She could not believe she was wasting an afternoon being a third wheel to her sister's mock date or whatever this was.

It was totally unfair. With it being her day off, Stephanie had planned on not doing much of anything. She got her chores taken care of earlier this morning that way they'd be done and she could relax without interruptions. But then Michelle asked Dad if she could hang out with Marcus. Apparently, Aunt Becky did have a talk with him to which he'd admitted that he was trying to hold onto the last bit of her sister's childhood for as long as he possibly could. In the end, Michelle could hang out with him as long as there was someone older with them to chaperone.

Just as luck would have it, everybody but her was busy. Stephanie hoped that he would be merciful to her but nope; he asked her if she would mind and right then and there, she knew that was it. Michelle wasn't bad as she had been as a kid but still her moments of being spoiled-an advantage to her for being the youngest. If Stephanie tried to get out of it, her sister would just bug her endlessly until she gave in. It was kind of her thing.

Her sister and...whoever Marcus was to her at the moment, were sitting a few feet away under a table that was being shaded by a large tree. Michelle had warned Stephanie not to be near them so she avoided a potential fight by seating herself at another table at a preferable distance.

The sun was warm on her back; she turned to face the other direction, eyes slightly squinting. She was rather bored, having not thought of bringing a book or something to keep her occupied. Dad said not to be out for more than two hours so Michelle would surely soak up every minute she possibly could.

Charlie slid onto the bench, giving her a boyish grin. Stephanie had to admit, she liked it when he smiled like that. Not because it was cute or anything; it was just... nice to see him like that. "Hey, babe," he greeted.

"Are you stalking me now?" She asked mildly.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?"

She snorted.

"Your sister called me," He informed her. "Told me to keep you company so you wouldn't be all alone."

"She did?" Stephanie couldn't believe her. "Ugh. Sorry. You've probably got better things to do than sit here."

He shrugged. "You would look kinda pathetic just sitting here. I thought I'd do you a favor."

"Your generosity continues to astound me."

"As it should," he agreed. He glanced over at Michelle and Marcus. "So, are they on a date or what?"

She looked over as well. "I guess? I don't know. I just know that I was forced to come here on my day off!"

His eyebrows rose. "Cool it down, Princess. Wouldn't want you to cause a scene."

She rolled her eyes. "Like I care."

"Mmm. I like it when you're feisty."

"I like it when you're quiet."

"I don't think you mean that."

"Trust me, I do," She stretched her legs, maintaining eye contact, resting her cheek on the back of her hand. She was eyeing his shirt, which she presumed to the same one he'd let her try on that day Gia came over. "I guess you got my perfume off it, huh?"

"Yeah and that was a fun conversation with my dad, thanks," he rolled his eyes. "He thought we-well, you know," he finished awkwardly.

She raised her eyebrows. "No. He thought we what ?"

"Don't make me say it, Tanner."

She laughed. "Say what ? I have no idea what you're talking about."

He grumbled. "You know...touching each other and stuff."

She stared until his words finally sunk in and she understood. "You mean cuddling?" She clarified, a grin starting to appear when he looked embarrassed.

"Whatever..."

Okay, this was kinda funny. Charlie could-most of the time-come up with something witty in a snap but couldn't handle saying cuddle .

"What's that face for?" She was openly laughing now.

"Shut up."

"What, you wouldn't want to cuddle with me?" She teased.

He scowled. "Get real."

But there was something else-he'd glanced down at the table, his cheeks noticeably pink .

"Ha!" She pointed at him, beaming. "You're blushing! I won!"

"What? No!" He said quickly, his face taking on an expression of horror.

"Yes, you are!" She said victoriously. "I won! Now you have to watch a chick flick with me!"

He groaned, dropping his head onto the table.

"I wonder what we should watch first?" Stephanie taunted him.

His head snapped back up. "One movie, that's all."

"You're no fun."

Michelle approached their table, giving them a glare. "Keep it down!" She hissed.

"It's her fault," Charlie said.

"Why is everything my fault?"

"I think you know why."

"You're ridiculous."

"I don't care whose fault it is," Michelle said through grit teeth. "Just shut up." She turned on her heel, going back over to where Marcus was.

"Interested in having a sister?" Stephanie asked him, straight faced.

"Not a chance," Charlie said automatically. "You can have her."

"I don't want her some days," Stephanie said. "Today being one of them."

"I can see why," Charlie mumbled.

Stephanie glanced around them, face brightening up suddenly. "Hey, let's go swing."

" Why ?"

"It'll be fun," She reasoned. "Come on. You can push me."

He sighed dramatically. "Yes, Princess."

"Come on," She said with laughter in her voice. She went over to the swing set where she sat down, waiting for him to join her. He pulled her back and then gave her a push. She was actually able to go pretty high. "Having fun yet?"

"Loads," he deadpanned.

"Good."

"I'm changing your name in my phone to Princess," he announced.

"Looking forward to it."

He gave another effortless push. "You should."

"Should I rename you Prince Charming in mine?"

He pretended to think about it. "Sure."

"I'll get right on that."

"You better," He said. A couple seconds passed by. "What's my name in there now?"

"Charlie."

"Way to be creative, babe."

"Talk about me being creative. I bet mine right now is babe," She said challengingly.

"...So what if it is?"

"Ha!" She said, "I knew it!"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," he scoffed.

"I should change it, though."

"Mmmkay."

"Something embarrassing."

"Can't wait."

"Maybe I should ask your mom what she thinks I should change it to," Stephanie said slyly. She had no intention of doing it, but she didn't want to miss an opportunity to mess with him. He was always doing it to her-like when he'd pretended not to have noticed she'd cut her bangs.

"Don't you dare."

"I think I will," She grinned cheekily. "She's probably got lots of ideas for me to use on her special boy ."

She didn't see it, but his face went red . "You heard that?"

"Yup!" She said cheerfully.

"You never-"

"I didn't wanna embarrass you," She said.

"Too late for that," he muttered.

"I meant from before."

The conversation died down. Neither of them spoke. Elsewhere, birds were chirping, people talked and children happily shrieked as they played.

"They really love you," Stephanie said carefully.

"Right."

"It's great."

"Yeah."

"I'm happy for you-really," She said. "You deserve it."

"I guess."

Stephanie got the hint that he didn't really want to discuss it so she switched the topic. 'What's your middle name?"

"What?"

"Your middle name," She repeated. "What is it?"

"David," he said slowly.

"Mine's Judith."

"Yours sucks."

"What?" She nearly laughed. "What do you mean mine sucks?"

"Just what I said."

"How-"

" Rude ," He mocked.

She did laugh this time. "Shut up."

"You're so predictable, Tanner," he said-dare she say it- fondly .

She huffed. She heard a noise from behind her, one of annoyance.

"Can't you put your hair up? It's getting in my face every time you swing back."

"I don't think I have any hair ties with me," She checked her wrists and sure enough, there was none there. She'd been in a bit of a hurry getting out the door. Michelle had been anxious and impatient to get to this mock date or whatever it was. "Just don't stand so close. And hey, at least it smells nice. I just washed it last night."

"It smells like coconut," he said.

"It is."

"I hate coconut," he said flatly.

She rolled her eyes, silently mocking him.

"But it smells okay on you, I guess," he said.

"Careful, sweetheart . You might just compliment me."

"I wouldn't do such a thing," Charlie said smoothly.

"Good because it doesn't suit-" Stephanie let out a yelp of alarm when she began to slide off the swing. Her heart practically stopped and she braced herself to fall on the mulch below.

But it didn't happen.

She felt Charlie's arms securely wrap themselves around the top half of her body, keeping her upright. She was pressed against his chest. Stephanie bit down on her lip.

"You okay, Steph?"

"Yeah," She muttered as he cautiously let go of her. She needlessly adjusted her shorts, coughing slightly. She hadn't expected him to do that-if anything, she would have thought Charlie would have laughed instead of helping her. "Thanks."

He shrugged. "Couldn't have you falling."

She smiled. He had his moments where he was really sweet.

"Didn't want to hear you complain about it."

...Well, mostly sweet.

"You didn't have to end with that," She said with a shake of her head. "You just had to ruin it."

"Only the best for you, babe."

Stephanie glanced over in the direction of her sister. Michelle was giggling at something Marcus must have said and she was actually twirling her hair. Oh, the love bug had bitten her hard . "Hey, why don't we ditch my sister? I'm bored and I'm sure you are too."

He pretended to be shocked by her suggestion. "I can't believe I'm hearing this from you, Tanner."

"Are you in or not?"

"And miss this ?" He flung a hand in their direction. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Idiot , She thought with a snort.

It wasn't hard to convince Michelle to go along with it-actually, she didn't need to convince her at all. Michelle was relieved to get rid of her, quickly agreeing to the idea. Stephanie figured it was safe; Dad, Aunt Becky, Uncle Jesse and Joey were all working and would be until later this evening.

Soon enough, she and Charlie were walking side-by-side down the sidewalk.

"Just answer something for me," He said. "You told your Dad you came home late that time but then you do this?" He raised his eyebrows. "Tell me how that makes sense?"

She shrugged. "I'm not spending the whole afternoon being a chaperone."

"I'm so proud. Maybe you're not such a goodie goodie after all."

"Whatever," she stuck her tongue out at him. She shoved her hands into her shorts pockets, realizing that something was in her pocket. She pulled out a hair tie. "Huh," She said. "Guess I did have one."

"That's convenient," He remarked dryly.

"Shut up," She was in the process of putting her hair up in a ponytail. No sooner had she done this did he tug on it. "Stop it" She swatted his hand.

"Make me!" He teased, doing it for the second time. That changed to him randomly poking her.

She giggled, making a poor attempt at retaliating. They were both oblivious to the knowing smiles from other people that were witnessing this. "Stop it, you jerk!"

"After I decide to grace you with my presence, that's how you repay me?" He feigned scolding her. "I think you're the jerk, Princess."

They came to a stop in front of a small café. Stephanie's laughter fizzled away and her eyes brightened. "I've got an idea," She said. "We should totally pretend we're a couple and it's our anniversary. We'll get free dessert."

She wasn't sure if he'd like the idea. He'd been notably irritated by the belief from both their families that they were dating, as she'd been as well.

"I like the way you think," he grinned.

/

"Stop laughing," He told her, his amusement showing. "You're going to tip them off."

They sat in the back of the cafe in the corner booth across from each other. In the middle of the table was a plate of chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Stephanie was certain the staff knew they weren't really dating, but they hadn't raised a fuss.

"Sorry," She reached over to scoop up some fudge that was on the side-which was on his side, technically.

He bumped her wrist. "Back off. That's mine."

"No," Stephanie said. "It's mine now."

His eyes flickered over her shoulder. "I'm pretty sure they know."

"Probably."

"Give me your hand," he said.

She was caught off guard. "What?"

"Give me your hand."

"I thought you didn't like touching?"

"This is different," Charlie couldn't quite meet her eyes. She slowly put her hand that wasn't holding her fork up on the table. His hand met hers, intertwining their fingers. "Looks more real this way."

She kept her gaze on their conjoined hands. They fit perfectly together. "Yeah. Guess it does." She smiled wryly. "Pretty sure eleven year old me would be horrified to know I'm holding hands with the enemy."

"Pretty sure eleven year old me would be horrified to know I'm getting cooties."

"You're such a child," She noted he was absentmindedly caressing her hand with his thumb.

"Somebody has to be."

"And you're just the person for the job," She humored him by playing along.

"You know it," He was smug.