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For the first time in ten years I reach for Katie’s hand. Her left hand.

The one with the engagement ring on her ring finger.

I’m sure the man she’s falsely promised herself to doesn’t call herKatie. Only I can call her that. If I find out some other man has been calling herKatie,then I’ll have no choice but to cut that asshole’s tongue out of his mouth.

Think I won’t?

Ten years. Prison.

Try me. I dare you.

But, nah, I’m sure this man calls herKate. Just like the rest of the world.

Always Kate.

Sometimes Kathryn.

But forever my Katie.

I touch the diamond ring and my eyes move to look behind my Katie girl.

“He here?” I ask.

“No,” she purrs, shaking her head.

I swear I can smell the warm honey clinging to her panties right now. I know her cunt is sopping wet.

I suppose I can safely assume that someone hasn’t been taking good care of my property while I was away. Someone hasn’t been feasting on her cunt as though it were the last meal of a man about to be executed. Someone hasn’t been thrusting his cock deep and hard inside her, making her scream, making her bite into a pillow for relief.

“Do you love him?” I ask.

I’ve waited way too long for this moment to dance around pleasantries.

Katie nods.

I appreciate her being honest.

It’s okay for her to love this other man. For now. It’s okay for her to play pretend and have moved on. She’s just been killing time. That’s it.

Now I’m here.

Now she’s mine once more.

I keep touching the diamond ring.

Tears begin to fill her eyes.

Her sweet, clear, sky-blue eyes. The exact opposite of my eyes.

I have the kind of eyes you look at and your body instinctively demands you to look away because you somehow know I’m a terrible person.A criminal.

I have to confess that the thought of Katie wearing a ring that didn’t come from me is making me insanely jealous.

A stray tear jumps from her left eye and I lean down to collect it with my lips.

I don’t kiss her cheek. I just brush my lips. Nothing more.

Then I move my mouth to her ear.