Page 10 of The Devoted Husband

“As far as the world knows, that baby will be mine. I don’t need you telling anyone otherwise.”

“I don’t trust this, Atlas. I think you should let her be with Dante. Whatever the two of you had before that plan was made, that’s over. She can tell you she wants to be with you, but seeing as she was having sex with him and is pregnant with his child...That’s a lie.”

“Ma, please. Of course, they had sex. She had to make him believe they were married.”

Vanessa’s tongue rolled over her cheek. “And that’sallyou think it was? Herpretending?”

“That’s what I know it was. She doesn’t love or want to be with him. She wants to be with me.”

Their eyes remained locked for a while before Vanessa lifted her hands in surrender. “Whatever you say.”

Atlas hugged his mother and kissed the top of her head before going outside. As normal as he tried to act with his family,Vanessa’s words had him paranoid. It didn’t help that Sade had been thinking about Dante and texted him. Was he a fool to believe they could have a healthy relationship? Would the day come when Dante and Sade decide to be together? Seeing as Atlas had gone against his cousin to be with her and tolerated his family’s disappointment, there was no way in hell he’d let her leave him to be with another man—especiallyDante.

Sade

The Christmas Atlas Made Sade Smile

Soft sniffles escaped Sade as she stared into her mug filled with coffee and whiskey. Imani had played her—yet again. Her sister asked her to go on a girls’ trip a few days before Christmas. While Sade was hopeful it would allow them to strengthen their unraveled bond, Imani had other things in mind. As always, Imani said what she needed to get what she wanted, and that was an excuse to leave Memphis without her husband asking her any questions.

Regardless of how toxic Sade and Imani’s relationship was, everyone knew the sisters would protect and look out for each other when needed.

But their girls’ trip wasn’t a girls’ trip at all. It was a ploy to get them in a cabin in Gatlinburg, where Atlas and Adam were waiting for them. Not only did it frustrate Sade to be played, but it also hurt her feelings. Every time she got her hopes up that things could turn around between her and her sister, Imani reminded her why that would never be possible.

Chuckling, Sade shook her head and wiped her face. “Why do I even bother?” she grumbled as she returned to the cabin. Thankfully, Imani and Adam had gone into town, so it was just her and Atlas.

Atlas was cool, a bit intense, but cool, nonetheless. And he was abnormally handsome. The kind of handsome that made Sade believe he’d never been single or faithful a day in his adult life. So far, she’d been avoiding him. Her vulnerable state caused her to head in his direction. He was on the couchwatching one of the old westerns her grandfather loved to watch.

He looked over at her briefly but did a double take. Had he noticed she was crying? His brows wrinkled, and his mouth parted slightly as he peered at her face. Atlas always had a deep way of looking at her—as if he could see through her with his syrup-brown eyes.

“You were crying.”

Her eyes watered again, but she wouldn’t shed another tear over her sister. “I’m fine.”

“Is it about your sister? I didn’t think you’d be cool with coming here with us, so I was surprised when Adam told me you agreed.”

Chuckling, Sade sat back in her seat. “Imani told me we were having a ‘girls’ trip,’ and it would be just the two of us. Had I known y’all would be here, I would have said no.”

“Damn,” Atlas mumbled after a quick bark of laughter.

“Oh no. I’m sorry.” Sade sat up, gripping his arm. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just...You know how I feel about what she’s doing with your cousin. Being here makes me feel like I’m a part of it, and I don’t want to be.”

“So, it’s them that has you not wanting to be here...not me?”

“Yeah. You’re cool. I don’t really know you well enough to decide I don’t like you.”

His lips spread into a smile. “I want to make you like me, Sade.”

She mirrored his smile. “Why?”

“Have you seen you? You’re beautiful. Plus, you have character and morals. You seem sweet and softhearted. Caring. I think you might be a good person, so I want to get to know you.”

“Thank you. You seem like you might be pretty okay too. I guess we can be friends.”

“I’ll settle for that for now, but I’m trying to be more.”

Blushing, Sade looked away from his gaze. It had been a while since a man’s charm or flirting unnerved her. With all the men she dated, none of them made her feel the way Dante used to. Even without them becoming a couple, he was a hard act to follow. With Dante, Sade had always felt seen, heard, safe, and cherished. If he made her feel that way as friends, she couldn’t imagine how he would have made her feel as her man.

“Look at you,” Atlas mumbled, turning her face back to his with her chin. His stare was intense. He wanted to watch the effects of his words. Sade wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Open, exposed, yes...turned on? Maybe a little.

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