Page 15 of The Devoted Husband

What was her motive?

Her intentions?

Atlas didn’t know, but as he tossed two twenties on the table to cover his untouched food, he decided to find out just that.

Sade’s body tensed at the sight of Atlas leaning against the wall next to the door of the suite they once shared. Her eyes shifted as she took small steps in his direction.

“Did you leave something here?” she asked.

“Yeah, you.”

She shook her head as she released a tired sigh. “Atlas, please. I’ve had a draining day.”

“You wanna talk about it?”

“No, I don’t.”

She unlocked the door, and before he could follow her inside, Sade planted herself in the door frame and held the door to her body.

“Can we please talk, Sade?”

Atlas’s foot tapped the floor. If she gave in to Dante and didn’t give him the same grace...he’d flip.

“Fine,” she agreed, immediately dousing the fire that had started to build within him.

He followed her into the suite, eyes fluttering as he inhaled the scent of her perfume. It was fruity and floral. Her hair was in its signature ’70s-style curls. That beautiful brown skin was covered in a kaftan with different shades of red. Red always looked good on Sade.

Kicking off her sandals, Sade sat in the chair closest to the window. Atlas sat in the one on the opposite side of the light-colored round table.

“I miss you” were the first words out of his mouth.

“I miss you too, but I still think it’s best if we stay apart.”

“Can you explain why?”

“I did at the restaurant.”

“You act like I can’t have a healthy relationship with you and protect you from my family.”

Scoffing, Sade sat up in her seat. “You shouldn’thaveto protect me from your family, Atlas. There’s no coming down from what happened a week ago. It will only get worse. They’re going to come for me every time they see me, and I swear to God, I will kill them before I let them hurt my baby.”

“Pipe down with the threats, a’ight? That’s my mama and aunt you’re talking about.”

“Exactly. That’sexactlywhy this won’t work. You’ll never choose me. Not over them.”

“I don’t know why you keep saying that when I did choose you, Day. My cousin is dead because I chose you.”

“Your cousin is dead because he tried to rape me!” she yelled, slamming her fist down on the table.

“Nah.” Atlas sat up in his seat. “If I would have just stuck to his plan and not included you, he’d still be alive. Ya boy would be dead or in prison, and you wouldn’t be pregnant with his baby. But that’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

“I think you should go,” she blurted.

“You never wanted me. You lied to me. All this time, you’ve been stringing me along.That’swhy you never told me you loved me.”

“That’s not true.” Her eyes blinked back tears. “I did want to be with you, Atlas. I saw myself falling in love with you eventually. But...I was...hesitant.”

“Why?”

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