HARD TIMES ━ lip gallagher²

13 | our kid

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"OH MY GOD," DEBBIE groaned as Veronica pulled down her wedding dress. Amara leaned against the counter top with a cup of cheap champagne in her hand. "I look like a snow cone. How am I supposed to sit in this?"

"You don't," Veronica replied, adjusting it. She patted Debbie's veil. "Oh my goodness. My little Debbie's getting married."

Silvia choked on the donut she was eating and Debbie kicked her leg in her direction. Amara subtly smiled into her glass. It was nice to see them friends again—for a while there it didn't look like they were ever going to make up.

"Here she comes," Sandy said, poking her head around the corner.

Debbie's eyes widened. "How much time do we need?"

Sandy winced. "Forty-five minutes."

"Got it," Debbie sighed and Sandy left. The moment Lip's voice could be heard yelling her name, Debbie fell on the ground dramatically. Amara tried to ignore her pounding heart and shifted on the counter. "Go away Phillip!" She wailed.

"Oh please come on," he gestured for her to get up, barely glancing in Amara's direction. She didn't know if that angered or more or relieved her. "The guests are arriving."

"No, no!" Debbie continued to sob, shaking her head. "I can't do it!"

"Oh!" The other redheaded lady (who was the owner, but Amara completely and totally forgot her name) pouted, and crouched down before the bride. "I know, I know it's scary."

Debbie gave them a thumbs up as the rest of them cleared out. Amara started towards the door, but Lip was still standing there. She directed her body away from him as if he was about to set her on fire and didn't wait for him to follow.

She physically almost ran into Frank on her way out, and felt her eyes narrow immediately in suspicion. Lip, who was closer behind her than she thought, stopped himself from crashing into her by placing his arm on the lower of her back. She shook him off with a glare, even though everything inside her was telling her not to.

"Try not to ruin another one of your kid's weddings," she warned.

Frank gave her a once over. "As long as he's not a heroine addict."

"Frank, you're a heroine addict," Lip cut in.

Frank waved them off. Amara shot daggers over her shoulder at him as if saying I can handle it, asshole. "I was about to tell you that is one horrible looking wedding dress. Then I realized this pussy would never propose."

"I also told you it's Ian's wedding," Liam said from next to him, Amara hadn't even noticed him.

"Nice suit," she commented, ignoring Frank and the way her nerves were tingling. "You know where you're sitting?"

Liam nodded and pulled his father along with him. Amara watched them go and turned to leave, but Lip caught her arm. "Can we please-"

"Don't you have something to do? You know, like behind my back?"

"Amara."

"Save it for after the wedding," she pulled her hand out of his grip. "I don't need your shit on-top of this shit right now."

She didn't give him the chance to respond as she moved to stand next to the priest. Amara watched as Lip ducked behind the wall to talk to Ian, who was fixing his tie. A moment later, they both stepped out, and the music switched to something slow.

"You chose this sappy shit?" Amara mouthed as Franny started to throw petals down the isle.

Ian grinned. "You know it."