9

It's been a month since Jessie stopped by.

The days are colder now, and school's out for Thanksgiving break.Which means—me, Conner, and Lucas in the same house for a full week.I have no clue how I made it through the summer without losing my mind.

Lip and I have been doing great. He starts his college classes after Christmas. I'm proud of him. Really proud.He pretends like it's no big deal, like he's just coasting through life, but I see it—the way he's actually trying.

Monica showed up again.Said she was here to "be there for my kids while they're grieving."Frank's mom died. And even though Lip says he doesn't give a shit, I can tell it's hitting him harder than he'll admit.He says he hates Monica, but there's a softness in him when it comes to her.I get it. I really do.

"Erin, can I please go play with Debbie now?" Lucas says, practically clinging to my leg as I load the dishwasher.

"She said we can make hot chocolate."

"Yeah, sure," I say, brushing a crumb off his cheek. "But be back by six, alright?"

He beams and sprints out the door like I just handed him a golden ticket.

"Erin, can I go too?" Conner asks, skidding around the corner.

"Yep. Have fun."He vanishes after Lucas, yelling something about how he's going to beat him in Mario Kart.

"Hey, bug, you need help?" Grandma calls out from the hallway, still in her pink nightgown and house slippers.

"No, it's okay. I just finished," I say, shutting the dishwasher door with my hip.

"Good, because The Bachelor is on and I'm not missing another damn rose ceremony," she mutters, heading off with a mug of tea.

I flop down on the couch, finally letting out a breath—until the front door opens and Lip steps in, shaking snow off his hoodie.

"Hey," I say, scooting over as he drops next to me.

"Things settling down over there?"

"Jesus, no," he groans, rubbing his face. "Never does. Conner about mowed me down on his way out. I think he levitated."

I laugh. "He was pretty stoked. Wanna do something today?"

"Yeah? Like what?" he asks, raising his eyebrows.

"I was thinking: we grab some greasy-ass lunch, hit the store for snacks, then come back here and watch a movie in my room."My hand finds his. His fingers curl around mine automatically.

He grins. "Fuck it. Let's go."

⸻

Outing

The car ride's full of trash talk and bad music. I let Lip choose the playlist, which means half of it's classic rock and the other half is whatever garbage he's downloaded illegally.

We grab burgers and fries from a hole-in-the-wall diner with sticky floors and greasy air. It's perfect.

"Bet you five bucks I can eat more fries than you," I challenge, already stuffing two into my mouth.

"Please," he scoffs. "You weigh like a hundred pounds soaking wet."

"Exactly. Hollow legs. Built for fry storage."

He laughs, then nearly chokes as I dip a fry in ketchup and bop him on the nose with it.

After lunch, we head to the corner store. I grab Reese's, sour candy, a huge bag of chips. Lip throws in beef jerky and root beer like we're prepping for the apocalypse.

At the checkout, things get weird.

The cashier—a guy around our age with greasy hair and a cocky attitude—starts flirting. With me.

"Need help carrying all this?" he says, eyes flicking down my body.

"I'm good," I reply flatly.

Lip steps closer, arm brushing mine. "She said she's good."

Cashier shrugs. "Just being polite, man."

Lip glares, his jaw tightening. "Yeah, I'm sure."

Outside, Lip huffs, kicking at the curb. "What a fucking creep."

"Don't let it ruin our day," I say, brushing my hand along his arm. "You look like you're about to shank someone."

"Yeah, well," he mutters, "he looked at you like you were something in a vending machine."

I grin and kiss his cheek. "You're cute when you're jealous."

He tries to stay mad. Fails.

⸻

Back at Erin's Room

The minute the door closes behind us, it's like something shifts. The bags drop to the floor. Lip's hands are on my waist, tugging me into him.

"You're really hot when you get all possessive," I whisper.

He kisses me hard, backing me toward the bed. I fall back, giggling as he climbs over me.

"You really wanna watch a movie?" he asks, his lips brushing mine.

"Mm... later."

Clothes come off in messy handfuls—his hoodie, my shirt, the zipper on my jeans. His hands are rough and warm against my skin, and his mouth finds the hollow of my throat, trailing kisses downward.

When he's inside me, it's slow and deep. Not rushed, not frantic—just us. His fingers laced with mine, his breath in my ear, my legs wrapped around his waist.

"I've missed this," he murmurs.

"You see me every day," I whisper, smiling.

"Still miss you."

We stay tangled like that afterward, wrapped in the blanket, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my back.

Until—

Knock knock knock.

We freeze.

Another knock. Louder.

Lip sighs. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

I grab his hoodie off the floor and pull it over my head, stumbling toward the door.

When I open it—

"Jessie?"

He stands there, hands jammed in the pockets of a gray hoodie, looking like he hasn't slept in a week.

"Hey," he says softly. "Can we talk?"