Chapter Eight: Shameless Moves

Later that evening, Callie was video chatting with Emily as she was getting ready for dinner at the Gallaghers.

"What do you think?" Callie asked, modeling her outfit.

"You're overthinking it," Emily said. "It's just dinner. You've already met the family, and everybody's cool with you."

"Yeah, but like I told you earlier. I feel like I slipped up."

"I know what you said earlier, and it's not a slip up. You're crushing hard on Lip, but it's not such a bad thing. He's actually pretty nice."

"Obviously."

"OK, stop stressing about it. Ian was nice enough to invite you to dinner, so get your ass over there and enjoy the company."

"Yeah, OK. Thanks, Emily. I'll talk you later."

"You'd better!"

Callie signed off her computer and headed downstairs. She grabbed a bag off the kitchen counter and headed out to the Gallagher house. She kept one hand in her pocket, her fingers curled around an emergency keychain alarm she picked up at the store.

A minute later, her cell phone started to ring. She dug it out of her back pocket and saw Lip's name on the caller ID. Utterly confused, she answered the call.

"Hi," she said. "How did you manage to get my number?"

"Ian gave it to me," Lip replied.

"How did he get it?"

"I don't know. Maybe he hacked you."

Callie thought back to grocery store when she had given her cell phone to Ian. "Oh, he is a sneaky fuck."

"You're still coming over, right?"

"Yeah, I'm on my way now."

"Well, there's going to be a slight change of plans."

"Meaning?"

"It has become dinner for two."

Callie stopped dead in her tracks. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah, Fiona has to chaperone this fundraiser thing at Liam's school, that he didn't tell her about until like two hours ago. Ian got called into work and Carl…well, I'm not really sure where Carl went, only that he's not coming home until later tonight."

"That would leave just you and me, then?"

"Yeah. Unless, you…"

"No, no, no. Don't be silly. I'm already more than halfway to your house."

"Well, dinner's almost ready. Just come to the back door when you get here."

"OK. I'll see you in a few."

Callie ended the call. She slipped the phone back into her pocket and took a deep breath before continuing to the Gallagher's house. When she arrived, she went through the side yard to the back of the house. She climbed up the steps and knocked on the door.

"It's open!" Lip called out to her.

Callie opened the door and walked into the kitchen. Delicious smells wafted through the air.

"Ooh, it smells good in here," she said, setting the bag down on the table.

"I think you will be mildly impressed," Lip said. He pulled a glass dish out of the oven and nudged it shut with his foot. He set the dish down on the counter. "What's in the bag?"

Callie broke into a silly grin. "It's, uh…a gag gift."

Lip gave her a curious look. "What kind of 'gag gift?'"

"Well, normally when someone invites me for dinner, I bring alcohol. But, you don't drink, so I got a little creative."

Callie reached into the bag and produced a six-pack of bottled root beer. Lip chuckled. Then he looked closer at the box.

"That's a good brand, actually," he said.

"The best," Callie agreed. "What kind of feast are we pairing it with?"

"Lasagna and garlic bread."

"Sounds good to me."

Lip served up the food and handed a plate to Callie. They sat down at the table and twisted the caps off of their root beers. Callie cut into her lasagna and took a bite. The cheese was gooey, the noodles were just the right softness and the tomato sauce was flavorful.

"Oh, ma gawd," Callie said with her mouth full.

"It's good?" Callie nodded. "Well, to be honest, Ian made it. The sauce came out of a jar and the garlic bread was frozen."

Callie swallowed her food. "Still, I am mildly impressed."

Lip picked up his root beer bottle and held it up to Callie. She took hers in hand and clinked it against his.

After dinner, Callie collected the dishes to wash in the sink while Lip put away the left-over food.

"Saving it for the others?" Callie asked.

"Yeah," Lip said. "They'd better eat it, too. I swear, if I see any of them come home with food, they're gonna get their asses beat."

Callie let out a small laugh. "Dinner was really good. Thank you."

"Thank you for helping with clean up."

"It's the least I can do." She set the last dish in the drain board to dry. Then she turned to Lip. "Can I ask you something?"

He held up his hands defensively. "I did not plan it being just us for dinner, I swear."

"No, I believe you. But…you did agree to have dinner with just me. Why?"

Lip shrugged. "Just trying to be nice. There something wrong with that?"

"No. Not at all. I mean, I do like hanging out with you."

"Well, maybe, I like hanging out with you, too."

Callie gave him a small smile and brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. She looked up to see Lip's striking blue eyes staring back into hers. He took a step closer and Callie inhaled deeply.

"Lip," she whispered, a slight warning in her tone.

"Too fast?" he asked.

"Maybe just a little."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"I am not a prude, Lip. But I have had some really shitty relationships."

"Yeah. Me, too."

They both laughed. Just then, the front door opened and Fiona and Liam walked in.

"Hi, Callie," Liam said.

"Hello again, Liam," Callie replied.

"Any leftovers?" Fiona asked. "All they had at that fundraiser was this all-natural, vegan, gluten-free thing that tastes like cardboard."

"Yeah, I just put it away," Lip said. "Stick it in the microwave for a minute or two."

"Hey, I should get going," Callie said. "It was nice to see you again."

"You, too, Callie," Fiona said. "Don't be a stranger now."

"I'll walk you out," Lip said to Callie.

He and Callie walked out the back door and down the steps. They walked through the yard to the front of the house and out to the sidewalk.

"Thank you again for dinner," Callie said.

"So," Lip said. "Are we gonna hang out again?"

"I'd like to. Just don't tell my dad."

Lip smirked. "That won't be a problem. You OK walking home?"

"Yeah." Callie reached into her pocket and pulled out her keychain alarm. "Apparently, you can find some street smarts at the checkout counter at the grocery store."

"Good start. Goodnight, Callie."

"Goodnight, Lip." She planted a kiss on his cheek, then turned and headed for home.