Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 130: Birthday Girl

It hadn't been Courtney's idea to actively do something for her birthday, but a handful of her work friends had suggested it, and she wasn't one to say no to good company, good drinks, and a mid-Summer rooftop pool adventure. They don't pregame the party at all, but when Shayne and Courtney arrive at the venue around midday they are quickly greeted by Shelby and Kimmy thrusting a beer at Shayne and a cocktail at Courtney, screaming an in-unison "birthday girl!" at Courtney as they lead them to their private cabana.

"Hey hey hey," Courtney greets the others in the cabana, as they slide in, quickly moving to grab a seat on one of the side benches. Shayne takes one end of the bench to her side, and Shelby sits on her other side, as they all settle into conversation waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive. Shelby, Sydney and Olivia D quickly lock her in excited conversation about her birthday, Shayne's hand resting comfortably on her thigh as he talks with Keith across from him.

"Want another one?" Shayne asks, nudging Courtney's side, when she goes to take a sip of her cocktail just after Kevin and Tommy arrive – the last, just after Jackie before them – only to find it is empty.

"Sure, if you-" she goes to answer, quickly cut off by Shelby.

"Uh-uh! Birthday girl ain't buying her own drinks, and as much as this is the hubby trying to buy her a drink – shared bank account, right?" Shelby pushes, eyebrow raising. Shayne laughs loudly in response, Courtney jokingly furrowing her brow.

"How the hell did you know we- yeah, okay, yeah, whatever-" she shakes her head, the others laughing as Tommy quickly offers to go get a round of drinks for whoever would like another, given he's going to get his and Kevin's first anyway.

The drinks flow as warmly and exuberantly as the group's conversation as midday moves into afternoon. The bar is full of people, but they have some degree of privacy in their cabana, including a direct speaker to the pumping music that has them moving rhythmically amongst their space. They order plates of share food for lunch as they talk, and as much as Courtney finds herself moving through conversations with everyone in attendance, Shayne largely stays mostly quiet at her side.

"You doing okay, baby?" she asks, turning and placing an arm around his shoulders a little while after a waiter has come by to clear away their plates, post-lunch. Keith, Kevin and Sydney are busy swapping dance moves over in a corner of the cabana, and Shayne had been watching them, but he turns to meet Courtney's eyes.

"I'm good, just taking it all in. How you going? Having fun?" he replies, turning it back onto her.

"Mmmhm, good drinks, good food, good company. But I can tell you're feeling out of it, baby, you know that," she tells him, keeping her voice soft enough that the others won't hear. He sighs, before giving her an affectionate smile.

"I just feel weirdly overdressed because you're all in bikinis and I'm in a shirt and pants- and also kinda awkward for no real reason," he admits, shrugging lightly.

"You wanna drink more? Less? I'm not gonna get mad if you just wanna chill in a corner, babe, but you know I also would be very happy if you just got rid of the shirt," she tells him, voice moving melodically between caring and teasing. It makes him laugh, a little louder, attracting the attention of Shelby, now sitting on the other side of him.

"What you guys whispering about over there, huh?" she asks, grinning. Courtney quickly shakes her head as if to brush it off as nothing, but when she glances back, she sees Shayne's eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Court's trying to convince me to take my shirt off and get drunk," he jokes, still grinning. Courtney rolls her eyes, letting herself lean back against his side.