Lauren & Joey

By Joseph Birchall

When Lauren returns home to Dublin, after a few years abroad, she meets handsome mechanic Joey. Despite their differences, love blossoms between them and Lauren becomes pregnant.

Joey is less than thrilled at the prospect of becoming a father.

Further complications arrive that neither of them could possibly have imagined. And as when any difficulty arises in life, true characters and personalities are revealed.

Can Lauren and Joey’s differences overcome their obstacles?

Can he change his ways and be with Lauren and their child? Or is Lauren better off without him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Birchall
• Release date: Jun 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386004592

Book preview

Dedicated to Erin Cummins

1

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‘Jaysus, will you look at that, Joey.’

Adam had to shout into Joey’s ear to drown out the music in Ace’s nightclub.

Joey turned his head and looked over. There were two girls sitting at a table, but Joey knew which girl Adam was talking about.

At first, she reminded him of a famous film star whose name he couldn't quite remember. She had long, black curly hair that seemed more natural than her friend’s, and with a lot less makeup, it gave her a more authentic look. At first, he thought she might be foreign as her skin was slightly dark or perhaps tanned. But it was the shape of her face he thought was the most attractive part of her, which felt a little weird. 

‘Joey, did you not hear me? What do you think?’ Adam was yelling.

‘Think about what?’ Joey asked.

‘Do you want to have a look around? Do a circle?’

Joey glanced back in the direction of the two girls’ table. He had never had any difficulty approaching a girl or even a table of girls, but there was something about the dark-haired girl that made him nervous. He lifted his Jack Daniels and coke and knocked it back in one go.

‘Come on, then,’ he told Adam.

The two lads started to make their way slowly around the nightclub’s edge. They already knew a lot of the crowd, and normally if they couldn't find a new girl that caught their eye, then an old flame would do for the night. Joey kept glancing back over to the girls’ table, and felt a slight panic whenever the table became obscured or out of sight.

He was so focused on the dark-haired girl, he didn’t notice at first that Adam had gone on ahead and was now seated beside her. A surge of jealousy and violence ran through him. Adam had placed his arm on the back of the girl’s chair.

He sat at the edge of the seat attempting to talk to her while her friend ignored them both. Joey realised he knew the other girl already, Sarah Byrne. Adam knew her too.

‘Why don’t you introduce me to your friend, Sarah?’ Adam said.

‘Cause you’re not good enough for her,’ she told him.

‘Ah, come on. There’s no need to be like that.’

Joey stared at the girl sitting next to Sarah. He knew he was staring but couldn’t help it.

‘Cat got your tongue, Joey?’ Sarah asked.

Joey looked at her, embarrassed.

For the first time, the girl looked up at Joey, and they made eye contact. She looked at Joey for a little more than a second but for Joey that was enough. It meant interest.

‘Come on, Adam, let’s go,’ Joey told him.

Adam knew he wasn’t getting anywhere but was embarrassed to give up so quickly.

‘Just tell me your name,’ he asked her.

‘Lauren,’ she said.

An image from the past of a dark haired girl named Lauren in a green school uniform, flashed into Joey’s mind. He would see her sometimes on his way to work. She must have been about seventeen then. He remembered looking forward to seeing her when he left the house for work each morning, and always felt a little depressed when she wasn’t there.

‘Lauren Martin. You used to go to St. Jerome’s girls’ school,’ Joey said before he realised he had said it.

Lauren turned and looked at him. Everyone looked at him.

‘That’s right, Joey,’ Sarah said. ‘Why? Did you used to spy on school girls back then?’

The others laughed, and Joey’s face reddened.

‘Maybe he still does,’ Sarah said.

‘Fuck you,’ Joey told her.

‘Okay. But would I have to wear a school uniform if you did?’ she asked him.

Even Adam couldn’t help laughing.

‘Come on, Adam, let’s go,’ Joey said again.

Before he turned away, he glanced at Lauren. She had stopped laughing, but was looking up at him. The embarrassment left him, and he smiled at her. The slightest movement of her lips was enough, and he walked away.

Adam, happy to blame Joey for his failure with the girl, got up and followed him.

‘See you later, girls,’ Adam told them.

‘Prick,’ Sarah called after him, but Adam pretended not to have heard her.

The two boys were two of the last to leave Ace’s as it closed, and they walked together to the fish and chip shop. They ordered their food and then went upstairs to find seats. Over by the window, at a table in the corner, Adam spotted Sarah and Lauren. He began to walk over to them. Joey’s heart leapt when he saw Lauren. 

‘Well, look who’s here,’ Adam said, approaching the table. ‘Are you lot following us?’

‘How the fuck could we be following you if we were here first, you fuckin’ eejit?’ Sarah spat at him.

‘You know,’ Adam told her. ‘I’m beginning to sense some hostility from you, Sarah. Are you feeling a bit frustrated lately? Like sexual frustration?’

Joey laughed, but Sarah said nothing.

‘You know, I could probably do something about that for you,’ Adam said and sat in beside her.

‘Get away from me,’ she said and pushed him as he sat down, but it wasn’t a very strong push, and Adam moved in closer to her.

‘Ah come on,’ he told her, pursing his lips. ‘How about a bit of foreplay to go with your taco chips?’

‘Fuck off,’ she told him, as Joey sat down beside them. Joey sat next to Lauren.

‘Hey,’ he said to her.

‘Hi,’ she said back.

‘Don’t talk to him,’ Sarah warned Lauren. ‘You’d probably get an STD just looking at him.’

‘Sarah, fuck off, will you?’ Joey told her. ‘I’m not like that.’

‘Oh, I forgot,’ she told him. ‘You’re into little school girls.’

‘I swear to fucking Christ, Sarah,’ Joey started to say, but Lauren put her hand on his arm.

‘She’s only teasing you,’ Lauren told him. ‘I think it’s sweet.’

Joey looked down at her hand on his arm, and swallowed.

‘There’s that sexual frustration again,’ Adam said