Page 82 of The Devoted Husband

“I can fix you something,” Ava offered with hopeful eyes.

“Thanks, but I kind of had my mouth fixed for Korean barbecue.”

“Oh. Okay. Well . . . Maybe another time.”

Sade’s mouth twisted to the side as she considered her grandmother’s words. “Maybe...next week?”

Ava’s eyes widened as she grinned. “Next week would be perfect.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll see you then.”

“Okay.”

They said their goodbyes, and as Dante opened the car door for Sade, he told her, “I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away.”

Atlas

Back on the Island

Atlas watched Sade as she sliced a yellow and red watermelon. She hummed and floated around the kitchen in a flowy, oversized dress. With bare feet, she was the epitome of perfection. The epitome of beauty. The epitome of femininity.

He shook his head as he thought about how Imani and her minions spent years trying to break Sade down and crush her confidence, how she felt unworthy because she wanted the man who chose her sister. They were all damn fools. Any man who had Sade would be one of the lucky ones. And at that moment, Atlas was glad it was him.

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her until her giggles made it hard for him to do so.

“What has gotten into you?” Her cheery voice and bright eyes made his heart skip a beat.

“You’re beautiful. You know that?”

Biting down on her bottom lip, Sade nodded.

“Yes, but it’s always nice to hear you say it.”

“You know I’d do anything for you, right? If anyone hurts you...I’ll make sure they never have the chance to again.”

Pressing her palms into his chest, Sade stared into his eyes. She looked deeply, like she was searching for something. Since he was telling the truth, Atlas hoped she would find it.

“Are you okay, baby?”

“I am. I just want to make sure you understand that.”

“Where is this coming from?” she asked sweetly, caressing his chest.

“I wish I would have been around when you were in school. I would have protected you.”

Her brows lifted, and her mouth opened slightly as realization filled her. Her chuckle was soft as she nodded.

“Oh . . . I see. You’re thinking about Imani and Dante?”

Atlas nodded. “He said he was your best friend, but he wasn’t. If he was, he wouldn’t have let them do that to you. He didn’t deserve you, and he doesn’t deserve this baby.”

“We were kids,” Sade reasoned, wrapping her hands around his wrists. “Do I wish things would have been different? Yes. But I can’t dwell on that now. My life is better with you in it. That’s all I care about.”

Atlas lowered himself to his knees and hugged her waist. He rested his head on her stomach and said, “Thank you for this gift. You and the baby...You give me hope. You keep me grounded. Steady. You’re my anchor. I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose you.”

Sade ran her hand down the back of his head, then used his chin to lift his head. “It’s a good thing you don’t have to worry about that.”

Sade

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