there for me (shourtney)

xxxiii.

courtney's pov -

"Shayne!" I called to him from the outside deck as I tugged my hair up into a ponytail. I heard him from inside. Intelligible words. The waves, the wind, the people on the shore all too loud. Masking his disgruntled sounds. 

He stumbled onto the deck, buttoning his beige shorts, his hair disheveled, and sunglasses hanging dangerously off of his v neck.

"I'm here." He panted. "I'm ready."

"You're a mess." I laughed. "This is why I told you to get up earlier." I said, holding his sunglasses as he fixed his hair. He shook his head rapidly.

"I did get up earlier." He smirked and snaked a hand across my waist and behind me. Tugging me closer to him. "But someone made me get back in bed." He placed a kiss on my lips, a hand running up into my hair. Losing myself, I pressed into him, my foot sliding up near his calf. My chest flush against his, I let him pull me in. A lusty yank to my hair drew me back to the moment. I smiled into the kiss and gently pushed his chest back. Taking a second to control my fast breathing.

"Not now, baby. We told Jax ten o'clock, and it's quarter after." 

Shayne groaned and rolled his eyes. He stomped a foot on the ground and jokingly flung his arms around beside him.

"You literally signed us up to do this." He said as we walked down the steps. 

"Oh hush, you love them." I answered, placing a peck on his cheek. He mumbled something that I didn't catch as we hopped into the sand and started to walk over to Jax's stairs.

"HI!" An aggressive good morning came from the upper deck of Jax's house. We looked up and saw Jude on his tiptoes, holding onto the railing, and waving at us. 

"Hi, bud!" Shayne yelled, waving back to him. Jude ran inside, appearing with Jax and Kora a second later. Shayne and I stayed on the beach.

"Hey guys!" Jax said, carrying a squirming Kora.

"Hi Jax." I said taking a step toward them. "Sorry we're late. Breakfast took a bit longer." I caught Shayne's subtle wink.

"Not a problem." He laughed. Handing Shayne a straw tote bag, he placed Kora down. She immediately sat in the sand and crossed her arms. "I packed some of their snacks and toys. They don't have any allergies or anything, so we're good in that department."

Shayne bent down and held Jude's hand. He proudly showed Shayne a half conch shell he found. Shayne grinned and praised the find. 

"We picked up some chicken nuggets at the store yesterday. Is that okay with some carrots and cut up apples?" I asked Jax. Crouching, I kneeled close to Kora, smoothing a hand over her hair. 

"That's wonderful." Jax said smiling. "Perfect." 

"Are you excited?" I asked Kora. She stared straight forward and pouted. "Uh oh." I said as I stood up. Jax rolled his eyes, making me smile. 

"She's upset that she couldn't wear her red shirt." Jax said, looking from Shayne to myself. He sighed. "Because it's dirty." I held back a chuckle and glanced at Shayne who was biting back a laugh and using Jude to distract himself.

"Well, I'm sure we'll have all the fun in the world to make up for it." I said, looking back down at Kora. 

"I'm sure you guys will. I'll pick them up at eight? Maybe seven? Sam and I are spending the day at the pier." 

"Any time, dude, don't worry about it. We have extra rooms too, so if they need to spend the night, just text us." Shayne said. 

"You guys are the best." Jax said. He moved to kiss Jude's forehead, and he picked up Kora to do the same. "See you soon, kiddos." He hugged her then handed her to me.

"Bye dad!" Jude shouted as Jax turned to walk back up the stairs. Wiggling to wave at him.

"Alright guys! Let's head over to our house! Have you ever been inside?" I asked the kids as we walked over to our steps. Jude shook his head 'no', then looked at Shayne, tugging on his hand.

"Are we allowed to go in?" He asked meekly.

"Of course we are! It's mine and Courtney's home." Shayne said. Smiling at me. I heard Jude gasp softly as we hiked the stairs. The boys behind Kora and I.

I set Kora down as we entered the house, prying her fingers off of my shirt. Shayne immediately sat down on the floor in the living area, motioning for Jude to do the same. Pulling on Kora's tiny hand gently, I brought her to where the boys sat. I sat down first, and after a moment of sulking, Kora came down on my lap. I laughed and straightened my legs, wrapping my arms around her torso. I tapped my fingers on her chest in a nonrhythmic beat and swayed slightly. Hoping the motions would keep her engaged. 

"Show me your toys, guys." Shayne said as he opened the bag. Making sure to place the snacks Jax packed on the couch before they dug into the tote. Shayne laid on the floor, getting level with the kids, propping himself up on his elbows and watched Jude carefully take each toy out. Kora stayed in my grip.

"Oh, Jude, I like this one." Shayne said as Jude took out a tin of legos. "Do you want to build something?" 

"Can I build a hotel?" Jude asked him. Eyes bright and wide. 

"Only if I can build a police station!" Shayne said excitedly. He put some of the toys back in the bag, clearing space for the legos. 

"Okay!" Jude squealed. 

They began to build and Kora sat unmoving in my lap.

"Hey Kora, do you want to build something with the legos?" I asked, bending my upper body close to her ear. She shook her head 'no' and backed up further into me. I laughed and sat back up. Watching Shayne and Jude play with legos and holding tiny Kora. 

-

babysitting part 1! cuties. ik ive been writing about the kids a lot, and im sorry, but theyre just so fun to write about.