Fucking Lip Gallagher!
That was all Desna could think about that day. He had even promised he would help her with math—that asshole.
She was trying to study, but her fight with Lip kept playing on a loop in her head. She was used to it. It wasn't the first time. No matter how much chemistry they had during sex—no matter how close they seemed to get every time they touched—when it came to talking, there was always a wall between them.
Lip was like that: sassy and intelligent, but also a smartass and emotionally closed off. For him, everything could be solved with a sarcastic remark. And every time Desna felt like they were finally getting somewhere, he pulled back—just like he had a few hours ago.
"Fuck…" she muttered, slamming her book shut.
"You here, babe?" Veronica's voice floated in from the living room.
She liked to be called V, and she was beautiful. That was how Desna would describe her—beautiful inside and out. She had a great heart and so much strength. Desna hoped that one day, she'd become just like her.
"In the kitchen!" Desna called. The click of high heels echoed down the hallway—V's usual entrance.
"I saw the lights," V said, tossing her keys on the table as she entered. "You're not sick, right? I thought you were working at the Alibi tonight." Her tone was laced with worry.
Desna gave her a soft smile and shook her head.
"I just…" she said, flipping through her notebook, "I had to study, and my head hurt, so I decided to stay home."
V's sharp eyes didn't miss a beat as she sat beside her.
"You sure that's the only reason?" she asked, waiting patiently.
Desna shrugged. "I may have had a fight with Lip," she admitted, almost ashamed.
"Again?" V frowned, standing up to pour a glass of water and rummage through the medicine drawer. "Seriously, what's going on between you two lately?"
Only Ian knew about Desna and Lip's situation. They were just "having fun," nothing to tell the world about—at least, that's what they'd told themselves. And it had been thrilling at first, sneaking off to hook up. But lately, the arguments had started. And they affected Desna more than she wanted to admit. She liked Lip. A lot. She didn't want to lose him as a friend… but she also didn't want to lose what they had now.
"Just stressed… I think," Desna muttered, taking the water V handed her and swallowing the pill.
"Babe," V said, sitting again, voice gentle. "I see the way you look at Lip."
"I don't look at him in any way," Desna replied quickly, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks.
"Oh, you look at him all right," V teased, making Desna cover her face with her hand.
"V…" she whined, but V wasn't stopping.
"Why don't you just tell him?"
Desna turned to her, wide-eyed. "Tell him what?"
"That you like him," V said, nudging her shoulder.
Desna shook her head. "It wouldn't change anything. I like what we have now—I don't want to ruin it." She paused, her voice softening. "That doesn't mean I like fighting with him… or the things we said to each other."
"What did that Gallagher boy say?" V asked, ready to take her side. And Desna appreciated it, but…
"Nothing I didn't say back," she murmured. "It's just… I don't know. Today felt harder than usual."
Lip had been so into her earlier—touching her, wanting her, saying things that made her heart race. So why couldn't he be like that all the time? Why only during sex?
"Hey, babe," V said, pulling her from her thoughts, "boys will be boys—too damn stupid for us." That earned a real laugh from Desna, followed by one from V, who flicked her hair off her shoulder.
"What about going out with me and Fi tonight?"
"What? Really?" Desna's eyes lit up. "Can I come?"
"Of course!" V said with a bright smile. "Now go! Shower, makeup, pretty dress—we're having fun tonight. Just us girls. No boys allowed."
"I like the sound of that," Desna grinned, her mood lifting.
"Then move, girl!" V clapped her hands. "Go get ready!"
Desna didn't go out with V often. V and Fiona were best friends, and Desna was still just sixteen, so she understood they usually wanted their time alone. But when they did ask her to join, it made her feel... grown. Beautiful. Powerful.
She already knew what she wanted to wear—a simple black dress with thin straps, short but elegant, hugging her curves perfectly. She and V had bought it together for her sixteenth birthday. V had said it looked like it was made for her.
She slipped into it quickly, then grabbed her black high heels from the wardrobe. Some makeup, a little work on her hair—she decided to leave it down tonight. She checked her reflection once more, her heart fluttering with a rare mix of confidence and nerves, then headed downstairs where V was waiting.
"Ready, pretty lady?" V asked, opening the door.
They had to stop by the Gallaghers' first to wait for Fiona. Desna wasn't exactly thrilled about seeing Lip again—but she followed V next door anyway.
They entered from the back kitchen door. V ran straight upstairs, calling out for Fiona. Desna stayed back—everyone else seemed to be upstairs too, and the kitchen felt like the safest place.
"Wow," Carl's voice pulled her attention to the living room. He stared at her wide-eyed. "You're hot."
Desna laughed. "You're drooling, buddy." She perched on a stool in the kitchen as Carl wandered to the fridge, stealing glances at her.
"So… do I really have to be eighteen before I can ask you out?" he asked, eyes curious.
She nodded. "You really have to be eighteen."
Carl scoffed. "That's too far away." Then, with a sly smirk: "I could make you happy."
Desna chuckled again. So young, and already such a flirt. Carl Gallagher would break hearts someday.
"I'm sure you could," she said gently. "But not now."
Carl took a bite of his sandwich, nodding. Then he looked back at her.
"Just wait and see." With that, he disappeared into the living room.
Persistent little troublemaker. Desna watched him fondly. Carl was probably her favorite Gallagher.
Then she heard footsteps on the stairs. She turned—and there was Lip, halfway down, eyes locked on her.
"Oh…" he muttered.
She noticed how his gaze swept over her body—but she ignored the blush blooming on her cheeks.
"Hey…" she said softly.
"Hey…" he echoed, finally taking those last few steps into the kitchen. "You are…" He hesitated, coughed, then shook his head. "You're going out."
Desna deflated a little. Why stare at her like that if he couldn't even say something nice?
"What gave me away?" she said, standing.
He shrugged. "You're either going out… or here to seduce me."
She rolled her eyes. "I think I'll pass, thank you," she said, turning her back on him.
He chuckled. That only pissed her off more.
"Still mad?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied, feigning calm. "Are you still an asshole?"
He stepped closer. "Look who's talking."
She crossed her arms, shooting a glance at Carl to make sure he wasn't watching.
"I'm not an asshole."
"What makes me one, then?" he asked, now so close she could feel his breath.
"Let's see… Did you fuck Karen?"
He laughed dryly, and Desna snapped. She stormed out the door, only to hear Lip's footsteps following her.
"So… you're acting crazy because you're jealous?"
"No, because you're a jackass!" she shouted.
"Oh, a jackass too?" His tone was still mocking.
"And I've got more, don't tempt me," she shot back, quickening her pace.
"You always find a reason to get pissed at me, and I'm the jackass?" he argued, then grabbed her arm to stop her. "What's wrong with you?"
She held back everything. She didn't want to tell him how much it hurt that he'd run to Karen just to spite her. That they weren't a couple, weren't exclusive—she knew that. But she didn't want to lose him. Didn't want to ruin it. But Karen's name lit her nerves on fire.
"Hey," he said softly, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. "What's wrong?"
Desna bit her lip. She didn't want to cry in front of him. Didn't want to seem desperate for his touch, even though she was. She didn't want to lose him.
"I…" she murmured, "I might be jealous of Karen Jackson."
He smiled, but she shook her head.
"Because you always bring her up when we fight. And it feels like…"
"Like?" he urged, hands now resting on her hips.
"Like you want to hurt me," she admitted, finally meeting his eyes.
He stared at her, intense, and leaned in, his forehead pressing against hers.
"I don't wanna hurt you," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. "Not on purpose." Then he chuckled. "I guess I am an asshole after all."
She couldn't look away from him. The confession was so gentle, so human.
"I want to kiss you," she whispered, and the moment the words left her lips, he kissed her. Hard.
His grip around her waist tightened as her hands moved to his face, then to his hair. The kiss deepened, passionate and greedy. She closed her eyes and melted into him.
"I have to tell you something," Lip said, breathless, arms still around her. "I didn't have sex with Karen."
Desna blinked.
"But she blew me."
"Fuck, Lip," she muttered, trying to pull away, but he held her tight.
"Hey—hey," he pleaded.
"I don't want to know!" she said, still fighting his grip. "Let me go, please!"
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and she froze. "I'm sorry. But I…"
He leaned his forehead against hers again.
"I want you," he breathed. And somehow, those words wrecked her more than the rest. She found her hands behind his neck again.
"I want you too," she whispered, kissing him once more. This time deeper, slower.
They fit together too well. Addictive. Inevitable.
"I don't want to hurt you," he murmured again, holding her tightly. "I just got angry. I wanted your support with Ian."
She saw his eyes darken with guilt.
"You know what I think, Lip."
He shook his head. "No. He would've told me. If he really was… he would trust me."
Now she understood what was eating at him.
Desna cupped his cheek, making him look at her. "Maybe he's scared. These things… they're not easy to figure out."
He shook his head. "He would've told me."
"Alright, alright," she said softly, stroking his face. "Maybe talk to him. Maybe he wanted to."
Lip paused, then nodded. "Yeah… maybe I will."
Desna kissed his forehead gently.
"So, we good?" he asked, rubbing his nose against hers.
"Yeah, we're good." She smiled, and he kissed her again.
"Des!" V's voice called.
Desna looked toward the house, then back at Lip.
"I have to go," she said, reluctantly pulling away.
"Yeah," he said, then grinned. "You planning on having sex tonight?"
She laughed. "No sex tonight."
He let out a breath of relief, kissed her cheek. "Have fun."
"Thanks." She turned to go, but then leaned close, whispering in his ear:
"But tomorrow… I might need help finding my phone."
Lip laughed.
"Really?" He asked with a grin before pulling her close by the back of her neck, "Tomorrow morning at 7.00 in the van?"
Desna pecked his lips. "Tomorrow, at 7.00 in the van."