"Just one."

"Zander, I am not taking a photo like that!" I cried alarmed by his scheming.

"Oh c'mon! Just one!"

"You're crazy!"

"You wouldn't be the first to say so and it's definitely not the first time you've called me crazy either."

A week passes by in a blink of an eye and we've managed to expose Patrick Greene's love affair with a mysterious woman that high society hasn't heard of.

Both Patrick and Celia were immediately flown out to meet Grandma Greene and between that interrogation and sugaring up to Dana, they had a lot on their hands. I hardly saw Celia and most of her field work was put on pause, matchmaking on hold in the meantime.

It was now our turn to take romantic photos to showcase Zander in a happy new relationship before the press come swarming in.

Since Patrick and Celia were now exposed, we had to be quick. Dana can't be given a chance to place two and two together, if she finds out that the Wyatts are Celia and Patrick then we'll never get our shot at sneaking into Randy's workroom.

But here we were, five in the morning at a park in the middle of nowhere. The sun was just beginning to rise but my brain is still fast asleep, in my bed miles away.

The enormous sunglasses I'm wearing don't help either. Zander insisted we get a matching pair and wear them out...completely robbing me of my sight so early in the morning when the sun is barely present.

Apparently it was a thing all celebrities and public figures wore when they're out as a precaution and a means to ward off reporters and photographers, but I think it's one of the dumbest ideas ever that just draws more attention.

I had my designer pair perched on the top of my head now because I kept walking into trees and park signs.

There was nothing romantic about a dodgy looking park that posed as the perfect backdrop for a murder. Regardless of the eerie atmosphere, Zander sat on a bench, expectantly waiting for me....to sit in his lap.

Of all the degrading and humiliating things he could have asked for....

"No," I sniffed, planting a foot firmly and lean against it.

Tilting his head, the smile never leaves Zander's eyes glinting with mischief. "You've been in my lap before."

"That's- that....that's different!" I squawked, my cheeks immediately heating at the memory he's recalled.

"C'mon, Cat. We need these photos."

"So just take one of us walking, that is plenty of exposure."

Raising a brow, he only smirks. "I really don't want to do this but, may I remind you of the photos we took of Patrick and Celia?"

No way in this murderous park am I making out with Zander the way those two did back at the café we rented out for their shoot. He knows any mention of that day makes me squirm, my innocence damaged beyond repair from what I had to witness.

"If I sit next to you, it's as good. And wh......why do I have to do all the lap sitting?" I blurted suddenly, Zander chuckling at my stuttering.

"You want me to sit on yours? I'm not sure you'll manage to hold my weight." To demonstrate, he gets up halfway and I smack the idiot's butt so he'll sit back down on the bench.

The nerve of the guy to question my out of shape body. I'm so tempted to say 'let's try,' but bite back on the words because I didn't need to be humiliated a second time after all the tree crashing.

I plop down next to Zander and pull out the clicker for the tripod a few feet away with my phone on camera mode.

"You're no fun," Zander mumbled, slinging an arm around my shoulder.

Huffing, I give him a stern look. "The goal isn't to give the public and your parents a heart attack."

Zander just shrugs his free shoulder while drawing me closer and I yelp. "My parents are healthy, they'll be fine."

"It's still a no," I declared adamantly, trying my best to position myself more comfortably, my arms flailing at one point from the grip he's holding me in.

Frowning, he dramatically looks away. "Fine, if you insist."

Rolling my eyes, I look up at him and press the clicker then stride back to the tripod to fetch my phone. Opening up the photos app, we go through each picture with equal sullenness.

"I don't think any of these will work," I commented.

"See, this is why I said you needed to be in my lap," Zander noted noncommittal.

"That seriously cannot be the answer."

Shaking his head, Zander motions for the clicker. "Fine, let me try."

"Wait I think I'm squinting."

"It's not meant to be perfect, we're supposed to appear like we're caught off guard."

"Yeah but in the dark, I can hardly make anything out." I'm still squinting my eyes, my entire face scrunching until Zander grabs both my cheeks with a single hand.

"Just keep looking up into my face like we're having a conversation."

Raising a brow, I offer his figure glowing underneath a park light a wide-eyed stare. "We are having a conversation."

"So just keep going and try to act like the camera isn't there."

"You make it sound so easy," I said with the wave of a hand.

"Hmm. How about we talk about something you're passionate about?" Zander proposed, lowering the hand with the clicker out of view so I don't know when a photo is being taken, making sure we end up with something natural instead of feeling as if the two of us are being analysed with every passing second that the camera awaits.

I'd be lying if I said this did't perk my interest and can't help the curiosity in my tone. "What?"

Wiggling his brows, Zander looks down at me solemnly. "Cupcakes."

"Seriously?" Shaking my head with laughter, I can only play along with whatever direction this is headed in.

"Favourite flavour."

Pursing my lips briefly, I consider the question with some hesitation. "If I'm being totally honest...don't make fun of me..."

"I wouldn't dare. Cross my heart and hope to never eat another dessert if that's the case."

"Carrot."

"Excuse me. Come again?"

"Carrot," I whispered, amused by how much this takes him by surprise.

There's genuine shock filtering across his face before a wounded expression takes over. "We might have to reassess this relationship. Who are you? Do I even know you?"

Feeling as playful and also snubbed at the thought of carrot being a poor contender for a cupcake, I give a simple shrug. "Hmph. Who needs a carrot hater anyways. It's fine, I think I read somewhere that Desmond Barnes happens to love carrot cake which is basically the same thing, so we could wear our matching collection and eat cupcakes together."

"Do I mean so little to you? And nice try, but that only works on Patrick. He gets severely jealous over the stupidest things."

"Really?" I asked a little louder, exaggerating the word.

"What? Why the look of judgement."

"So Xeno was just you being completely normal, neutral and as unfeeling as the cactus in my kitchen?"

Zander briefly glances away, an unreadable look on his face. "That was....an exception."

"Whatever you say, Earl."

"I mean, Glacinda was hot but if he ever saw the real you then he'd never give up."

"And you think that justifies me having a bald head fetish?" I snapped, the heat instantly rising in my face from the compliment he's just given without an ounce of hesitation.

"Not you, Glacinda," he elucidated, and I can no longer resist the urge to pinch his cheek which makes him frown.

"Aww, just admit it. You were jealous or do you want me to pull out the baby elephants shirt when we get home," I cooed.

"That's just low."

"So, are you going to admit it then?"

"What do I get if I admit it?" Zander asked, leaning in closer.

My breath nearly hitches in my throat from the proximity and I remind myself that we have an ulterior motive. "The chance to not wear a really cute shirt," I finally add once I've recovered.

Grinning, Zander gives my side a squeeze. "You'd have to force it on me and honestly, that doesn't sound too bad."

"You really are crazy."

"Good?"

Breaking out into laughter, I just shake my head. "Yeah, it's good. Okay, my turn to ask a question."

"All ears."

"Why a park at an hour when gruesome crimes take place and when normal people are asleep? And by normal, I mean myself included."

"You've been listening to way too many crime podcasts these past couple of weeks," he grumbled.

"Yeah I have, I'm almost caught up to the episode you're on but answer my question."

"Because there's no way for us to be out here in the open, taking photos on our own terms and we can't have identical photos to Patrick and Celia. It'll be a dead giveaway that all of this is staged. Not to mention the fact, that every time we go out and there are people, nothing ever goes right."

"You do realise we could have just asked Ms. Musa to borrow her estate home?" I suggest, like it's the most obvious answer but Zander's mouth forms a firm line.

"That won't work either. People are too smart and will easily figure it out. They can't know she's directly involved otherwise, they'll connect it back to my parents and if I can keep my Mom out of it then I don't mind average photos in the park."

"Okay, but are the sunglasses really necessary?" I muttered, biting my lower lip since I didn't want to be spotted by one of the early runners now entering the park for their morning exercise.

I can just picture the look of disdain on their faces when they see us posing with sunglasses as if we think we're some kind of online sensation.

"Just one more..." Zander trailed, his words tickling my ear but I'm still focused on spotting a runner who may potentially stop and bitterly disapprove.

"Cat?"

Swerving my head back, my lips collide with his and I freeze, the oxygen in me suspended by the sudden kiss.

I will never get used to this.

"There!" Zander declared happily. Pulling away he grabs my phone while I grasp reality. We look at the photos again and agree that these ones will prompt anyone to believe that I was, without a doubt, his girlfriend.

Somehow, as pleased as I am with our mission being successful, a part of me feels a twinge of deceit. "No fair," I grumbled.

"What? If you want to kiss me back you don't even need to ask."

Rolling my eyes at Zander's eagerness, I don't retaliate and step on the bench before hopping onto his back. "I'll take a piggy back ride instead, thank you very much. Now carry me back to the car, you Neanderthal!"

"Hey! That's not-" Not giving him time to complain, I kiss his cheek which shuts him up and we make it back to the car without any further childish arguments.

Once in the car, we share a smile and high-five yet it only takes a few minutes before yawns escape me one after the other. I'm ready for breakfast and a nap.
*********
Two days pass by before Celia and Patrick return, the two of them looking like zombies straight out of my favourite horror film.

"You guys look..." Searching for the right word, I clamp up when Celia looks me dead in the eyes. Stepping behind Zander to shield myself from the lasers she's darting, the only conclusion to come at is that things either went horribly wrong or they somehow managed to handle Grandma Greene.

"I've never met an old woman that enthusiastic about marriage. She should be running our business for us," Celia groaned.

Glancing at her, Patrick gives Celia an exasperated sigh. "I told you!"

"What did you say to your Grandmother?" Zander asked. It's a question I was also dying to ask and peek from around his towering frame to see what they have to say.

"You don't want to know," the said simultaneously, wincing from a memory only the two of them share.

"Please don't make us explain anything," Patrick agonized, placing his head between his hands, his fingers grasping his hair and tugging.

"Why don't you guys tell us what you've been up to," Celia pleaded, desperation clear in her voice.

Moving aside to stand next to Zander, I give her my best gloating expression which just comes across as some kind of miserable and failing attempt to seduce her.

She snickers and Zander chuckles but I refuse to let them ruin my shining achievement.

"The kickboxing instructor says I'm getting better!" I exclaimed giddy.

"That's my girl," Zander said proudly and we thump our fists against our chests then dab.

Bewildered, Celia stares open-mouthed while Patrick looks utterly betrayed by his best friend.

"That's good?" Celia asked.

Beaming, Zander ruffles my hair. "Yeah it is, she's getting better in all her classes. She'll be able to protect herself soon."

"And kick Shawn's ass if I ever see him," I add brightly, surprising Celia who immediately lights up at how ardent I am at physically putting the bully of my past trauma in his rightful place.

I believe in being the bigger person but there are people out there who deserve to get kicked by retribution. No one would hold it against me if I gave Shawn exactly what he deserves, and now that I've gained the ability to defend and fight for myself, walking out the front door doesn't seem like such a daunting thing anymore.

"How have you two been having fun while we've been in hell?" Patrick gasped, bewildered by how relaxed we seem.

Clearing his throat, Zander nods grimly at his friend. "Anyways, we took the photos and are all set for when Dana invites you guys over."

"Funny you should say that..." Celia faltered, wincing.

Furrowing my brows, I give her a questioning look. "Why?"

"Because that would be tomorrow," Patrick finished, the two of them collapsing onto the floor from their seats a moans of dread passed between them.

"I guess that's their version of our bro-handshake," I whispered to Zander who silently nods in agreement.