Page 58 of Under Rusted Stars

“On a more serious note,” Bodhi says. “Jett. Rhett. I want you two to stay with us.”

“Why?” Jett asks.

“Because you three went through something truly traumatic and you deserve to heal together,” he says. “Now, Rhett…”

“Fuck,” he sighs.

“Say it. We both know she appreciates brutal honesty,” Kate says.

“Liv?” Rhett asks, and I smile when I look over at him. “So… You see… I like you… a lot. I have for a really long time… and I… Shit, I love you, Olivia.”

“You do?” I ask quietly.

“I really do,” he says, cupping my cheek. “Olivia, can I kiss you?”

I look at Bodhi, and he smiles. “You’ve lived in hell for ten years, baby. It’s time to open up your world and let in as much love as we can.”

“Yes,” I say with a shy smile. When he kisses me, it’s gentle and far from demanding.

“Liv,” Bodhi says when we pull away.

“Yes?”

“Understand that you don’t need to look to me for permission,” Bodhi tells me.

“I just feel like it’s betraying you to be so close to Rhett and Je…” I start to say, but stop. My eyes are wide, and I am stunned.

“Say it, baby,” Bodhi urges gently.

“I’m scared,” I admit, tearing up.

“I’m not Jason, Olivia,” he says. “I won’t raise my voice. I won’t hurt you.”

“So you’re just okay with sharing…”

“It’s not about sharing, Olivia,” he tells me. “It’s about you receiving all of the love the world has to offer. It’s helping to make your world as large as we can so the walls don’t feel like they’re closing in on you. If that means the three of us share you, so be it, but none of us own you. You could walk away tomorrow, and we will still make room for your peace, because you deserve it.”

“What do you deserve then, Bodhi?” I ask. “How is this fair to you?”

“How is it unfair?” he counters. “Baby, you and Jett survived something truly horrific together. Rhett saved your life and Jett’s. Why would I be upset by you loving two of the greatest men I’ve ever known?”

“I’ll hit you if you make me cry,” Rhett says, frowning deeply at Bodhi.

“Say it, baby, but don’t ask permission. You do not need my approval, nor will you ever,” Bodhi says. I sigh heavily and turn to look at Jett.

“Jett,” I say.

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “Please don’t feel like you owe me anything. I love you with everything that I am, but you don’t have to reciprocate that. I hurt…”

He starts to blame himself again, so I kiss him. I grab his face and kiss him hard, and he melts into me. I move up to my knees so I can sit in his lap, straddling him, and he groans into our kiss.

“Look at me,” I say, holding his face. “Jett, please.”

“I don’t know if I will ever get it out of my head seeing you cry underneath me,” he says tearfully.

“I know, and I will never forget that basement, but Jett… You have to forgive yourself. We made the best of a horrible situation, and you brought us home,” I tell him. “You did everything you could to help me. Even drugged out of your mind, you adjusted the situation to try and make me more comfortable.”

“I’m afraid I’ll hurt you again,” he says. “I’m afraid to want you.”