Surrogate in Love - Richard Madden

Chapter 8: Christmas Shopping

 *Iris P.O.V*

A week before Christmas and the only gift I had was for the dog. I knew it was a bad idea to wait for a week before but I had been down with the flu for the last 2 weeks so this week was really the only chance I would get to get people gifts. I was sat curling my long brown locks when my phone started to buzz. I answered it without even thinking to look who it was and the voice I heard almost made me burn my scalp.

"Hey, darling, what are you up to today?" Richards's voice came through the phone like a Scottish angel sent from god.

"oh hello handsome mind if we go to video call cause I'm doing my hair" it had become second nature to call him that and he never seemed to mind. He didn't answer he just turned on the camera so I put the phone against the mirror and carried on doing my hair. "I'm actually just getting ready to go shopping. I haven't had a chance to get people's presents yet so I thought I would nip to town today" his face lit up and he fist-bumped the air. I laughed at the action because it seemed like such a strange reaction to what I had just said. That was until he explained why he had asked.

"omg thank god! Can I join you? I haven't done any shopping yet I only have one gift and that's not gonna go down well especially when I am giving my gifts to Jess the day before Christmas eve" I saw a small snigger come from his mouth but I didn't think anything of it.

"of course you can but only if you drive. This" I pointed at my bump "seems to have grown twice the size and I am struggling to drive anywhere at the moment" he laughed slightly and then walked into his closet and put me down on the cabinet inside. I could see that he had on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. He put on a pair of black jeans and a hoodie and then picked up the phone again. I can't deny that seeing him like that did get me slightly flustered.

"yes, of course, want me to pick you up in 20?" he asked not looking at the camera. I could tell that he was looking for his keys.

"yes please and try the kitchen you always say you throw them in there when you enter" he laughed and went into the kitchen and just as I had said there were the keys. We said goodbye and he hung up.

Once I had finished my hair and did a little bit of makeup I went into the wardrobe to try and see if there was anything nice in there that didn't make me look like an actual whale I was still standing in front of it when the doorbell went. I quickly put on my dressing gown and went to the door to greet Richard.

"honestly, thought you would be ready by now" he laughed. I laughed with him but then my face fell when I spoke again.

"I did too but I can't find anything that still fits. How am I meant to feel and look nice when all of my clothes are so tight" Richard didn't even take a second to grab my hand and tell me to take him to my wardrobe. I brought him upstairs to the small room that I had designated my 'walk-in wardrobe' I showed him the small collection of clothes that still fit me and then left to go to my room. He picked out an outfit in about 5 minutes and came and brought it to me. he looked slightly different but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"go put this on. No questions" he said and pushed me towards the en-suite. I walked in and looked at the clothes he had given me. it was a pair of maternity dungarees and a dark green t-shirt with black lining I didn't remember owning. I put on the outfit and I won't lie I looked the best I had in months and that's when it hit me. I was wearing Richards's shirt! That's what was different with him. He had taken off his shirt from under the hoodie he had been wearing and gave it to me. I took a second to smell the shirt and now couldn't see how I didn't realise sooner. It smelt just like him. I blushed slightly and then left the bathroom.

"you look brilliant. I have good style" he smirked as he saw me there.

"you didn't have to give me your shirt Richard but thank you I feel so comfy. Are you sure though I'm pretty sure the bump is already stretching it" I walked over to the mirror to check and it was very clear that the bump was stretching the seams of the top slightly. Richard came over to me and for the first time since we had become friends put his hands on the top of my bump whilst he was stood behind me. for a second I thought of what it would be like to go through this with him in the future but I quickly whipped that thought from my mind.