When he found out that it was his own father who’d been the reason Karen had dumped him, something inside him snapped. He’d chased Frank down the alley behind the estate, fists flying like the storm inside his head. If Steve hadn’t dragged him away, who knew how badly Frank would’ve been hurt.
But Frank was still alive. For now.
Later that evening, while Frank stumbled through a feeble apology — Lip decided to make a point.
He pissed on him.
From the safety of her room, Kodi could barely contain her laughter as she watched Lip’s brazen act. It was savage and childish and exactly the kind of revenge Frank deserved.
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Lip Gallagher voiceover
She moved into her grandma’s that night. I’ve seen her twice at school since then. She didn’t see me.
Kodi did — though. Got herself suspended for a week after clocking Karen’s head into a locker. Even caught me a few times.
They say honour thy father. Takes some doing, that.
They say give to receive — which is impossible with someone who thinks share and share alike means taking everything and giving nothing back.
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The next night, Lip sat on the edge of his bed, the weight of everything crushing down. The house was quiet except for the faint flicker of the television from the living room downstairs.
Then the door creaked open, and Kodi slipped inside. She moved over to him, sliding between his legs and curling into his arms from behind.
He laughed softly, a mix of relief and pain in his voice, but there were tears threatening to spill.
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Lip Gallagher voiceover
One good thing, though… I won my girl back.
Not that we’re involved — she’s still with that bastard Maguire — but she’s declared she’s mine.
Finally.
So, all in good time till I get to call her Mrs. Gallagher.
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Lip spun Kodi around, his fingers dancing over her sides, tickling her until she giggled and pushed him away. He stopped, caught in the moment, and stared.
“I adore you, Kodi Ball,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. His fingers intertwined with hers, grounding them both.
Kodi bit her lip nervously.
“Maybe ‘I adore you’ can be our ‘I love you’,” she said softly.
Lip grinned, leaning in just a little — teasing but hopeful.
“Is that you confessing that you love me?”
“No,” she murmured, “just a thought.”
“Well then, Ms. Kodi Ball, I adore you.”
They closed their eyes, the chaos of the world outside forgotten as sleep claimed them — Kodi resting on his chest, safe in the fragile moment of peace.
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The house felt lighter with her there — a fragile truce in the war waging in both their hearts.
Lip knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. Malakai was still in the picture. Their tangled mess of love, loyalty, and heartbreak was far from over.
But for now, in the quiet of the night, they had each other.
And that was enough.
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