Since starting with Katie things have been so much better. I had a rough go there for a while but now my mother says that I’m just glowing with confidence. She says, “I can’t wait to meet the woman behind such a positive change.” I really do want to introduce her to Katie, but first she must promise to be kinder this time because we don’t want a repeat of the 2009 Jackie situation. No one wants that.

Since being with Katie the office guys think I’m the shit. Now they invite me for drinks and say things like, “You better also bring that hot ass girlfriend of yours,” and “Bro, when you’re done with her, can I have a go?” They slap their thighs and knees and laugh out loud after they say it, all teeth, like hyenas. But the jokes on them because they can’t have Katie cause Katie is mine and I already regret showing them the few cherished pictures I have of her. She didn’t want me to share them in the first place. But I guess what Katie doesn’t know can’t hurt her. The office guys can be so damn convincing.

Katie thinks I need to be my best self, that’s what she’s about. She wants me to practice better routines, to have better strength throughout my day-to-day activities, if I’m to reach my new goals. These are keys to success Katie says. That is how I’ll find my center Katie says. That is how I’ll reclaim the power I lost. People don’t understand. I wasn’t so good-looking or smart. But she saw the potential in me, like no one else did, and that’s why I’m hers for now. I’d like to think maybe even forever. I love her for seeing in me what I couldn’t.

Katie even got me doing one of those cleanses. We did it together. It was tough as hell, but as always, Katie was there for me. Reminding me of the bigger picture. Of the delayed gratification. That the reward is sweeter when you wait for it.

I love to come home to Katie. I think about her the whole way. She’s usually waiting, ready to be turned on and so eager to play. Katie knows how much power she has over me because she knows how much I love to watch.

Sometimes I can’t even stand to look at the people around Katie. They can’t have what we have. It is special and sacred. The way Katie looks at me in the aftermath, when we’re both sweaty and spent—no one can truly understand that. No one else has that.

I get as close to Katie as I can so that our eyes are locking. Hers are an ocean green. I want to thank Katie for everything that she’s done for me. For making me a better coworker, a better man, and a better son.

I whisper, “Thank you Katie.” And she responds in that beautiful way she always does.

“Great job today guys! Way to show up and sweat it out! Don’t forget to ‘like’ and hit subscribe!”

I close my eyes, pucker my lips and lean in. The way Katie likes it. I wait for her there to meet me halfway.