over. Our new life together.”

Ash’s eyes darted toward the giant framed photos hanging on the wall. They were taken right after Ash got her Leica camera. It wasn’t a perfect shot, a little off center, and a bit blown out. But Ash loved it. She’d captured the joy on Becca’s face as she splashed about with Freud in the Malibu waters.

“What about Becca?” Ash whispered.

“What about her?” Nate said. She flinched, the harshness in his voice startling her.

“I’m sorry. It’s just… it’s not like Becca’s your real mother.”

Ash didn’t say anything, thinking about today’s big news. All it would require was a trip to the courthouse and a judge’s signature. Then it would be official. Becca would be her mother. Ash would be her daughter. Her silence lingered.

“So that’s it? You’ve got Becca, and now I’m out on my own.” She could hear the betrayal in his voice.

“No, it’s just…”

“If I stay here, I don’t know what will happen to me, Ash. You’re all I have left. And I… I don’t know if I can leave without you.”

Ash thought about all those months she spent on the streets, alone, searching for someone who cared about her, who would look after her. She imagined Nate back out there on his own, without anyone. Or worse, Nate forced to go back to Mo and the others.

The last thing Ash wanted to do was leave Becca. She knew that she would be devastated, but Becca had her father and Nina and her job. Nate was all alone.

Her decision was made. Ash told herself this wasn’t good-bye forever. One day, once they were away from Mo and things calmed down, she would find a way to explain everything to Becca. Right now though, she owed Nate. She reached for his hands, holding them tight against her heart. “We’ve got this, Nate. You and me together.”

ASH

They ran—through back alleys and side streets of Silver Lake, Ash leading the way with Freud trailing after them, Nate following as they headed east toward Hollywood. Together, their combined net worth was two hundred dollars. They still needed money for bus tickets and a place to crash when they got to Taos. It was Nate’s idea to steal Becca’s jewelry. “No way. That’s a shithead move,” Ash said.

“C’mon, Ash, what other options do we have?” Nate asked.

She ran through their options. If she told Becca the truth, Ash could wind up in a group home or worse, juvenile detention. Not to mention Nate’s record. The charges were bullshit, but it didn’t matter. They’d wind up where they started, alone and prisoners of the system. Ash couldn’t imagine that life again. It was unbearable.

Her decision made, Ash steeled herself, tiptoeing into Becca’s bedroom while she slept downstairs. One day I’ll make this right, she silently promised.

She didn’t have a good reason for taking Freud. They were on their way out when she glanced back and saw him staring up at her with those giant doe eyes, his tail wagging excitedly.