Page 6 of The Devoted Husband

“H-hey!” Imani slurred, trying unsuccessfully to claw herself out of Sade’s grip. “W-what are you...” She hiccupped, then giggled. “What’re you doing?”

“No, what areyoudoing?” Sade asked, shoving Imani into a seat at the kitchen table. “Why are you sitting on that man’s lap,giggling in his face and letting him touch on you like you’re not a married woman?”

Scoffing, Imani gave her big sister a dismissive wave of her hand. “Who are you to question me?”

“Your sister and your husband’s best friend.”

Sucking her teeth, Imani crossed her arms over her chest and tried to look at Sade with a serious expression, but it turned into another fit of giggles. “B-baby, that man in there has touched me with my clothes on a-and off. This ain’t nothin’ new.”

Sade remained silent, giving herself time to process what her sister had said.

“You’ve had sex with him?”

Imani’s eyes rolled. “Duh. He’s the twins’ father.” Standing, she wobbled and gripped the table for support. “Now leave,” she slurred, pointing her finger in Sade’s face. “I want him to fuck me and make up for all the lost time he’s been in prison. You can stay if you want to hear.”

“Are you crazy?” Sade almost whispered, turning as Imani headed out of the kitchen. “I’m not leaving you here with him. We haven’t seen this man since college. How do I know you’re safe with him?”

“God, you’re s-slow.” Imani gripped Sade’s forearms. She blinked rapidly and pulled in a deep breath before adding, “I’ve been seeing Adam the whole time he was locked up. Trust me, there’s nowhere safer for me to be than with h-him. Now, get out unless you want to hear your little sister get her back blown out.”

For a while, Sade just stood there. The sound of Imani’s cackling grew quieter and quieter as she retreated. Her first thought was to call Dante and tell him about his wife. Her second thought was to hold on to that information. Because of their past, people always swore the sisters were lying just toone-up the other. She would have to literally record Imani and Adam if she wanted Dante to believe her. After tucking the truth about Nila and Mila not being Dante’s children into the back of her mind, Sade decided she’d force her sister tell him the truth. Finally, she had a way for Dante to be free of the woman who had never truly appreciated him.

As she went outside, Sade’s heart began to feel like a brick. Yes, Dante was her best friend, but he was also the best friend who chose Imani over her. Was Imani cheating his Karma? Did he deserve to have Sade come to his aid? Sade was so conflicted internally that she didn’t pay attention to where she was walking.

Her knee went into Atlas’s back as he sat on the porch, and she almost toppled over. Had he not caught her and effortlessly sat her on his lap, Sade didn’t want to think about the damage that would have been done. As Atlas’s arms wrapped around her, he surveyed her face.

“Why you runnin’ outta there like that?” he asked with a teasing smile.

“Sorry..... Apparently, they’re about to have sex, and I didnotwant to hear that.”

Atlas’s head bobbed. “I’m surprised they waited as long as they did.”

“So you knew about them?”

“Of course. Me and Adam are like brothers. We tell each other everything.”

Sighing, Sade confessed, “I wish me and my sister were that close. I also wish she wasn’t a cheater.”

“What that got to do with you?”

“Cheating is wrong. Plus, Dante is my best friend. I can’t know something like this and not tell him.”

Atlas shook his head. “Nah, I don’t think you should tell him.”

“Why not?”

“From what my cousin has told me, you and Imani have always had beef, right? And Dante was at the center of it most times.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Who’s to say he will believe you? I think he’ll believe her, and that will make things worse between y’all.”

“I thought about that, but if the twins aren’t his, all it would take is a DNA test to prove it. Then he’ll know I’m telling the truth.”

“Yeah, but at what cost? Ruining his happy family? Taking away the kids he married her to be there for?”

Sade nibbled her cheek and thought over what Atlas said. “I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

Sighing, Atlas ran a hand over his face. “I can promise you that their marriage is over now that Adam is out. Let him find out the truth on his own. You stay out of it and just be ready to help him pick up the pieces.”

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