there for me (shourtney)

xxxix.

shayne's pov -

Ian's question imprinted waves of excitement on my skin. Courtney looked at me, mouth agape, eyes swirling with giddiness. 

"Shayne? Court?" Sarah asked. Her voice somewhat muffled by static.

"Yo? Yeah, we're here. Um. Yeah. Hey, that's a great idea." I said while looking at Courtney.

"I'm game." She smiled. 

"Awesome!" Ian said. I could hear a pencil scribbling from someone on the call.

"So we'll be at the beach for most of this week. Maybe we could work in challenges or something." Sarah pitched in. 

"I like that." Olivia agreed. 

"Me too." Noah echoed her.

"Great. So I'll send out an email memo for this week's shoot on the beach. Cool?" Sarah asked. 

"Sounds good, Sarah." Courtney said, pushing herself up from her hunched position over the table. 

Ian ran over some collective notes about the upcoming week, and ended the call in a few minutes after a hearty 'see you Monday'. Leaving Courtney and I standing near my phone. 

"This is going to be really fun." She said. Tugging subconsciously at her sweatpants. 

"I'm pumped. A beach-themed segment of the channel will be really fun to shoot, and I think it'll rake in some decent views." I added, walking to the fridge to check our schedule again. 

"Agreed." Courtney said as she walked into the bedroom. "Let's pick up some things from the store for them. Like a case or two of water. Maybe some sunscreen." Her voice wrapped around the wide blades of the spinning fan. Making it hard to hear. 

"Sounds good." I said. Half picking up her muffed sounds. 

She reappeared a minute later. Black biker shorts capped her thighs, and a light blue crop top dusted her midriff. She hopped out of the room, tugging on high top shoes. 

"Alright let's go?" She asked as she rubbed some splotches off of her glasses lens.

"Let's do it." I smiled. I reached out for her hand, snatching my keys with my other. Courtney led the way down the stairs, rattling off a list of items we'll need. Sunscreen. Water. Watermelon. Cheap flip flops. 

I stopped listening as soon as we stepped outside. The way the sun touched her hair, the way it glistened on the arch of her neck was way too enamoring. I swallowed my urge to shove her against the car and take her. 

-

"Alright, I think it's safe to say that was a solid shoot." Ian said from behind the cameras. He squinted in the sun, prescription sunglasses providing no relief. His papers labeled 'Tuesday' held down on his clipboard by a flimsy clip fluttered in the sea breeze.

"I second that." Sarah said. Even the unicorns on her bathing suit looked upset to be out in the sun. 

We were shooting Ever Beach Day Ever, and Courtney, Noah, and I just wrapped our last scene. We acted like little kids on the shoreline. Chasing the water as it receded, and screaming while running away as it came back up to lick our feet. We must've looked crazy.

The cast and crew hiked up the stairs to our house. Grateful for the AC and shade.

"Guys I'm literally melting." Olivia said. Sweat glistened on her forehead. She flopped on the couch, still in her Baywatch suit from her last scene. 

"Watermelon!" Courtney announced as she pulled a big, glass bowl out of the fridge. She placed it on the table along with some small bowls and forks. 

"You're a godsend." Keith said as he clapped her on the shoulders. Lowering his head as if praying. Courtney looked up at me and laughed. Making me smile.

"So quick recap." Monica started as she came in from the deck. A big bucket hat shaded her head, and a waterbottle peeked out of a pocket of her swim trunks. "Yesterday, Monday, we covered the week and we marked the EBE. Today we wrapped everything besides Damien's scene," She pointed her pen at Damien, a puddle of heat in the corner, ogling at his bowl of cold watermelon, "Tomorrow, Wednesday, we'll wrap it up. Thursday, we'll do a challenge with Olivia, Damien, and Ian. Sarah will ref. And Friday I'm thinking a Netflix and Chill?" She looked at Courtney, then at me for permission. Oh, you mean here?

"Sure!" Courtney jumped on it. "We have the room for it." She shrugged and looked at me for confirmation. 

"Sounds good." I said as I picked some watermelon out of the bowl without a fork. Earning a slap from Courtney. She giggled and leaned into me.

"Great." Monica said, making some notes in her small notebook. "And everyone, shooting this week will be a lot like today, only four or five hours max. Heat is killer." She groaned and headed to the fridge for a fresh bottle of water.

"Thank god." Noah said. Comically, he flopped down on the floor near Damien. "I think I'm going to melt your floor with my body heat. And I'm sorry in advance, guys." He looked at Courtney and I. 

"Give it your best shot. We have Noah-proof tiles." I laughed. Noah grinned and chuckled at the joke.

Courtney swayed into me again, alerting of her departure, then stood up and headed to Ian and pulled him out to the deck. What are you doing? I glanced around the room, Monica and Sarah near the fridge, Keith and Olivia on the couches, Damien and Noah on the floor, and Ian and Courtney outside. A strong, and sudden urge to go out to stand with her tumbled through my legs. But I knew better. I gripped the bowl of watermelon chunks, as if it would keep me in place. 

From the window, I could see Ian's face soften. Courtney leaned against the railing, wind blowing in her wild, red-auburn hair. She faced him and gestured with her hand back to the house. He laughed and placed a hand on her shoulder for a moment. And nodded. She brought him in for a brief hug before they walked back inside. 

Courtney immediately met my eyes. She smiled and came over, smoothing her hands over my arms. Recognizing my heightened senses. 

"I told him we'd be out of the office Thursday." She looked up at me. "Because we'll be at the doctor's." 

Warmth spread over my skin. Not scorching heat from the sun. But a sweeter, almost peaceful heat. A sense of contentment. Before she walked away, I ran a hand over her stomach, flattening my palm over it for a fleeting second before pulling away. A movement no one else noticed.

She caught my eyes as she walked back across the room. I leaned on the table, near the watermelon, grinning, and propped up on my elbows.

She just smiled. Eyes glittering in the sunlight. 

You're everything I want. 

-

hope you guys liked this one!