Page 11 of The Devoted Husband

Do Not Answer: I’m in Cali...Think I’m gonna go to that Mexican spot you love. The one in Old Town that makes the tortillas in front of you.

Do Not Answer: Remember when we did the tequila tour and got fucked up? I think we hit every Mexican spot and tequila bar on that block.

Do Not Answer: I wish you were here with me . . . smiling wide . . . toasting tequila . . . eating good . . . making love on the beach. I love you, Smiley. I’ve always loved you. I hope one day you will let me show you that.

Do Not Answer: I’ll always be your devoted husband. You’ll always be my loyal wife. And my best friend.

Sade: God, I miss you so much it hurts.

Do Not Answer: You don’t have to. Tell me where you are, and I’ll come to you.

Sade: I can’t, babe.

Do Not Answer: Why not?

Sade: You didn’t choose me. You always chose her. Regardless of how toxic our relationship was, that was my sister.

Do Not Answer: Quite frankly...I don’t care about any of that. I want you, and I’m going to have you. We got years of making up to do...but I’ll wait until you’re ready.

Do Not Answer: Meet me where you are.

Sade: Dante . . .

Do Not Answer: Go to a Mexican restaurant and eat at the same time as me. I’d love to see you or hear your voice, but just knowing you’re doing the same thing as me at the same time will be enough.

It took a while, but eventually, Sade agreed.

Now, Atlas was seated in the booth behind her.

She was so frazzled over what she was doing she barely took in her surroundings.

Even if she had, the hat and shades Atlas wore would have made it difficult for her to recognize him.

He’d purposely hung his head and casually made his way into the booth as she ordered what she always did—chicken fajitas.

When the waitress came to take his order, he pointed silently at the first thing on the menu to get her to walk away. He didn’t have an appetite, but Atlas didn’t want to risk being asked to leave if he didn’t order something.

Sade released a shaky breath before sending Dante a Facetime request. As soon as it connected, she began to sob.

“Sade . . .” Dante said. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I can’t say,” she whined. “I messed up badly, Tay. I-I never should’ve ended things the way I did.”

“It’s okay, Smiley. We can fix this.”

She shook her head adamantly. “Not after what I did.”

“Is this about the money? I told you I don’t care about that.”

Sniffling, Sade wiped her face. “No, it’s not the money.”

“Then what is it?”

Atlas waited, hoping she wouldn’t mention the baby. If she didn’t, there was still hope. There was still hope that she would choose him over Dante.

“Can we just...eat and act like what happened didn’t happen? I really just need a moment with my best friend.”

Dante didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, it was with, “Whatever you need.”

Atlas sat there for an hour and forty-five minutes, listening to them laugh and reminisce. Though they didn’t talk about their love for each other or a future, Atlas realized at that moment their bond was deeper than Sade had been alluding to lately.

Did she not love him because she loved Dante?

Had she been playing him all along?

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’t have to 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’s exactly why 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’s why 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?”

“I knew we wouldn’t be able to remain in our own little bubble on the island forever.

I felt like your family would be an issue, and they were.

On top of that, you’re way too possessive.

The fighting over me and putting your hands on me.

..red flags. I think ending it before you fall harder is best, and I get more attached. ”

Tugging his ear, Atlas pulled in a deep breath. “I want to be here for you and my baby.”

“It’s...” She chuckled and licked the corner of her mouth. “It’s not your baby, Atlas. It’s Dante’s.”

“No, it’s not. You said you never wanted him to know.”

“That’s true, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stay with you.” Standing, she headed toward the door and opened it. “Can you please leave?”

Standing, Atlas looked around the room before heading in her direction.

“I went against my family to be with you. You’re out your damn mind if you think I’m going to let you end things so easily.

” When she didn’t respond, Atlas wrapped his hand around her neck and used it to pull her closer. “I don’t think you really want me to.”

“Atlas,” she whimpered against his lips before he kissed her. “I can’t do another toxic relationship again.”

Light laughter escaped Atlas as she clung to the hem of his shirt.

“Nah, that’s exactly what you want.” He lifted her into the air and wrapped her legs around him.

“You want me crazy about you.” He kissed her.

“You want me to not let up off you.” He kissed her again.

That time, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“You want me to work for you because that nigga never did.” He kissed her a third time. And that time, she kissed him back.

Kicking the door closed, Atlas carried her over to the bed.

“This doesn’t change anything,” she assured him.

“Yeah, okay,” he agreed, though he didn’t believe her. And by the time Atlas finished reclaiming her body, he was sure Sade would change her mind.