Heck, I would’ve put my money on them dating before Lincoln and me when I first started working at the bar.

“You did, did you, drunkie?” Lincoln asks with a laugh.

I nod, swaying as I walk toward him. “And I can’t move out. You and I are staying here.” My words come out in short blasts as if I were slamming my foot on and off the gas pedal of my mouth.

Lincoln nods. “I figured that’d be the case, and it’s cool. We can keep doing what we’ve been doing. It works for us.”

“She offered for you to move in … said it’d make her feel safer, and I definitely feel the same.”

He stares at me from my bed, scratching his jaw. “I mean, I’m cool with that. As long as I get to be with you, I’m happy.”

“Yes, but our apartment is definitely no Archer penthouse.”

“I don’t give a shit about that. All I care about is having you and a bed. Nothing else matters.”

It’s the day before Lincoln’s birthday.

And good thing I questioned him dozens of times because he didn’t give me a birthday reminder. Tomorrow, we’re going to celebrate with our friends, but today, I have something special for him.

At least, I hope he sees it as special.

I told him we were taking a trip to Blue Beech, and he was excited even though the last dinner was a hot mess.

My mother is throwing him a birthday dinner. After the initial shitshow of when Kyle questioned me about him being a convict, everyone seems to be getting along now. In fact, Lincoln now texts my brothers on the regular, like they’re friends, which makes me happy. I love my brothers, and for them to like the guy I’m dating is a big deal.

My mother is also a Lincoln fan, which is why, when we walk in, there’s a birthday feast laid out on the table—all of Lincoln’s favorite foods. It’s what she does for our birthdays along with fixing two birthday cakes—one for everyone else and then a personal one for the birthday person.

Everyone yells, “Happy Birthday!”

My mother scurries around the table and gives him a tight hug, singing the “Happy Birthday” song to him. Lincoln laughs, shaking his head, and hugs her back.

“Wow, looks like you’ve sure won her over,” I say with a laugh.

Lincoln winks at me when they pull apart. “Like mother, like daughter.”

Just as we’re about to sit down, Lincoln’s phone rings in his pocket. Dragging it out, he looks at the screen before holding it up.

“Let me take this real quick,” he says, walking out of the room.