Page 24 of Under Rusted Stars

Ten years ago, we graduated from high school. I had already started taking college courses years prior. I spent the next eight years cramming as much schooling as I could. Willow Creek has always been my home. No matter how far I go, I always come back here.

I haven’t talked to Olivia much this week, but it’s mostly just because she’s not been out of the cabin, and I’ve been working a ton. We still make time to step out on the deck and talk for a few minutes before we go to sleep. Well… before she goes to sleep. I usually sit up in bed and pretend to read while watching her.

She is so restless at night, and I just want to go over there and soothe her. I hear every single time she cries in her sleep or wakes from a nightmare. I’ve heard her beg for mercy from whatever demons she is fighting in her dreams.

This is the kind of slow that we need. We need to take our time getting through the steps of this, and we should be friends before we even consider anything else. That doesn’t stop me from wanting more; I just know I need to go at her pace.

My graduating class was seventy-two students, and sixty-three are still residents of Willow Creek. A few came in for the ten-year reunion, but only a handful. We are all gathered in the community center since they wanted a bar but couldn’t have it at the high school. This saved Olivia from having to be on the same stage where I humiliated her. I haven’t seen her yet, but I know she’s here somewhere. Kate is here, so I know she was dragged here by her.

I’m sitting at a table with the rest of the varsity football players. Some of them are still as shitty as ever, but some are husbands, fathers, and have amazing careers.

“How are things with you, Bodhi?” Aaron Collier asks. He is one of the ones who drove in to be here. He ended up moving to New York, so showing up was just so he could flaunt what his daddy gave him.

“Not bad,” I say. “You?”

“Oh, ya know. Just living the good life,” he chuckles. “Rhett, you still a rent-a-cop?”

“I’m a police officer,” he says simply. “You still sucking daddy’s dick for money you didn’t earn?”

“What the fuck did you just say to me?!” Aaron says loudly.

“Have another beer, Aaron. Sounds like you need one,” I say as I stand.

“Y’all heard Olivia with the big ol’ titties is back?” Aaron says, and the men at the table chuckle, except Rhett. I turn back to Aaron, and he grins like an idiot. “You tap that shit yet? I bet it’s loose as hell.”

“Watch what the fuck you say,” I growl.

“Heads up,” Rhett says to me. I turn and smile when I see Olivia.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey,” Olivia says sweetly. “Luke…”

“Olivia Monroe. How are you?” Aaron says. When he stands, she takes the smallest step away from him and toward me.

“Uh, fine,” she says, turning to look at me. “Luke and Kate are…”

“Let me get you a drink. For old time’s sake,” Aaron says, grabbing her wrist and pulling her away from me. I don’t even get a chance to react before she does. When she punches him, it lands with a cracking sound and a painful grunt from Aaron.

“You bitch!” he barks as his nose starts to bleed.

“Keep your fucking hands to yourself, asshole,” she snaps at him, and then turns to me. “Kate and Luke are leaving. She asked if you could get her car to the diner.”

“I can,” Rhett says with a smirk.

“Thanks,” she says.

“Damn, girl,” Brady laughs. He was one of the ones who also bullied her, but his was more teasing than anything. “How you been?”

“Good,” she lies with a smile. “How have you been, Brady?”

“Eh. Divorced,” he laughs.

“Same,” she says, laughing lightly.

“You want a drink?” I ask Olivia, ignoring these idiots constantly flirting with her.

“Yes, that would be great. Thank you,” she says. I nod and walk over to the bar.