Short Kings Anthem

Part 47

Chris had decided not to tell Lauren about what happened at Abi's party. His conscience was clean he didn't do anything wrong and he didn't want his pregnant wife to have anything else on her plate to worry about. Chris's birthday was coming up and Lauren had hidden his gifts at his office, when she got there she smiled on seeing Penny at reception.

"Hello! Long time no see how are you?" Lauren smiled at the used to be blonde but now brunette who stood up and hugged Lauren over the desk.

"I'm good! How are you? Gosh look at you're glowing," Penny gushed placing herself back on her swivel chair.

"They say that but I'm convinced it's just sweat," Lauren laughed, it was June and around twenty six degree's outside, she would have been warm even without the extra insulation she was now carrying, the long summer dress she was wearing barely doing anything to keep her cool.

"Yeah I feel that, pregnancy in summer was not the one and you're doing it with two! You're superwoman."

"I dunno about that. Is today your first day back?"

"Yeah it is, I feel like I've forgotten half of it. The girl who was covering for me was meant to be here today helping me catch back up but she's called in sick. I haven't seen Chris here today,"

"No he's at home, I've got some birthday presents from him I hid in the office I've come to pick them up."

"Oh cool go up, we should catch lunch or something when you're here. I can let you know all of the best softplays."

"I'd love that, none of my friends have kids yet so any parents I'm dying to hang out with." Lauren beamed and made her way through the gate when it buzzed. She then took the lift up to the top floor and walked through the corridor to the office, noticing how it felt a lot longer and how her walking pace had started to slow down.She found the office empty and made her way to the cupboard, she took out the first gift and placed it on the table behind her, when she started to pull out the second she heard a voice say "Allow me" and two strong looking arms reached over her head and took the gift, she looked up to see Reev.

"Thanks Reev." Lauren didn't mind doing it, didn't mean she wasn't grateful for the help. She also noticed Theo was also standing there.

"Chris wouldn't forgive us if anything happened to you lot," he chipped in.

"I'm okay for now, give it another month and I might struggle," Lauren replied cradling her belly, the twins were being incredibly active currently.

"Is there anything else?" Reev asked having retrieved three boxes.

"That blue bag," Lauren replied, looking as Theo picked up the three boxes and Reev kept hold of the big bag which contained a new coat.

"Where to?" Theo asked

"You guys don't have to you know!" Lauren appreciated the chivalry. For all of the chat and the blokey exterior all of the boys were polite and respectful deep down, although Reev didn't have the macho exterior in his behaviour only in his appearance.

"It's fine, we want to help."

"I'm parked in the car park." Like with most car parks in London offices the car park was underground, to get there you had to walk out of the main building to the building next door and go down the lift as it was shared with multiple buildings.

"That's fine. I was worried you were parked on the street ages away," Their joked. Lauren led the way through the corridor and waved when she saw Chip, Cal, Will and his editor Mikey all sitting in a room chatting.