there for me (shourtney)

xxxviii.

courtney's pov -

I woke up to an empty bed. A quiet house. Panic shot through me as I sat up. Where are you? I noticed the door was both shut and locked, and when I opened it to step out into the main floor, the room was dark. Shayne had shut the sliding glass door and the curtains. Only a slit of light shone through from the gap in the middle of the two curtains. Is this because of last night?

I stood there for a second, trying to think of where he could be. Then a rush of memory hit me. He's dropping off leftovers to Jax. Heading over to the fridge, I opened it to make sure Shayne had taken the right bag of wrapped food for Jax. He had. Why didn't you wake me up?

Not getting a chance to change out of my black sweat pants and one of Shayne's Smosh shirts, he opened the sliding door. Shutting it, locking it, and turning around to fold the paper bag he used to transport food in. 

"Shayne?" I asked quietly. He jumped. 

"Jesus, Court, you scared me." He breathed. Placing a hand on the back of the closest chair to steady himself. 

"Jumpy much?" I laughed dryly. Moving close to steal a kiss, I took the bag from him and folded it. "How are they?"

"They're all good." He said, shrugging off his jacket. "Jax couldn't stop talking about that dish Damien made. I told him I had no idea how to pronounce it." I laughed.

"Mari probably helped him out." I said softly. 

Casting a glance at Shayne, I let a silence bubble over us. The waves thundering on the shore was the only sound to fill the space. Deciding to test the waters, I brushed past Shayne and opened the curtains wide. Throwing light in the room with one powerful swipe. I heard his breath hitch and he was immediately by my side. 

"Careful." He whispered. A warning I would've missed if he hadn't been so close. 

I turned to face him, creating distance between us. His chest rising and falling with panic. 

"What happened last night?" 

"Courtney, I -" He sighed and took a seat on the couch, facing me. "Nothing just some guys wanting some beer and weed." 

"You didn't know them?" I asked. Piecing together Shayne's heightened senses. 

"No. I didn't. It was late. They saw our lights still on, so they wandered up the stairs." He gestured with his hands. 

"Were they going to come inside?" I eyed his face. Studying his tightening features.

"I don't. I don't know. No? They were way past drunk. But one of them. He had his hand. The door. But I was holding it and he couldn't. Then you." He took unsteady breaths. 

"Shayne." I said slowly, moving to the couch to sit next to him. I draped a leg over his, the other folded beneath me. I nuzzled into his side, both of us staring across the room.

"I'm sorry." He pressed a kiss into my hair. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Their faces when you came out..." I felt his muscles quickly tighten before slacking again.

I smiled gratefully. He wanted to make sure I was safe. Protected. You don't need to apologize. Grabbing one of his arms, I hung it over my shoulders. Shayne adjusted himself and pulled me closer. My chest now pressed to his side. 

"I saw. I thought of the kids." Shayne's voice sounded dry. Strained. "Kora and Jude. And I know they were safe at home. But I thought of. If we had." 

I cut him off with a kiss, swinging my leg over his lap, straddling him. His hands rested above my hips. Head hanging, as if he was guilty. I know where you're going with this.

"Hey." I said softly. Lifting his chin with my thumb. His eyes pooled in mine. "I have a check-up this week. You should come with me." I smiled and ran a hand through his hair.

He nodded. A laugh escaped his lips. Genuine. 

"I'd really like that." Shayne pulled me into a hug. "Thank you." He whispered. Gripping the back of my head. After a moment he pulled away, keeping my face in his hands. I rested my palms on his chest.

"I'll go write it on the calendar." I said. Kissing him again before standing up. I pulled him up with me and held his hand we walked to our calendar posted on the fridge. Grabbing the sharpie we velcroed to a magnet, I wrote Courtney, Dr., 10am, in the Thursday slot. 

"Wow, we have a busy week." Shayne said, his eyes scanning the upcoming few days.

"End of the month." I noted, tapping the marker on his nose before pressing it back on the magnet, "Leases are up. We'll be here permanently by next weekend." I said excitedly. Smiling at Shayne over my shoulder. 

I yelped as he wrapped me in a bear hug from behind. Lifting me off the ground for a moment. I laughed. My head falling back on his chest. I felt his warm laughter in my ear. Music. 

He set my feet back down on the tile floor gently. I pushed my back into his chest, reaching for his arms. He chuckled, getting the message, and held my shoulders as we went over the upcoming week.

"Meetings tomorrow, your apartment finalization is Tuesday," I said, tapping his arms with my fingertips, "Mine is Wednesday, Thursday is the appointment, Friday I think our parents are coming over." I squinted my eyes at the question mark I put next to it.

"We'll talk to them this week." Shayne said. Noting my confusion. 

"Great because I think they -" A phone ring cut me off. It yanked me from me thoughts. Scrambling out of Shayne's arms I sprinted for the bedroom. "What time is it?" I yelled to him. 

"Just after eleven." He said, slowly walking toward the bedroom.

"Shit, dude, we're late to the phone call!" I said as I ripped my phone from my charger. Cursing myself, I read the reminder on my phone - Smosh Weekly Update 11am. Grabbing Shayne's ringing phone from the nightstand, I swiped into the call. 

"Finally." Ian sighed on the line. Bringing the phone to the kitchen table, I tugged Shayne to my side. Deciding our lateness wasn't worth an apology. "So since we're all here, let me pitch an idea. Every Beach Day Ever. Shayne, Courtney, can we use the house?" 

-

things are moving along! yay :) thank you all so much for the lovee!