Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 6: New Tactic

"Want to come hang out?" The sound of his text tone the following Sunday afternoon was jarring, Shayne having entirely lost himself in the book he was reading, but coming from his girlfriend it was not unwelcome. Girlfriend - it still felt so new. It was new, technically, given that night sitting in the hills in the back of the truck was only nine days ago.

"Absolutely - I'll be there in thirty xx" his response was quick, and he relished his newfound ability to sign off with the kisses he had always wanted to use with her. She deserved to know how much she was loved.

He went to grab his keys and head straight for the car, but he paused at his front door. Hang out - what exactly did that mean, at 2pm on a Sunday? He was pretty sure it wasn't a booty call, given her directness around that kind of thing the previous Tuesday. But still... even before they were dating, any afternoon hangout usually led to sleeping over and he was sure that wasn't going to change now they were – again, especially after her staying over at his place Tuesday night. If anything, he was even more tempted to straight up ask if he could stay over so he could cuddle her all night, whether they slept together again or not.

With that in mind, Shayne turned back to his apartment and grabbed a backpack that was sitting around on the floor. He quickly grabbed a change of clothes, his toothbrush and his gym clothes – just in case, given he'd missed his workout that morning, and he knew from past experience that the gym near Courtney's place was actually better than the one he used near his own. Maybe she'd even join him at the gym tomorrow.

He moved quickly out of his apartment, locking the door behind himself and striding over to his car. The drive between their apartments wasn't horrifically long, but it was LA and he needed to use a freeway for a little bit, so the timing was wildly unpredictable - even on a Sunday afternoon. Shayne tapped an impatient rhythm on the steering wheel as he rolled along the freeway, traffic heavy as ever, glancing sideways to the clock on his stereo system. It had already been the thirty minutes he told Courtney he'd be there in and his plan to stop by somewhere else on the way was ruined.

"Next time," he muttered to himself when he finally exited the freeway just beside the florist he was thinking of, continuing to drive the five minutes further to Courtney's, pulling into a free visitor park not far from her apartment.

He felt awkward suddenly, stepping out of the car, holding the backpack by its top strap in one hand and pressing the lock for his car with the other. Courtney's apartment complex was older than his own, but the apartments were larger, and he could hear the sound of children playing in some of the courtyards. He wasn't usually opposed to that kind of noise, but it grated on his ears as he ambled across the car park towards the stairwell up to Courtney's door.

"Calm the fuck down Shayne, she wasn't this awkward at your place," he mumbled to himself under his breath, pausing in front of her door for a moment before raising a hand to knock.

"Hey Shayney," Courtney greeted him with a sweet smile, reaching for his free hand and almost dragging him inside, although he moved willingly.

"Hey Court," his response betrayed the hint of awkwardness he still felt, subtly leaning his bag against the side of her couch as she locked the door.

"What's up?" she pries, moving closer to him and gesturing for him to sit on the couch with her. For his part, he fights the awkwardness and presses himself against her side, arm relaxing around her shoulders.

"I don't know. Sorry I'm late, traffic," he replies, shrugging.

"That's chill. What's in the bag?" She asks, and he responds with half a laugh.

"I figured there's a good chance you'll ask me to stay over and I may as well get ready here since you're closer to work, so..." he trails off, "not that it matters if you don't want me to like-"