there for me (shourtney)

lxiii.

shayne's pov -

"Baby! I'll be back in like an hour or two!" I shouted to Courtney. My hand on the doorknob as I waited for her voice. Remnants of our Japanese food from last night lingered in the air.

She popped her head out of the bedroom, a towel cinched around her body from her late morning shower. 

"Have fun. Be safe. Tell your brother I say hi." She smiled.

"Of course." I said, winking as I stepped out the door. 

I hung a sharp left and walked up the street. Heading to the coffee shop I scheduled a meeting in. 

After about four minutes of walking, I came across the spot. 'Pinwheel'. The best place to get coffee near Lombard Street. The small cafe, made to seem slightly bigger from the big windows in the front, smelled like caramel as I pushed open the door. I stepped into familiar territory. A menu displayed in the back of coffees and small pasteries was hung above the bar where you order. Clear cases of sugary goods sat on top. 

A friendly wave caught the corner of my eye. Turning, I smiled and waved back. Heading to a table in the back of the joint, I took my hands out of my pockets. Don't be nervous. 

"Shayne, so good to see you." 

"I'm glad you could meet me, Mr. Miller." I said, shaking his hand. I took the seat across from him. 

"Please," He laughed, "Kenn." His warm glance gave me assurance. Soft eyes. Courtney must get it from you. 

I nodded. "I'm glad you could make it, Kenn." Picking up the single sided, laminated menu, I raked my eyes over it. Pretending to search it, even though I already knew what I wanted. 

"Yeah, I'm glad I'm able, too. Lucky for us, I have a thing with work I had to fly out here for." Dark brown hair smoothed over his forehead.

"How long are you here?" I asked him. 

"Only till Wednesday. Gotta get back to L.A., you know?" Laughing, he shook his head. 

"All too well." I smiled. 

"You and Courtney up here for the week, then?" He asked, his eyes flitting over the menu. 

"Yep. We're heading back Saturday." I cleared my throat. "I haven't been to San Francisco in a while, so I figured why not come out now?"

Kenn hummed. "Ah, I hear you. Well, it's beautiful here. Wish I could stay longer." He clicked his tongue. "Hey, I meant to call Courtney earlier, but, I'm sorry I missed your house warming party. Corey dug the shit out of me for that one." He groaned.

"Not a problem. You'll see the place sometime." I smiled. 

"That I will. I heard it's beautiful." 

Humbleness ran through me. "It really is." I felt my face flush. It's home.

Our waitress came up, taking our orders and grabbing our menus. She said our drinks shouldn't take long, but her nervous eyes floated toward the baristas. It's okay. I need time anyway.

"So you're an iced coffee kind of guy?" I noted with a grin as the waitress walked away.

Kenn let out a laugh. "What can I say? I like my caramel." He held his hands up in defense. 

"Touché." I laughed. 

There was a brief, comfortable silence while I struggled to find the words I needed. 

"Does she know you're here?" Kenn asked with a soft smile. He leaned in, placing his forearms on the table, hands clasped gently. 

I breathed out a laugh. You read my mind. "She thinks I'm meeting my brother."

"Ah." He paused and lifted his head. "So tell me, what's on your mind?" 

"Well," I started. My hands fidgeted underneath the table. "This is forward, but - I'm going to ask Courtney to marry me. I love her. More than anything. I want to solidify it. And - I'm not asking for your permission, because she isn't property." I looked up at him, gaining confidence by the second. "She has the free will to say 'yes', or to say 'no'. I'm just telling you now, and here, so you're aware. I figured someone had to know." 

Shit. That wasn't nearly as smooth as I practiced. Do you think I'm an asshole?

Kenn nodded, lifting his eyes to meet mine. "Shayne," He said, a grin still pulled at his lips. "I respect you, you know that, right?" 

I nodded. "I do."

"Good." He opened his mouth, but our waitress came back with our drinks, catching his words on his tongue. 

I swirled my warm cup subconsciously, watching him politely decline cream from her before she walked away. But ...

"And I hope she says 'yes'." Kenn said. An air of lightness in his voice. 

"I can't tell you how much that means to me." I breathed out. Feeling as if all the air had been taken out of my lungs. I'm so relieved. 

"The first story Court ever told me about you was when you both auditioned together. Your little line .. something like 'I'll see you at work'." He chuckled as he launched into nostalgia. "The way she said it. She was so happy. Just to know and be around you." He sighed. "And I mean, you know the story, you both were hired, you do sketches, projects here and there." He unclasped his hands and leaned back in the chair. "My point is. Since the beginning, everything about you makes her smile. Makes her happy. And I'm really excited for you two." 

I was floored. Giddiness bubbled in my chest. "Wow. I - thank you, Kenn. That really - I can't even express how happy I am with her. How complete she makes me feel." I touched my chest with a gentle, flat palm. "I just wanted to tell you my plan. Just so you knew." 

He nodded, bowing his head. "Of course. Thank you for telling me." A gracious smile passed his face. "Shayne, hey, I gotta head out, but coffee's on me." He pulled out his wallet from his back pocket. 

Immediatley, I protested. "Oh, no, that's not a problem. I can -" 

"I insist." He placed a hand on my bicep as he stood up. "Please." Taking out a twenty-dollar bill, he laid it on the check that was dropped off in passing. "Covers the tip, too." Kenn's eyes flicked toward mine. 

"Thank you." I said, standing up to hug him. He wrapped me in a sturdy embrace. Clapping me on the shoulder twice before letting me go. Thank you for all of this.

He smiled. "I should be thanking you." He picked up his coffee as he turned to leave. "You bring her joy. She's happiest with you." Shaking my hand he leaned in, "I'll see you soon, Shayne." 

And he walked out of the shop, into the bright San Francisco sun. 

I sat back down, collecting my frantic thoughts. Kenn's words spun around my head and replayed in my thoughts. Taking a sip of my coffee, I breathed in to steady myself. Whenever you're ready, Shayne. 

-

oh my gosh! this story is finally getting somewhere hahaha. Thank you so so much for all the love! It really makes me so happy :) I'm glad you all are enjoying this!