“And there we were, stranded at junior prom, our dates were passed out drunk and Mandy had vomit on her new dress.”

Mandy’s eyes sparkled as she laughed at Kim’s retelling of their ‘worst date ever’ story.

“I had saved and saved for that pink dress,” Mandy added. “It took me a long time to forgive Jimmy for throwing up on it.”

Kim’s eyes danced, “I think she forgave him so that he would stop apologizing. My daddy tried to run him off with a shotgun more times than I can count.”

Mandy winced at the memory, “Jimmy was sweet, but not necessarily the brightest of boyfriends.”

“Who spiked the punch?” Nate asked leaning forward to rest his hands on the table.

They had finished their deserts and just pushed their plates away.

“Let’s go into the living room where we can be more comfortable,” Elliot suggested.

He had noticed the way that Mandy was twisting and turning on the hard dining room chairs. He made a mental note to ask Mrs. H to order richly upholstered chairs as soon as possible.

Elliot went to Mandy and helped her to her feet. The chivalrous gesture wasn’t missed by Nate and Kim who gave each other a knowing look.

Mandy chose to ignore when her sister winked at her and gestured with her eyes towards Elliot. She was nervous enough about the amount of affection that he was showing her in front of company.

Kim continued the story, “We never did learn who spiked the punch, although it happens almost every year, so our dates should have known better. It just was unusually strong that night.”

Elliot tried to remember is junior prom. Had it been Amy or Sarah maybe? He had borrowed his mom’s car and ended up getting to third base in the back seat before a police officer had stuck his flashlight in the window.

Nate laughed his ass off when Elliot had been marched home to tell him mom just what he had been up to. He hadn’t a clue whatever happened to his date, she hadn’t meant anything to him.

Nothing like what he felt for Mandy, that was all-encompassing.

He sat beside her on the couch and placed a possessive arm around her shoulder. Kim and Nate chose to sit in a few side chairs, but Elliot noticed the glances that Nate was sending to Mandy’s older sister.

Nate might think that he had things under control, but Elliot could tell that his best friend was in deep with Kim.

“How is the coffee shop?” he asked cordially.

“Getting worried?” Nate teased.

Elliot rolled his eyes, “Please, like I would ever run away scared from your lazy ass. The Bugatti will be safe and sound in my garage.”

Kim choked, “What are you talking about?”

Mandy elbowed Elliot hard in the ribs.

“Mandy, what is he talking about?” Kim knew that if she questioned her sister she would tell her the truth, even if she didn’t want to.

Mandy sighed, “Nate and Elliot have a little bet on something. It isn’t a big deal.”

Kim’s brow rose, “If it isn’t a big deal then you can tell me the details.”

“Does anyone want some coffee?” Nate tried to interject but Kim gave him a terrifying look and the man sat back down.

“Elliot wagered his Bugatti against Nate’s ability to triple The Grind’s profit by Valentine’s Day.”

Kim’s jaw dropped, “But it’s Christmas in four days?”

She turned to Nate who returned her gaze steadily. Then Kim glanced back at Elliot who seemed a bit contrite now that Mandy was upset with him.

“I’m sorry,” Elliot’s smooth voice didn’t settle Mandy’s nerves. “I thought you knew about it, Kim.”

Her eyes flew to Nate, “So, that is why you have been hanging out at the coffee shop, to win a Bugatti? The new uniforms, schedules, employees, it all makes sense now. Is that what you stepped in with Andrew?”

Her voice was rising with each accusation. Kim was becoming more and more upset.

“Baby,” Nate tried to soothe her, “It isn’t like that?”

But she was too far gone.

Kim jumped to her feet, “Thank you, Elliot and Mandy for a lovely evening. I need to go.”

Nate hopped up to join her, “I will grab our coats!”

“Oh!” her blue eyes shot icy waves into his heart, “You aren’t coming home with me. You can stay here or get a cab to your place.”

Nate’s jaw clenched, “You are making a big deal of nothing, Kim. I don’t even want his fucking car anymore.”

“Why?” tears had begun to form in her eyes, “because you are already fucking the bimbo that is too stupid to figure out why a handsome rich man would be helping her?”

Mandy gasped, but Elliot put a protective hand on her shoulder. But they could have been statues for all the attention that Nate and Kim were paying them.

“I didn’t fuck you for the shop, Kim!” Nate’s temper flared, and he grasped her hand, so she couldn’t leave. “If I remember correctly it was you the propositioned me!”

Kim looked like she had been hit, her face crumpled but not before she swung her arm out connecting the flat of her palm with Nate’s cheek. It was a resounding crack and her handprint immediately began to appear on his face.

“Don’t help me, don’t speak to me, and don’t come near me!” Kim’s throat was clogged with tears as she uttered her final words, “I am such an idiot. I should have known.”

She raced across the expansive apartment and wrenched open the door. Nate stood there in shock with his hand covering his cheek. It looked like it might bruise by morning.

Mandy went to go after her sister, but Elliot held her back.

“What are you doing?” she pulled at the wrist he had trapped in his large hand.

“Nate needs to follow her, if he has any chance of fixing this, it has to be now.”

Nate jerked his head almost as if clearing it and then raced after Kim.

Mandy jumped with the door slammed shut for the second time.

“Are you alright?” Elliot released her arm and cupped her jaw.

Mandy’s heart was pounding, she had never liked fighting. And when Kim struck Nate it was jarring how much it reminded her of abuse that surrounded their childhood.

Elliot gathered Mandy in his arms. He hated the way that she was shaking uncontrollably. He doubted that she even realized she was doing it. Her fingers dug into his shirt and she clutched him like a lifeline.

“It will be okay,” he murmured, wanting to take away the hurt and pain in her eyes.

Mandy nodded, but she wasn’t sure that it would be. She knew all about this part of life. Hell, in a lot of respects, this was a typical night in their home. She just hadn’t expected her sister to get so enraged.

If that could happen to Kim, could it happen to Mandy?

Were they doomed to become their parents?

She felt the baby kicking her stomach between them. And didn’t protest when Elliot’s concerned gaze followed her hand she had unconsciously placed there.

Elliot gently guided her to his room, bypassing hers. She would be sleeping with him—from now on, if he had anything to say about it.