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“Why didn’t you have a normal childhood?”

I sigh and meet his gaze. Normally, I would never unload this much of my past onto a person I barely know but the more I talk to him, the better I feel and something inside me, something I can’t ignore, is telling me to trust him.

“As soon as Theo and I were born, my mom hit the road with us. We lived in roadside motels, bouncing from city to city every few months until we turned six and Mom brought us to Baton Rouge.”

“So, she was a nomad?” he asks and I shake my head.

“I don’t know why we lived like that but I doubt it. Once we settled here, she stayed in the same house until the day she died and seemed perfectly content.”

“That is weird,” he says, his voice trailing off as Mia approaches with our drinks.

“Your food will be right out.”

“Thanks, Mia.” I smile at her and when Lincoln turns to look out the window she flashes me a thumbs-up and I roll my eyes. When she leaves, I glance over at Lincoln.

“You got any Valentine’s Day plans for tomorrow?” he asks and I laugh.

“What part of “I haven’t dated in eight years” made you think I would have Valentine’s Day plans? Why? Do you?”

“Naw, as you’ve pointed out, I’m not really the type.”

I nod. “Right.”

Even though I knew that and even though it’s stupid as hell, hearing him admit that things between us could never be more than friends with benefits stings more than I would like to admit.