SATED: #3 in the Fit Trilogy by Rebekah Weatherspoon

she turned her attention back to Grant.
    “Yeah. I uh, I asked him if he wanted to go steady. You know, be exclusive ’cause I’m in high school and I need to define my commitment.”
    Grant shrugged that last bit off. “Nah. Violet asked me to be her boyfriend. Shit, it was good for me. I think it’s fine to define a relationship when it gets to that point. And you guys have been hanging for what? Like a month?”
    Thirty-three and a half days. “Yeah, something like that.”
    “Well, there you go. I’m happy for you guys.”
    “Thank you,” Keira said and she meant it, but she was slightly distracted by the fact that Armando’s eye looked like it was about to start twitching at any moment. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah. Yeah. I’m happy for you guys. I’ll be right back.” He turned on his sneakers and walked right out of the office.
    “What is going on with him?” Keira asked.
    Grant shrugged. “Who knows? So, I guess you’ll be coming to the Christmas party at Master Phillip’s.”
    “Oh, I don’t know. Daniel hasn’t mentioned it yet.”
    “I’m sure he will. It’s this weekend. Violet had to keep reminding me.”
    “Oh. I’ll be back.” She didn’t mean to be so dismissive, especially since Grant was being supportive, but she had to know what Armando’s deal was.
    Keira wandered back out to the gym and saw Armando through the frosted front doors, talking on his phone. She marched outside, catching him off guard.
    “She is my business, man! She’s my friend! I—” He cut himself off when he realized he wasn’t alone.
    “Are you talking to Daniel?”
    Armando’s face fell. “Ah—”
    Keira held out her hand. “Let me talk to him.”
    “Uh…here.”
    Keira took the phone, but kept her eyes firmly on Armando. What the heck was going on? “Hey, it’s me.”
    “Hey.” Daniel did not sound happy.
    “Is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, Armando’s just worried about you. He doesn’t trust me.”
    “Is there a reason he shouldn’t?” Keira asked around the sudden sour taste in her mouth.
    “No, not at all. He’s just paranoid because I’m a pervert and he thinks I’ll corrupt you, but I think we both know it’s a little late for that.”
    “Yeah, I think so,” Keira replied. Her smile was back. “Oh, Grant said something about a Christmas party this weekend? Do I need a dress?”
    “Uh, yeah. I completely forgot about that.” Daniel was quiet for a second before he went on. “It’s at the club, as in the bondage club. Are you sure you want to go?”
    “Do I have to bondage with strangers?”
    Daniel’s laugh made it easier for her to ignore Armando while he stood there watching her. “No, you don’t, babe. Unless you want to.”
    “I think I’m good. I have a client soon. Do you want to talk to Armando again?”
    “No, I don’t. I’ll text you later, aight?”
    “’Kay.” Keira said her goodbyes then hit END on the screen. Then she turned on Armando. “What gives?”
    “I’ve just never known Daniel to have a girlfriend. I don’t want you to be the guinea pig, if it ends badly.”
    “That kinda sucks, Mando. I mean, that’s a crappy thing to say,” Keira said, despite the sudden tightness in her throat. “He’s been great to me and I really like him. And you introduced us. I know you didn’t think we would hook up, but isn’t it better that we found each other?”
    “I—No, you’re right.”
    “You can have two single, unhappy friends, or two friends that are happy together.”
    “You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry.” Armando let out an uneasy laugh and then pulled Keira into his arms, a familiar hug they’d shared dozens of times. “You know how protective I am of my sisters.”
    “Well, I’m not one of your sisters and you’re not the boss of me. Well actually you are, but you get what I mean.” Keira stepped back and handed Armando his phone. He seemed to relax.
    “You sound like Daniel. He basically said the same