WALKING BACK WITH IAN, HAND-IN-HAND, THEY STROLLED INTO THE GALLAGHER LIVING ROOM…
"Why the fuck would Steve take him to France?" Kodi muttered, frowning as she stepped over Liam’s toy car on the floor.
Ian just shrugged, deadpan. "Couldn’t tell ya, could I? Maybe he owed Frank a favour. Or just fancied gettin’ shot of him. Wouldn’t blame him, mind."
Before she could answer, Lip was there — leaning against the doorframe, arms folded, his eyes locked on her. He nodded his head toward the door.
"Out here. Now."
Kodi rolled her eyes but followed. Outside, Lip leaned against the Gallagher van, already lighting up. He flicked his lighter and passed her a cig without even looking at her.
She took it with a faint smirk, lit it, and took a drag. Silence stretched between them as smoke curled into the chilly air.
"So… where’s Karen then?" she asked finally, breaking the quiet, pretending not to care.
"At hers. Helpin’ her mum or summat. She’s comin’ round later," he replied flatly, eyes fixed on some spot in the distance.
Kodi nodded slowly, dragging on her fag, eyes on the pavement. "That’s… nice," she muttered.
Lip glanced at her, reading her like he always did, though she refused to meet his eyes.
"So… where’d you bugger off to yesterday?" he asked suddenly, his tone edged with suspicion.
Kodi hesitated just a beat before saying, "Mandy’s."
That earned a raised eyebrow from him. "Mandy’s? Since when are you and Mandy bloody McGuire best mates?"
The words slipped out of her before she could stop herself. "Since you dropped me for a blowjob."
Lip barked out a laugh, shaking his head. "Ohhh, there it is. Feel better now, princess?"
"Not even close," she shot back, flicking ash at his trainers.
He smirked faintly, but his eyes were still sharp on her. "So what did you and Mandy actually do then? Bit of karaoke? Paint each other’s nails? Or…"
Kodi scoffed. "Hung out, had a few cans, went home. That alright with you, Dad?"
He tilted his head, studying her. No fiddling, no lip-biting — nothing. For once, she was unreadable.
Eventually, he snorted. "Fine. Nice you’ve got a mate who ain’t me for once."
Kodi shot him a look. "Oi — don’t act like you’re the only person I talk to."
"Go on then. Name one," he challenged, lips twitching.
"Mandy," she said, smug.
Lip let out a bark of laughter. "Pathetic."
Her phone buzzed in her pocket but she ignored it, taking another long drag instead.
For a moment neither spoke, just stood there smoking, but Lip’s jaw tightened as he watched her. If this was a few weeks ago, he’d already have her pinned against the van, kissing her stupid. But not anymore. Not now he’d gone and picked Karen.
Finally he cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck.
"We should… y’know… go back in. Wait for Steve to bring Frank back," he muttered awkwardly.
Kodi stubbed her fag out on the bumper, gave him a look, and walked past him back inside without a word.
Lip stayed there a moment longer, tipping his head back, exhaling smoke into the cloudy sky.
"Fuckin’ hell," he muttered under his breath, dragging his hands down his face.
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