"You skimmed over a lot of the details there baby."
Lynne had seen her son arrive over Lauren's shoulder, around the time she spoke about slapping him but decided to stay quiet to let Lauren finish the story, partly out of curiosity of how they'd gotten together and partly to watch her son watch his girlfriend speak. Seeing his face response, multiple emotions, listening to her talk was interesting to see. And seeing the smile that broke out on Lauren's face as she heard his voice was worth it.
"You came back" Lauren said, so quietly both Joey and Lynne almost didn't hear it. Walking over to her, her standing for him to pull her into his embrace, mother and son exchanged a look over Lauren's shoulder. Lynne just hoped they knew what they were getting themselves in to, and hoped her son knew how much this beautiful girl had given up for her boy, temporarily or not. By the look he gave her, he knew. Breaking gaze with his mum, he spoke.
"I like this" he said, tugging on the bottom of his top, smirking at the girl in his arms making her smile and blush a little. "Yeah?" she mumbled. His answer was to flicker his gaze to his mum, her turning to look away for a second, knowing he'd be using the moment to kiss his girlfriend. "You look tired" Lynne heard Lauren say. "Got some bits done." He said softly in response, the most gentle she'd ever heard him speak to anyone even Alice.
When he'd awoken her that morning, he'd made her promise to look after the girl until he got back. Declaring that he'd promised her that he'd keep her safe and that things would be okay, so they needed to be. He sounded so determined, Lynne had known then this girl was special.
"Had to get stuff sorted. Said I'd look after you didn't I?" He said, confidence in his tone, her graceful nod his only response, as she stayedpressed to him. "Good talk with Mum babe?" he questioned, flicking his gaze between the two.