Page 4 of Under Rusted Stars

“Oh, I don’t believe my eyes. Miss Olivia Monroe, is that you?” Rhett says with the brightest smile. “Can I bother you for a hug?”

“Still a dipshit, I see.” I laugh and put my arms out so he can hug me. His hug is so gentle; it tells me right away that he knows. I pull back, and he gently squeezes my shoulder. “How ya been, Liv?”

“Glad to be back,” I say with a smile. Bodhi is just staring at me, and I’m sure he has no idea what to say.

Bodhi Jensen bullied me from the moment my adoption was finalized. He’s had times when he’s been okay, and we could be civil, but it always went back to him being a dickhead. During our senior prom, I won prom queen, so he unzipped my dress in front of everyone. Talk about a living nightmare.

“Are you actually Monroe now?” Luke asks.

“I am,” I tell him. “I changed my licenses a few days ago.”

“Good for you,” Rhett says.

“Mmm. You know, don’t you?” I ask.

“I might keep up with the Dallas news,” he says simply. “My sister lives out there.”

“You were in the news, girl?” Luke asks me. I glance at Bodhi before answering.

“Ah, no,” I say. “Jason’s arrest was in the news.”

“I’m going to kill that little fucker,” Luke grunts.

“Ha!” Kate says as she walks by on the other side of the bar. “I’m definitely going to be the one to kill him.”

“Who are we killing?” Bodhi asks, raising an eyebrow.

“We… aren’t doing anything,” I snap.

“Ten years and you still got your titties in a twist, Liv?” Luke asks with a big grin.

“Alright. I’m leaving,” I deadpan. “Kate, I’ll see you, girl. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” she calls after me.

It’s not fair that he was a fucking wanker his entire childhood and then gets to grow up to be the sexiest man in this town. Bodhi is a bit over six feet tall, with black hair and a beard that is neatly trimmed close to his face. He looks strong as hell, too. God help me, that man is fine as hell…

Chapter Two

Bodhi

I don’t know why I am surprised that she still hates me. I deserve nothing less than anger from her. After what I did to her, that’s the least of what I deserve.

“Ah, I’m so glad she’s back,” Kate says when the door shuts.

“She tell you anything?” Rhett asks Kate.

“No, but she knows I’m going to ask tonight. She hasn’t talked to her parents in two years. She and I have not spoken in just as long,” she answers.

“I was out there for court when his charges were dropped,” Rhett says. “It was bad.”

“I bet,” Kate says with a heavy sigh.

“Can someone fill me in?” I ask.

“Liv got married a few months after she left. He was an abusive piece of shit,” Luke tells me. “We tried so hard to get her to leave…”

“Why was he arrested?” I ask, already getting pissed off. Who could hurt her? She has always been so damn sweet.