2

My shift felt like it was never going to end. Lucas was calling for me every thirty minutes, Sean kept eye-fucking me the whole day, and the customers were unbearable. They walk in acting like royalty—snapping fingers, waving menus, talking down to us like we're gum on their shoes. Truth is, they're just like us. Broke. South Side. Minimum wage. The only difference is they pretend otherwise.

"Erin, come and see me in the back," Sean calls.

I know what that means.

I turn the corner and find him already sitting, that smug grin on his face. He stands up as I walk in, like this is some kind of date instead of the worst part of my job.

"Two weeks until the big one-eight," he says, stepping closer. "Got any plans?"

"I don't know. Probably working. Bills don't pay themselves," I answer, staying rooted in place. If I back up, I know how fast things could go sideways.

He brushes my hair behind my ear, and I flinch, barely.

"Well, I could take you out to dinner. We wouldn't have to hide anymore."

"Um... yeah. Sure. I'll think about it. Just need to find someone to watch Conner and Lucas," I say, voice tight, smile faker than plastic.

He talks a little more, but doesn't push anything today. That's rare. I walk out feeling like I just dodged a bullet.

"Come on, Lucas. Time to go," I call, spotting him in the booth with a face full of whipped cream and pie.

"Shit," I mutter. "I'm gonna have to pay for that."

His face drops, guilt settling heavy in his big brown eyes.

"It's okay, bud," I say quickly, ruffling his hair. "Don't worry about it."

I try to give Lucas and Conner a childhood, something light, something that doesn't feel like the world is pressing down on them. Even when I'm drowning, I want them to breathe easy.

"It's okay. I got it."

I turn at the sound of the voice. She's tall-ish, brunette, messy hair, warm brown eyes. She's beautiful in that worn, tired way—the kind of beauty life doesn't manage to stomp out.

"Oh—are you sure? I can—" I start.

She cuts me off with a smile. "Really, I got it. I know what you're going through. I'm Fiona."

"Erin," I say, giving her a small smile. "Thank you. Again."

"It's the least I can do. Our brothers have been running around together all summer getting into trouble," she laughs, and suddenly it clicks.

Fiona Gallagher.

"Yeah, Carl, right? Those two are gonna end up in juvie if they keep it up."

She grins. "Probably."

She glances at Lucas, who's clutching my arm now.

"Hey, my sister Debbie runs a daycare out of our house. I could give you a discount. That way, you don't have to keep bringing him into work with you."

"Thanks," I say with a laugh, "but I don't think I could afford even a discount."

"What if we work something out? Carl is struggling in school. how about twice a week you tutor him. In exchange, Lucas can come for free."

I blink, stunned for a second. "Are you serious? I don't want to feel like I'm mooching..."

"Erin, I know what you're dealing with," she says, looking me right in the eye. "It's the least I can do."

She hesitates for a beat. "Hey, I've got a brother your age. Maybe you guys could hang out sometime. Lip—you know him?"

"Kind of," I say. "He actually came in earlier today. Chasing after Carl and Conner like he was babysitting a pack of hyenas."

She laughs. "Sounds about right."

I'm wrangling Lucas out of the diner, still thinking about that weird, skin-crawling conversation with Sean, when I spot someone leaning against the railing just past the door.

Lip Gallagher.

Again.

He's got that same bored, pissed-off expression like the world personally inconvenienced him today. He's lighting a cigarette, the flame catching in the wind, and for a second, I think about just walking past.

But I don't.

Lucas drops my hand and plops down on the curb like he owns it, fiddling with a wrapper in the dirt.

"You stalking me or something?" I ask, letting the door swing shut behind me.

Lip doesn't even flinch. Just exhales a slow stream of smoke. "Nah. Just trying to keep Carl from burning the place down."

"Conner wasn't helping?"

"Oh, he was. Pretty sure he's the one that found the lighter."

I shake my head and sit on the railing, my legs tired from the shift. "You're gonna end up having to bail your brother out of juvie one day."

He shrugs. "Probably. But it'll build character."

I glance over at him. "You always this sarcastic, or is it just for me?"

He smirks a little. "You're fun to mess with."

I roll my eyes but don't move.

For a few seconds, it's quiet. Just the distant sound of traffic and Lucas humming whatever weird song he's obsessed with this week. Lip taps his cigarette against the railing.

"So... your boss always that much of a dick?" he asks, casual.

My stomach twists. I don't answer right away.

"He's... whatever," I finally say. "Pays on time. Doesn't yell too much. It's a job."

He looks at me sideways, then down at Lucas. "You always bring your brother with you?"

"When I don't have another option."

He nods like he gets it. And I think maybe he actually does.

"I heard from Fiona you're heading to U of C in the fall," he says.

I blink, surprised he knows. "Yeah. Full ride. I leave in a couple months."

He flicks his lighter again, open-shut, open-shut. "Same. Well—partial ride. But still."

I raise a brow. "Guess South Side's about to represent."

He chuckles. "Yeah. Can't wait to walk into a lecture hall full of rich assholes who think we're there to clean the floors."

"You nervous?" I ask, because I kind of am.

"Little," he admits. "I don't know if I can actually pull it off."

I don't expect him to say that.

"I think about that too," I say, softer. "Like... what if I get there and I'm not smart enough. Or I screw it up. Or it's not even worth it."

"You're smarter than half the people I've met," he says. "And I've been cheating off geniuses since middle school."

I let out a laugh before I can stop it. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Take it however you want."

I glance over at Lucas. He's stretched out now, lying on his back on the sidewalk with his arms flopped out like a starfish.

"You want my number?" Lip asks suddenly.

I look at him. "Why?"

He shrugs. "I don't know. In case you need help with anything. Homework. Or if your demon brothers commit arson again and you need a Gallagher on standby."

I laugh through my nose. "You're really charming, you know that?"

"I try."

I pull out my phone and hand it to him. "Fine. But if you start blowing up my phone with dumb memes or some shit—"

"Wouldn't dream of it."

He types fast, then hands it back.

"Thanks," I say, even though I'm not sure why.

"No problem."

We sit there a second longer. Then Lucas rolls over and groans like a dying animal.

"Can we go home nowwwww?"

"Yeah, buddy," I say, standing up and brushing off my jeans.

Lip nods at me as I start to walk away. "See you around, Erin."

I glance over my shoulder. "Probably."

And for the first time in a long time, "probably" doesn't sound like a bad thing.