GAME OVER ━━ Lip Gallagher

CHAPTER THREE

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Game Over
chapter three

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KENDALL RIKERSON. Ever since she had admitted to sleeping with him, Lip hadn't been able to get it out of his mind. Maybe that's why he fucked Karen Jackson that night outside in the van. Or maybe he did it because he didn't want to lose. Either way, he knew that he had to ignore it or he might go out of his freaking mind. "Burgers coming through!" Steve announced and excitement flooded the house. "Uh, Lip. Napkins." Phoebe walked around the chair happily, taking her seat. "Only ketchup," Steve read off and Debbie's hand raised high in the air. He passed her the box with a grin. "Extra onions, jalapeños." Veronica walked through the foyer, announcing her arrival.

"Me!" she hummed, taking the box from Steve's hand and stepping over the back of the couch. "Thank you. Make room." Carl took the spot beside Veronica, Ian took the chair beside Phoebe, and Debbie sat on the floor. In walked Lip with a handful of napkins and two boxes. "Your burger with extra pickles and mayo," he announced, passing the box to the girl in his seat. "Why, thank you," she joked. He sat beside her, his arm instinctively moving around her waist. Veronica watched as the two got comfortable, Phoebe's legs draping over Lip's lap and both of their boxes balancing on her lap. "—on the spot called Mr. Magoo, the sacred family fishing grounds that paid off last season. But now... It's a bust."

          Phoebe peeled open her burger happily. Pickle juice filled the paper holding it together and spilled against her cheeks as soon as she took her first bite. Pulling back with a mouth full, ketchup and mustard stained the ends of her lips and pickle juice dripped down her chin. "We got no crab on board. I heard, "Don't go to Magoo, because there's hundreds there..." Lip rested his hand over her knee. He could hardly pay attention to the television when he had the Phoebe Lim sitting beside him. He smiled, silently, as he watched her eat away at the burger that was almost bigger than her hands. Without hesitation, he used his finger to wipe away the condiments staining her face and slipped that same finger between his own.

          She glanced over at him in disgust, nudging him in his ribs. Her nose scrunched, which he had figured out over the years they knew each other meant she was silently calling him a weirdo. He grinned in return, laying the palm of his hand over her shoulder. She reached into her box and picked up a french fry. Lip had salted them before bringing them, though she was oblivious to that fact. She was basically oblivious to the fact he knew almost everything about her. After shoving her first fry in her mouth, she held the second out to the boy beside her. He took it happily, taking it from her fingers with his teeth.

          It was the fact this had become so routine. They were comfortable with one another. They felt at home with the other, no matter where they were physically. Being with Lip, it made Phoebe feel invincible. She felt that she could fly as long as Lip believed it. Being with Phoebe, Lip felt stabilized. Though she had her own moments of dysfunction, it never felt like it was out of place. He knew what he was doing, where he was, as long as he was with her, he felt like he was on the right path. He looked over at the girl entranced by the show on the TV. He ran his thumb over her knee, brushing over the rough fabric of her jeans.

          Feeling a bit like a weirdo, he forced himself to turn toward the TV. He scanned over the room, appreciating the fact he could have this moment with his siblings. With the natural chaos of their house, moments like this were usually seldom and fleeting. He looked to Fiona, sitting between two people she had placed into her life on a pedestal. He looked to Carl and Debbie, both eating away at their meals without a care in the world. They felt normal, normal enough to watch TV without worrying about whether or not it'll shut off in the middle of their program. Then, he looked to Ian. Despite what had happened the other night, he didn't hate Ian or who he was. He was just worried.