The Time Bubble Box Set 2, стр. 30

“Look, I’m sorry, Lauren, but I’ve had way too much to drinkand I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get it up.”

He had hoped the others wouldn’t hear this above thepounding music. Unfortunately, despite the image he portrayed, the DJ wasrelatively inexperienced and even using the cross-fade on his laptop managed tomess up fading out one track and starting the next.

Josh’s last sentence coincided exactly with this briefmoment of dead air, leading to peals of laughter from Dan, Ryan and Ben.

“Loser,” commented Dan.

“Oh, don’t you worry about that, I’ll get you going,” saidLauren, pouting her red lipstick-coated lips suggestively towards him.

“Seriously, Lauren, I think I’m about to be sick.”

He knew from long experience how quickly Lauren’s mood couldswitch, and now she lost patience and snapped as the lust in her eyes wasswiftly replaced by anger.

“What the hell is wrong with you? You know, you’re gettingso bloody boring these days.”

“If he’s not up to it, maybe I could fill in for him,”suggested Dan, who had been watching Josh’s discomfort with increasing glee.

“In your dreams!” exclaimed Lauren. No matter how angry shewas with Josh, that could never override how much she despised Dan. “I doubtwhether you’d even know what to do.”

“Just let me finish this pint,” said Josh, “then I’ll getsome water down me and I’m sure I’ll be fine. Midnight, on the dot, I promise.”

“You’d better,” said Lauren, with a threatening look in hereyes. She turned towards the bar and barked out, “Double vodka please –straight!” at the young barmaid.

It had been stressful going out with Lauren, reflected Josh.Whatever the outcome of tonight he knew that she would dump him a few weeksafter this anyway, saying she needed her freedom.

At the time he had been almost relieved. He may have hadsome of the best sexual experiences of his life when he was with Lauren, butshe was just too volatile for any sort of serious relationship. Alice had beena much better long-term choice.

“Right, I’m off outside for a smoke,” announced Lauren,turning back from the bar, vodka in hand. “You had better finish that up andget your act together if you know what’s good for you.”

She stomped off outside, clearly still in a mood. Throughthe window Josh could see that she had made a beeline straight for a group offit young lads whom he recognised as local squaddies. He could see them castingappreciative glances at her short, red skirt and her legs, and she wasn’t doinganything to discourage them. Yes, this relationship had definitely run itscourse.

“Reckon she’s going to dump you soon, mate,” said Dan,mockingly.

Josh looked at the clock. He had less than ten minutes togo. He turned to Dan, lifted the remaining three-quarters of his pint to hislips and drained the lot, right in front of him. It made him feel quite queasyand he was quite sure he really would end up being sick now, but hopefully it wouldn’tbe in the next ten minutes.

No matter, what was important was that he had finished, butbefore he went, he couldn’t resist having a go at Dan.

“Maybe she will, mate, but at least I know what sex with areal woman feels like and don’t spend every night wiping down my laptop screen.I also think you’ll find that’s my eight pints finished, and before you aswell. By my reckoning, that makes me the winner. And now, if you don’t mind,I’m off outside to give my girlfriend one. See you around, loser.”

Leaving Dan speechless, he turned on his heel and headed outonto the small terrace to the front of the pub to get Lauren.

Why he was bothering, he didn’t know, because he was due todepart in a few minutes and it really didn’t matter whether he went out thereor not. It was probably just down to a combination of alcohol and not wantingto lose face. He didn’t have to do anything with her: he would be away beforethey got down to it, but he still didn’t want her thinking he was a loser.

Ignoring the gaggle of men around her, he strode confidentlyup to her, mentally batting away the thought that if Alice could see him nowshe would haul him up by the knackers.

“How about we kick this place into touch and go up to thepark like we did the other weekend?” he asked, remembering how much she loveddoing it outdoors in the summer.

“Feeling better, are we?” she asked. “Alright, you’re on.Sorry, lads, maybe another time. I’ve got to go.”

There were disappointed mutterings from the squaddies butJosh knew they’d get their chance further down the line. There had been arumour going around not long after he and Lauren had split up about her beingsmuggled into the barracks one night and taking part in a gang-bang.

He had never asked her about it, but had no reason to disbelieveit. It was the sort of thing she’d have no qualms about participating in.

The two of them left via a small alley that led out throughthe car park towards the park beyond.

Josh was starting to worry that they might have got thetimings wrong because it felt to him as if midnight must have passed by now. Ifhe didn’t jump back to the future within the next five minutes he was going tobe in serious hot water. Not only that, the fresh air wasn’t doing anything tostop him feeling sick, and he couldn’t imagine Lauren would be impressed if hethrew up all over her.

Thankfully his calculations had been correct; he had justlost track of time. Just as Lauren opened the squeaky metal gate that ledtowards their favourite spot behind the cricket pavilion, he was whisked awayback to the couch in the lab.