Surrogate in Love - Richard Madden

Chapter 23: Old Friend At The Publisher

Iris P.O.V

Time seemed to move so fast between moving in and doing all of the press for the new book. It was almost overwhelming. The work on the new house started and it felt like we were living in a building zone. Dust everywhere and everything back in the boxes. The living room was being extended and the bedroom was having a whole new on-suite added to it so that the bathroom can be kept for visitors. It sucked that Richard also had to go away to do press for the bodyguard, so I only really got to see him a few hours on the days that I did see him. I wouldn't change it for the world though knowing that we live together, that we are starting a life together honestly made me the happiest I could ever be, and I never wanted to leave the supposed honeymoon faze. Weeks turned into months and the summer ended with the housework finishing as the leaves turned. Richard stopped leaving as often and my book was only weeks away from being released.

On the first Monday of October, I woke up next to the man of my dreams and a wet nose pushing into my face. I can confirm that was Blues, not Richards. I clearly had overslept, and Mr need to have a routine was not impressed. I pushed the cover off me and shuddered from the cold. October had turned quickly, and I hadn't had a chance to change my PJs into my winter ones. As I walked downstairs the doorbell rang and there stood 2 boxes full of my book. Whilst it wasn't my first book it was the first one, I had been excited for in a while. I had put 2 years of blood sweat and tears into it. Writing it had gotten me through pregnancy, falling out, and subsequently losing my best friend. It was the love child of all these things, and I was so excited for people to read it. Especially Richard. I couldn't contain my excitement and after lugging the 2 heavy boxes into the hallway I ran back up the stairs to a sleeping Richard. Before I could even get to the bed Blue had jumped and landed on top of him with a serious thud. And by the time I had gotten there, Richard was sat up laughing at the happy boy. Ever since moving into the flat Blue had really taken to Richard, he loved him as much as he loved me.

"They came! they are actually here" I screamed jumping onto the bed and shimming my way between Blue and Rich.

"Elaborate. Are these more clothes?" he asked. I had taken to updating my wardrobe now that I was slightly bigger than I used to be. So, a lot of clothes had been arriving at the flat.

"no you tit. My book its arrived!" he pulled me into a bear hug and shook us from side to side.

"omg did it actually it wasn't meant to come until next week!" he shouted joining in on the excitement. We sat in our excitement for what felt like forever but was only a few moments. When we finally did move, we made our way down to the boxes and the kitchen. Richard set about making coffee and putting breakfast on whilst I opened and started to look at my new book. It was a romance novel set in the suburbs of London a little like the town that we lived in. I was so excited to show everyone.

"Before we fell in love," I said the name out loud. Reading it for the first time in the flesh.

"Does it look as good as you had hoped?" Richard asked. I swiveled around and moved towards him.

"Better. I couldn't ask for more" I put the book on the counter and pushed it towards him. "look"

He took the book putting down the spatula and looking at the cover and back.

"It's beautiful Ris. I love it." He went to push it back to me, but I stopped him.

"Open it up read the first page" I was nervous to have him open it and see what I had dedicated it to. I just hoped he was as happy with it as I was to do it.

"To my muse, Richard" he read aloud. He stopped moving for a second and I was so nervous to see how he would react but then he looked up and I saw the tear in his eye. It reminded me of the moment we had just before Christmas when we had shared our presents with each other.

"Ris, I'm...you...wow," he said, completely gobsmacked.

"It's true. You are the one who got me through writing this book"

"
Thank you" he said. I knew how much it meant to him.

We ate in moderate silence. Both of us properly waking up until the morning post came. We got ready for the day and headed out for our respective days. I was heading into the publishing office as I needed to finalize a few things before the publishing party and I wanted to get it done soon. Richard was heading for the last few publishing things for Bodyguard so he would be out for the whole day.

I jumped in the car and made my way to the publishers. It took longer than I had expected due to some unexpected traffic and so I ended up having to rush through the double glass doors, not really looking where I was going. I ended up walking into someone and that someone I knew very well as soon as the huff came out of her mouth.

"You're not the only one rushing around today you know" the voice sneered.

"After all these years you're still as impatient as ever" Jessica looked up and as soon as she saw who she was her impatience clearly became anger.

"Oh, it's you." she looked me up and down "are you planning on standing in my way all day, or are you going to move" I panicked having rarely been on this side of her.

"I... erm I sorry I didn't mean to get in your way," I said to her. Today was the last day I wanted to have to deal with her immaturity. I didn't want her to dampen my day and I didn't really have the mental capacity to deal with her.

"No, you never do and yet you always are," she said. I was confused. Up until now, I had only ever done things for her I tried my best to be out of her way.

"How can you say that after everything? How are the twins by the way?"

She scoffed again. Something she had gotten very good at since the last time I saw her.

"better off without you" she dared to say. It was my turn to scoff.

"How dare you if it wasn't for me then they wouldn't have even been born. You should be grateful not berating me." I tried to tell her. It was very clear that this was a pointless effort she wasn't going to listen to me. her hatred to me was too far gone.

"Jess unless you are going to apologize for just cutting me out after using me then please don't waste my time today. I don't have time for you" without giving her the chance to answer me I continued into the glass building and made my way to the lifts. I didn't look back partially because I didn't want to see her again and partly because I knew if I did, I would just break down and cry. Deep down she was still the person I had been closest too and it was hard to not see her nearly every day.

The day went on as planned after that and I made it home having done all the prep to my Richard cooking for me. he was making a simple fish dish, but it was exactly what I needed to feel better.

"How was your day?" he asked as I made my way to the kitchen closely followed by a tired Blue who just had to come and see me at the door.

"It was good until I saw Jess" he looked up from his position by the oven.

"And how did that go?" he asked apprehensively.

I shrugged my shoulders not really knowing how to explain this morning's conversation.

"About as well as could be expected, I guess. She still hates me; we never will be friends again. that's all" he moved away from his spot and came and lifted me into a bear hug and that's when I let go of the tears. He held me whilst I cried and when I was done, he held me some more, and then we ate. We spoke in-depth about how much it hurt to lose her and how I missed her so much. He seemed to know exactly what I needed to hear and didn't make me feel invalid in my opinions and feelings. Sometimes I forget how much he is Intune with his feelings, and I forget how that helps me to deal with mine.

After we finished eating, he ran me a bath and we sat listening to soft music in the bath until we became like wrinkled prunes. It didn't take us long to fall asleep when we had gotten into bed. A sleepy blue at our feet. Just how we should be. 

A/N: Sorry! i didnt mean to take such a long break but with uni and work. i promise i will try to do as much as i can whenever i can. 

i know that Bodyguard came out around the same time as Rocketman but i need to change that for the storyline thanks for understanding! i have a few ideas of whats coming next and i promise it will be worth the wait <3