there for me (shourtney)

xxvii.

courtney's pov -

The next few months were spent bouncing back and forth from the Topp beach house and Smosh. Too excited, and rarely having Saturday shoots, we'd head up there Friday nights. Getting there just in time to have dinner at Jax's, or to hang up lights on our deck and have Jax's family wander over. Some nights we'd drive in and hit a restaurant, sitting out near the beach until the staff told us it was closing time. Or sometimes, we'd just drive straight to the house and collapse in the bed. Leaving everything in the car.

Shayne and I had all but moved into the beach house. For months, it's only been us there. So we took over the master bedroom - most of our clothes were in the closets and dressers now. No more drawstring bags. Our recipes were now placed in the kitchen drawers. Our shoes by the door. Shayne's books were strewn across the low coffee tables; my notebooks and schedules were on our nightstands. My makeup littered the vanity in the bathroom, and Shayne's sweatshirts were scattered on all of the hooks in the bedroom. We spent more time here than in our own apartments.

One Friday before we headed out, Olivia caught me as I left the Try Not to Laugh set.

"Sam and I are hosting tonight. You in?" She asked as we walked to the main room.

"Thanks for the invite girl, but I'm heading out after work." I shot her a sympathetic look. I'm sorry I've been elusive, but I love my life right now.

"No worries. Beach house again?" 

"Yeah, the beach house." I confirmed. Nodding as I waved at Keith from across the room.

"With Shayne?" She asked smiling.

"With Shayne." I grinned. Playfully elbowing her. She gave me a knowing glance and nodded. "We have a babysitting thing tomorrow. I think? Honestly, the kids are super hit or miss." I joked.

Olivia nodded, "No, I get it. Have fun." She placed a hand on my shoulder, letting it linger for a second before rummaging through her bag of clothes she brought for her 2 Truths 1 Lie with Noah. "I'd love to get out there one day." She said. Pausing to let her words hover for a second, then headed to the dressing room.

Me too.

"Yo, dude." Ian said as he approached me. I whirled around and watched him stumble on some wires left out from an earlier shoot. We moved the monitors out to the kitchen, and apparently, neglected to move them back.

"Watch those wires. They jump out atcha." I mocked him as I adjusted my jean jacket over my sweatshirt. He rolled his eyes.

"I swear I thought I lifted my foot high enough." He looked down at the floor, then at the crew members around the office. As if willing them to pick up the wires. "Anyways, what are you on for today? Anything else?"

I shook my head slowly, double-checking in my brain. "I think I'm done, but I know that Shayne still has something he's shooting with Damien, so I'll be around for a bit if you need something." 

"Gotcha." He glanced at his watch. "We might need a stand-in for someone over at Games, but that's up in the air. And I keep forgetting about that newlywed bit we gotta reshoot." He groaned and made a note on his phone.

"Okay, yeah, just let me know." 

Ian paused before walking back toward the Challenge Room. "Are you and Shayne heading out this weekend?" 

"We are." I nodded, realizing I was in grey territory. 

"It's not that bad of a drive, is it?" He asked. A genuine question. 

"No, not at all. Half hour max." My fingertips fidgeted with my sleeves. Ian took a small step closer, lowering his voice a bit.

"I'm with Olivia on this one," His eyes softened, "You guys should host one weekend." He gave a smile, a comforting one, before walking away.

He must've heard Olivia. I stood there for a second before going into the kitchen to grab a drink. Was that Ian's way of reassuring me? That things with Shayne are okay with him?

I shut the fridge and popped open a bottle of water. Needing something to soothe my dry throat that burned with questions. Ian's words only somewhat helping to clarify.

Noticing Shayne's phone in the corner of the room, I walked over, hoping it would be fully charged and it'd give me an excuse to hop over and see him and Damien. My boys. 

I plucked it out of the charger and headed out of the room. His ringtone pinged, and out of habit, I glanced at the screen. A text from Chris appeared. 

Paperwork at my house. Swing by when you can.

I immediately felt guilty for reading it. Not yours. Not yours. I picked up my pace as I headed across the building as if that would shake off the guilt that pricked my fingertips. I felt like I should just take his phone back to the charger and forget the whole mission. But I kept going.

What paperwork?

I shoved that aside as soon as I pushed open the door and laid eyes on Damien and Shayne deep into a Sonic game, standing up on the couch instead of sitting, and trying to push the other off.

-

more development yay and i keep forgetting to write/finish that newlywed sketch yikes sorry.