The cord on the motel phone stretched to the bed. Sydney shoved the rest of her clothes in the duffle bag.

"Are you excited to start the school year? Only nine more months and you graduate. Start counting down." She picked up her makeup bag and laid it on top of the clothes.

"Don't change the subject. I don't like you going there by yourself," whispered Kylie over the phone. "Can't you wait until I'm with you?"

"No." She'd waited long enough to visit the Brikken Clubhouse.

She'd waited to get out of JDH.

She'd waited to find out which prison Jett was locked up in.

She'd waited to see her sister and make sure she was okay with her own eyes.

All she'd done for the last two years was wait. If she had to wait for anything more, she'd go mental.

"I'm out of money. JDH only gave me one-hundred and fifty dollars when I left," she said.

"Why would they give you that much?"

"It wasn't from them. It's from the state. You'll get that amount, too, once you turn eighteen," she said.

"Sort of like a big screw you, you're out on your own now, sucker," whispered Kylie.

She laughed despite how pathetically true the statement was. "I don't have enough money for another night at the motel. I'm going to the clubhouse as soon as I hang up." She looked around the room, making sure she left nothing behind. "After I get more information about Jett, I'm going to hit some of my old spots and make some money. Then, I'm going to try and get a motel room closer to you."

"I hate not knowing what is happening with you and not being able to help. Can you call me again when you know where you're staying? Before eight o'clock."

Kylie's curfew was whacked. She was seventeen years old. The least the Mathew's could do was let her talk to her sister whenever she wanted.

"I'll try if I can find a phone but not making any promises because I don't want you to worry if I can't." She turned and sat down on the bed. "I'll be fine either way."

"I still worry."

"I know, but I'm the big sister. I got this." She sat straighter. "All right, sister. I'm heading out. Wish me luck."

"Wait." Kylie paused. "What if he's in prison somewhere far away. You're not going to leave me in Tacoma, right?"

"No. Definitely no. I would never leave you. No matter what." She stood. "Okay, I need to go. Love you bunches."

"Love you bunches back," said Kylie.

She hung up the phone. Before the downer mood could hit her, she picked up her bag and walked out to the office to turn in the key to her room.

Thankful for the slob of a man who ran the place, he never blinked when she handed over a brand-new proof of identity card her social worker gave her when she walked out of JDH.

Outside, she slipped her arms into the handles of her duffle and headed left, toward the north side of town. It was four miles until she'd reach the road that would take her to the Brikken property, and another four and a half miles until she reached the clubhouse. She wasn't going to waste money paying for a ride when she could walk. The trip would keep her occupied until night arrived and she could do some cons.

She strolled on the sidewalk and looked up at the sky. A sunny day with big, white fluffy clouds overheard made her smile. She walked faster knowing the clouds would lead her to the clubhouse where she'd be closer to Jett, even though he was away.

He'll come back to me.

Whatever prison he was at, she'd take a bus or train or hitchhike to see him.

At the next three intersections, the walk sign turned as she approached, failing to break her stride. She took her good luck as a sign that she was doing the right thing. Not even traffic signals could stop her.

She'd lived her life wanting to turn eighteen years old for as long as she understood what that magical age meant to a foster kid. To be an adult and have control over how she lived, how Kylie lived, and never have others—who knew nothing about her, act like they cared when all they were doing was keeping her in their home to receive a paycheck every month—tell her how to live. Not to mention, how many of the fosters abused their position as the adult in the relationship.

She couldn't remember a time when she felt like a kid. Her maturity had nothing to do with the way she'd grown up. There came a point in time where she realized that she was the one responsible for herself. Everyone else was temporary.

Her newfound freedom, out of JDH, away from being in a system, smelled fresh as a spring day and as bright as the sun.

She stepped over the crack in the sidewalk. Two weeks ago, she'd turned the official age. It took the state of Washington ten days to release her from their care and let her walk out of JDH. So far, being an adult was lonely.

She was good at being lonely.

Ahead of her, a group of men walked out of the bar onto the sidewalk. She looked straight ahead and minded her own business. Until she found out what prison Jett was in and how much money she'd need to travel there, she'd wait to con them out of their hard-earned money.

Two blocks away, she stopped under an awning of a Mexican restaurant to get out of the sun and cool off. The day had already grown warm, and it was only nine o'clock in the morning.

Traffic flowed by, probably other adults going to work. The pressure to make money continually on her mind, she spent relentless hours combing the ads in the newspaper. With only a GED diploma, no driver's license, and no permanent address, not to mention no cell phone, she'd have a hard time finding a conventional job.

Last night, she'd watched the sports channel on cable in the motel room and jotted down teams playing. The easiest route to getting more money would be to hit the sports enthusiasts. She could run her own bets the way Victor had and keep all the cash. A week working would probably keep her in a hotel room for the month.

A loud rumble drew her attention. She stepped out of the shadow and raised her hand, shielding her eyes from the sun. A big, black motorcycle headed toward her on the street and adrenaline flooded her at the sight of the full beard and broad body.

The closer the rider came, she realized it wasn't Jett but Chief. She bent over and grabbed her duffle and stepped off the curb, waving her arm over her head. In her excitement at seeing anyone from Brikken, she couldn't even muster enough fear at seeing Chief after more than two years.

Only when he stopped at the curb and looked at her did she realize being overconfident was a huge mistake.

Chief glared. He was not happy to see her.

She stepped over to his bike and waited for him to turn the engine off so she could talk.

When she finally convinced herself he wasn't going to give her the courtesy to hear her out, the air suddenly quieted. She pried her tongue off the roof of her mouth. All her prepared questions fled.

"Grab the extra helmet and get on," he ordered.

She jumped to do what he asked, and then stepped on the foot peg and sat behind him. Unprepared to run into him before she reached the clubhouse, she could only hold on as he rode out of town.

Fifteen minutes later, Chief pulled into the driveway at Jett's house. A plethora of emotions choked her. He'd made this her home more than any foster family had in the past. He never had time to buy furniture or run a normal house, but he was with her, and that was all that she required.

He'd made her happy here. Every night, he snuggled up against her. She swallowed the lump of emotions in her throat. He'd wanted her.

The last morning they were together, he'd planned to have sex with her. Her feelings had been out of control. Wild and free.

"Sydney?" said Chief.

She left the memories for the moment and slid from the motorcycle, taking the helmet off. "Yes?"

Chief held out a keyring. "You can stay here."

Surprised, she stared up at him. Jett's father hadn't asked where she'd been or why she'd been gone.

"Where's Jett?" she asked handing Chief the helmet.

"You don't know?" He shifted on the seat and attached the helmet to the bungee cord.

She lifted her chin. "I know he's in prison. I want to go see him but don't know where he's at...which prison he's in."

"I'll get back to you on that." He toed the kickstand.

"Chief? Wait..." She stepped closer. "How is Johanna and...and Jackie, and the baby?"

His gaze narrowed. She'd left Johanna in the lurch when the social worker caught her at the store buying diapers. Over the last two years, she'd thought about her and the kids a lot.

Johanna never pressured her to answer tough questions and gave her a chance. As an overprotective mother, Johanna had slowly trusted her around the kids. Looking back, she appreciated having someone not judge her during the time she was with Jett.

She waited for Chief to answer but the motorcycle started, and she stepped out of his way without finding out about his family.

Chief rode his motorcycle in a circle around her and raced down the driveway. She looked down at her hand at the single key on a silver ring. A shudder quaked inside of her.

Hurrying to the door, she unlocked the house and rushed inside. A small part of her wanted to believe Jett was waiting for her. She even called his name as she walked down the hallway and to the bedroom.

She stood in the doorway and stared at the unmade bed. Neither one of them believed in making a bed if they were going to sleep in it again that night. Drawn into the room, she dropped her duffle and crawled up on the mattress.

Hugging Jett's pillow to her chest, she drew her legs up and closed her eyes. The silence in the house surrounded her.

Never before had time seemed so long. The two years of being in JDH might as well have been ten years, not knowing what was happening to Jett, she dreamed nightly about walking back into his life like nothing had happened. Her thoughts resembled dreams, and there were times when she'd wondered if she made their whole relationship up.

It was hard to imagine a man Jett's age being interested in her.

She'd tried to convince herself that she'd mistook his caring for her as something more when Jett probably was only indulging her crush.

She inhaled a shaky breath. It was more than a crush, and he had wanted her.

Going by Chief's lack of happiness over seeing her after two years, she started to get nervous. Then, she realized that she was in Jett's house, lying on his bed, and no matter the changes they both had gone through, he still welcomed her into his life.

That had to mean something.