Surrogate in Love - Richard Madden

Chapter 6: The Late Night Call

*Iris P.O.V*

I unlocked my apartment door and entered the hallway to be welcomed by my border collie. It was later than I thought because I had asked the dog sitter to stay until 7 and she was nowhere to be seen. He came over and jumped up to my side to welcome me.

"hey Blue, calm down there boy lets watch the bump yeh. You wanna eat?" I asked him and he padded off into the kitchen so that I could finish taking my coat off and slipping my shoes off. I followed him into the kitchen and made us both some food. The entire time I couldn't take my mind off Richard. He had been so nice all day and it was the first time in 6 months that I properly felt just like me. I never really opened up to people normally. I was reserved especially after things that had happened in the past so to have someone who I knew, for some reason, I could trust was the best thing ever.

I carried on with my usual evening routine after finishing the food I just made and then sat down to write. It was getting increasingly harder to write at my desk as the bump was always in the way. Trying to find a comfy position was near impossible so after about an hour I gave up and decided to jump in the shower. I stood under the hot water trying to think of nothing and just erase the stress of the last few days with deadlines and Jess constantly over my shoulder but every time I would be thinking of nothing Richard would show up at the back of my mind. Without even realising it I would end up smiling like an idiot.

When my body started to look like an actual prune I got out and started to dry off, putting on the stretch mark salve and then putting on the vest top and shorts I had put out to sleep in. as I was walking towards my bed my phone started to vibrate and when I pulled it out low and behold it was Jess.

"hey babes, need me for something?" I asked.

"yeah actually, my parents have let me know that they won't be able to come for Christmas" I sighed in relief, 2 fewer people I will have to see next month the better . "but I thought maybe I would invite some friends that won't be going home" there it was. I knew she wouldn't just call to give me that news without having another plan.

"Who will it be?" I asked her. If anyone is going that I don't know I will be finding some way out of it.

"ill let you know when they all agree. Won't be more than 5 people including us so don't worry" I sighed knowing there would be no way out of this. jess had been planning Christmas since it was confirmed I was pregnant so she would find some way to have the Christmas she dreamed of.

"Okay, no worries. Just please Jess don't make a big deal about me being there" I asked knowing that I won't get my wish but it was worth trying. She completely ignored my last comment and started to talk about the latest thing Tom had built for the nursery and how she can't wait for the twins to finally be in their room. I just hummed and mumbled responses whilst trying to find somewhere that was comfy to lie down in my bed. Blue made himself comfy on the floor next to me, waiting for me to fall asleep so that he could jump up and take the spare space. The conversation eventually fell back on to me.

"so Richard took you on a walk ay? You seemed happy when you got back to the office." She asked. I could tell she was smirking on the other end of the call. Clearly, she was waiting for the juicy gossip that she had missed out on.

"Yes, a walk Jess. We walked around the block and then we sat in the café and had tea. It was lovely he was so kind and I think I've found a friend in him. And on top of it all, he's insanely attractive. I know my libido is high right now but come on the man is built like a god. We have hugged 3 times today and he was just solid like a rock. He only wore a bomber jacket and he was perfectly warm! How is that possible" I rambled on, saying a little more than I planned to say. Jess just laughed from the other end of the call.