there for me (shourtney)

xxxiv.

shayne's pov -

We've been playing on the beach for a few hours before I looked at my phone for the time. 2pm. Yikes we sailed past lunch. 

I looked over at Courtney, clad in a black bikini, on the edge of the water, just where it touched her legs. Kora sat in between her legs, giggling wildly whenever the water tickled her toes. Courtney threw her head back and laughed. Her red hair falling around her face. Something about that image resonated with me. 

I headed back to Jude. Not far from Courtney and his sister. He and I had been building sandcastles for hours, and occasionally wandering down the beach to look for shark's teeth.

"You hungry, buddy?" I asked him. He nodded and began picking up his collection of plastic buckets. "You can head up to the house and get changed if you want. Your clothes are right where we left them by the outdoor shower." I said. Jude smiled and walked back up to the house.

"Alright my lovely ladies, I think it's time for a late lunch." I said to them as I approached the surf. 

"That sounds good! Right Kora?" Courtney asked as she stood up, Kora followed her lead and stood too. Taking Kora's tiny hand, she held it as they began to walk out of the water. Kora nodded. 

"I'm hungry!" She shouted. A grin plastered on her face. I laughed. 

"I heard you like chicken nuggets." I said to her. She screamed excitedly, making Courtney's eyes bulge as a sigh escaped her lips. I just grinned. Picking up her little body, I swung her in the air before bringing her close to my chest and placing her on my hip. I felt Courtney's hands on my shoulder, she cooed to Kora.

"Let's go then!" Courtney said. She grabbed one of Kora's tiny hands and kissed it before walking in front of us to make sure we picked up all of their toys.

-

"Court, do they need anything else?" I asked from the kitchen. The smell of chicken still in the air as I closed the oven after testing it to make sure it was cooled. 

"I think they're fine." She said, eyeing them from her spot at the table. "They have the apples out there still. But they seem really tired. What time is it?" 

I looked over at Kora and Jude on the floor across the room. They laid in the middle of the open living area, crayons and pages of the coloring books that Courtney bought were scattered around. The bowl of apples I cut for them remained untouched on the table near them. But Courtney was right, they looked tired. Crayons slowing with each stroke. 

"It's just about five." I said, glancing at my watch. "It took an hour alone to get Kora dressed." 

Courtney snorted and looked at me, sticking her tongue out. 

"So. Long." She said, drawing out her words. "And Jude is just so easy." 

I nodded, putting away the last of the clean dishes, and folding the dishrag back over the stove handle.

"I like it though. Being with them." I shrugged. I like having the kids here.

"I do too, Shayney." She smiled, walking over to me. "I just have to get used to the screaming." She laughed and hid her head in my chest. I beamed and hugged her. Wrapping my arms around her, I engulfed her in a big bear hug. Keeping my eyes on the children on the floor across the room. Courtney brought her head up to meet my face. 

"I have an idea!" She squealed. She ran over to the living area to grab her phone from the table near the apples. Placing a soothing hand on the back of the kids' heads as she walked past. She tapped on her phone madly, looking up at the ceiling a few times. 

"Courtney what?" I asked her with narrowed eyes, she shushed me, glancing up at the ceiling again.

I heard a three-tone ding, then soft music playing from the speakers. Ohh. Remembering I had hooked up four small speakers in the corners of the main floor ceiling a few weeks back.

"Some speakeasy jazz for the evening, sir?" She grinned and placed her phone on the table. A vibey, swanky type song was playing. Easy horns, flowing strings, and the singer's vibrato all fused together. Spinning into swells of music that tumbled through the house. 

I took her hands and spun her, eliciting a laugh. Bringing her close to me, I hooked an arm around her back, and the other held one of her hands close to my chest. We swayed on the tile floor. Feet hitting the ground to the beat of the crashing cymbals. She beamed. Her eyes sparkling.

"I want to dance with Shayne!" Kora shouted from across the room. She threw her crayons down and sprinted to us in the kitchen. Courtney laughed and let go of me, stepping aside for Kora, who promptly leaped into my arms. 

"Jude c'mon!" Courtney waved him on from his place on the floor. "Come dance!" 

His face lit up as he jogged over to her. She grabbed his hands and they hopped around the kitchen. Their hands pulling and pushing with each note of the piano. 

I looked back at Kora who watched her brother. She looked confused. Bringing her eyes back to mine she placed her small hands on my chest as if to stop me.

"Do you want to get down?" I asked her. She nodded and smiled. I placed her down and she quickly copied her brother, reaching up to grab my fingers. I bent my upper body to reach her hands, pulling her up off the floor a bit, and placing her small feet on mine. And I walked around the kitchen table, over to the living area, and back. My steps syncopated with the music. 

Every once in a while I'd catch a glimpse of Courtney and Jude. Happily, they jumped around the kitchen, their hands still together and moving in rhythm.

We danced like this until Jax picked them up a little later, coming back from the pier earlier than expected. Everything neatly back in the bag he gave us earlier, he thanked us. 

"You're so good with them." He said softly. Kora in one arm, the bag in the other, and Jude close to his side, Jax wished us a good night, then headed home.

After we cleaned up, Courtney and I sat on the couch, IPAs in hand. I cheersed her. 

"That was way too much fun." I said. Still giddy.

"I think that - I think that I want that one day." She said looking over at me. If you're looking for confirmation, I'm already with you.

I smiled and pulled her close to kiss her.

-

such good babysitters. the dancing scene was so much fun to write!