the little things

don't laugh

"Are you cold?", Shawn whispered on Camila's ear as he hugged her from behind.

She leaned back, snugging against his chest.

"I'm ok", she told him, holding on to his arms that were wrapped around her.

He looked ahead again, staring into the bonfire at the center of the group. His team was gathered around, chatting and drinking. The album was done and they were preparing to start promo soon, but he wanted to enjoy this moment first. The peace and quiet of knowing he had put together songs and sounds from the heart and had all these people to celebrate with.

They had spent the day at the beach. It began as a photoshoot but once that was done, they got comfortable and lit up a fire.

Shawn liked looking around and seeing the smiles on his friends' faces. In the middle of the frenzy that it was his life and his career, he knew he had chosen the right people to be by his side.

"More beer?", Scott asked him and Camila.

Camila shook her head but Shawn had one.

He let go of her just to grab the bottle and then was quickly back behind her, like he couldn't be apart for too long.

"Thanks", he murmured.

"Hey, I've got Brian here", Connor shouted with his phone on his hand and walked to Shawn.

"Worm?", he said excited when Connor stood by his side, with Brian on FaceTime.

"Don't call me that, dude", Brian laughed. "How are you doing? It looks nice there".

"You should be here, man. This is incredible", Shawn said in awe of the place and the people.

"I miss you guys", Brian said.

"We miss you too", Connor spoke.

"Who else is there?", Brian wondered.

Connor moved the phone around, so Brian could see the rest and they could say hi to him too.

"Hey, Brian", Camila said when the phone returned.

"Hi, Mila! How are you?"

"I'm great", she smiled. "How are you? Shawn told me you're off the market now", she raised her eyebrows.

Brian blushed a bit and Shawn laughed at him. It was weird to see his best friend so smitten over someone, but it was also very nice to see. He imagined that was the look he had on his face before finally getting Camila.

"Something like that. It's going great. I hope you can all meet her soon".

"We'll be more than happy", she told him with a comforting smile.

"Look at him, he's so grown and in love", Shawn mocked him.

"And I didn't have to be half as annoying as you were", Brian snapped back and Connor laughed this time.

Camila wanted to laugh too, it was an innocent joke but she knew that would hurt her boyfriend's ego. Instead, she turned on his arms and put her hand on Shawn's face and ran her thumb over it. The smile still playing on her face.

"Don't laugh", Shawn warned Camila lightheartedly and she did exactly that.

Shawn shook his head with no comeback on his mind, which was frustrating, but let it go easily. His annoying self got him where he was now, and he wanted nothing else.

"You're cute", she comforted him.

"So, everything's ready?", Brian asked, moving on with the conversation.