18

The knock at the door was so sharp it made me spill a little coffee down my wrist.

I glanced over at Lip, who was lounging against the counter like he had nothing in the world to worry about."You expecting someone?" I asked.

He smirked. "Not unless you ordered us some Mormons."

I shot him a look but walked to the door anyway, pulling it open. And there it was—a uniformed cop on my porch, hands on his belt, eyes already doing a sweep over my shoulder like I had a stash of fugitives hiding under the couch cushions.

"Afternoon," he said. "We're looking for Fiona Gallagher. She cut off her court-issued ankle monitor this morning. Either of you seen her?"

I blinked. "Uh... no. I haven't." I tilted my head toward the kitchen. "Lip?"

Lip just stood there, arms crossed, calm as ever. "Nope. Haven't seen her since yesterday."

The cop jotted something in his little notepad, then gave Lip this sideways smirk like he knew him. "Funny. One of your siblings mentioned you've been spending most of your time at... this house." His eyes flicked right to me.

My brows shot up. "Wow. Even your family's snitching about your sleepovers now?"

Lip chuckled. "Guess they're jealous." He walked over and slid an arm around my waist, pulling me in just enough to make it obvious. "Better coffee here. Better company."

The cop gave us both a flat, unimpressed look. "If you hear from her, you let us know. This isn't a game."

"Sure," Lip said. "If she pops outta our bathtub, you'll be the first to know."

When he finally left, I closed the door and leaned my forehead against it. "Jesus. What is it with your family bringing the cops to my house?"

Lip came up behind me, pressing his chest to my back, lips brushing the side of my neck. "Probably 'cause they know I like it here."

I rolled my eyes but didn't move, tilting my head just enough for his mouth to find that spot he knows makes my knees weak. "We just got questioned by a cop," I murmured.

"Yeah, and now I'm distracting you from thinking about it." His hands slid under my hoodie, palms warm on my skin.

I bit back a smile. "Mm-hmm... very subtle."

He kissed just below my ear. "You like it."

Okay, yeah—I did.

Lip's mouth was on mine before I even had a chance to think, hands tangling in my hair as I pressed against him, knees hooking around his hips. The couch was warm under us, and the way he moved made my head spin—every brush of his lips, every slick slide of his hands, setting fire straight through me.

I ground against him, biting down on his shoulder as his tongue flicked against mine, and I felt him groan low in my ear. "God, Erin..." he muttered, hands roaming over my back, down to my waist, gripping me like he couldn't get enough.

I gasped, leaning into him, and he let out another growl that made me shiver. Clothes had become an obstacle, and we tore at them with the kind of urgency that only came from weeks of holding back. When he finally pushed my hoodie up over my head, his lips were on my neck, biting and sucking in a way that made my knees weak.

I tugged at his shirt, yanking it over his head, and his chest hit mine, warm and solid, every touch sending sparks through me. I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the slick heat of him against me, and he groaned, one hand cupping me, the other tangling in my hair.

I couldn't stop laughing in between gasps because it was ridiculous—stolen moments like this, in the middle of my living room, feeling like we were the only two people in the world. "Lip..." I moaned, tilting my head back as he kissed down my collarbone, nipping just enough to make me ache.

"Yeah?" he murmured against my skin, voice low and rough. "You like that?"

I nodded, shivering as his hands moved, pulling me closer, pressing me fully against him. "So good... so fucking good..."

He smirked, whispering against my ear, "I've been waiting for this all day," before he slid me backward onto the couch, moving over me, teasing and sliding in ways that made my head spin. My hands gripped his shoulders, nails digging into him, and he groaned at the friction, hips pressing harder against mine.

I was lost in him, in the heat, in the way every nerve ending was screaming, when—

The front door swung open.

"Shit—what the hell—"

Ian sank onto the edge of the couch, arms crossed, looking both nervous and way too serious for someone who'd just walked in on us like that.

"So... Mickey," he started, glancing at me like I'd solve all his problems with a single word. "What's the deal? I mean... I know you two had that thing last year, right?"

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah, we did. But that was a long time ago. Nothing serious. Just... you know. Fun, dumb, Gallagher chaos stuff."

Lip snorted from his spot next to me. "Fun, dumb, and chaotic. Sounds about right."

Ian gave me a pointed look. "But he's... acting weird now. I don't get it. Should I... like... just talk to him, or—"

I shrugged, trying to keep it casual. "Honestly? Mickey doesn't do casual. He either goes all in or ghosts you completely. And judging by your last conversation with him..." I tilted my head at Ian, letting him fill in the blank. "...you're probably on the fence of the all-in or ghost scenario."

Lip leaned closer, whispering in my ear with that smirk I hated-and-loved at the same time. "She's not wrong, Ian. You'll figure it out. Or you'll fuck it up royally."

Ian's eyes widened. "Gee, thanks. That's... really helpful."

I elbowed Lip lightly. "Stop giving him a hard time."

He just grinned, tugging me slightly closer. "Can't help it. It's funny."

Ian groaned and rubbed his face. "Okay... fine. So, just tell him how I feel, yeah? Straightforward?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Straightforward. Just... don't overthink it. Mickey's... well... Mickey. He's a handful, but if he likes you back, he'll show it."

Lip wrapped an arm around my shoulders, still smirking. "And if he doesn't, you've got me and Erin keeping you entertained until you survive the fallout."

Ian groaned again, sinking deeper into the couch. "You two are terrible. But... thanks. I think."

I laughed, leaning into Lip. "Don't mention it. Just don't let it end like last time, okay?"

Lip kissed the top of my head. "I got you. Always."

And just like that, the room went back to that weird Gallagher normal—chaotic, messy, full of teasing, and somehow, totally ours.

It was late, way too late, and I was half-asleep when Lip's phone started buzzing on the counter.

"Who's calling you now?" I mumbled, still tangled in the blankets.

He picked up the phone, squinting at the screen. "It's fine. It's just spam," he muttered, tossing it back down.

I rolled my eyes. "You sure? You've been ignoring it for five minutes already."

"Yeah, yeah," he said, already half asleep again.

⸻

Morning came, and I groaned as sunlight hit my face. Lip was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at his phone with this tight, tense set to his jaw.

"Morning," I said. "You look like someone just told you the world ended."

He didn't answer right away, just scrolled through his messages, muttering under his breath. Finally, he said, "It's Fiona... she left a message."

I blinked at him. "Wait. What?"

"She's stuck... doesn't have a ride. She's in Sheboygan," he said, already pulling on his jacket.

I blinked again. "Where the fuck is Sheboygan?"

"No idea. But we're going," he said, grabbing the car keys.

⸻

The drive felt endless. I was gripping the dashboard like it might help, muttering "Sheboygan... really?" over and over. Lip didn't answer, just kept his eyes on the road, jaw tight. The GPS kept cheerily announcing, You have arrived at your destination, and I could only imagine what Fiona had been doing while waiting out here.

Finally, there she was—sitting outside a gas station, looking half exhausted, half stubbornly proud.

"Fiona!" I called, hopping out of the car.

She looked up and managed a small smile. Lip got out, crouching slightly to meet her at eye level.

"I've never been to Sheboygan before," he said softly, trying to lighten the mood. "But I'd drive anywhere for you."

Her shoulders relaxed a little, and I swear I saw some tension leave her face. Lip reached out a hand, and she took it without hesitation.

"Come on," he said gently. "Let's get you home. You don't have to do this alone."

⸻

The drive back was quiet except for the hum of the engine. Fiona leaned back, exhausted but safe, and I watched Lip in the rearview mirror. He was just quietly keeping an eye on her, making sure she was okay, and I realized how sweet he could be when he wanted to.

"Wow," I muttered under my breath. "You're ridiculously soft with her."

Lip gave me a sidelong grin. "Someone's gotta be."

I smiled, shaking my head. "Yeah... you're really good at that, you know. Making her feel safe."

He shrugged, but I could see it in his eyes—he meant it. And for once, I wasn't just noticing the tough, sarcastic, mess-of-a-Gallagher side of him. I was seeing the part that cared, quietly and completely, for the people who needed him.