I tried to overcome it lots of times, but I couldn’t. So of course he thinks I have deep-seated psycho-sexual issues, and I suppose I do where he’s concerned. I’ve always felt badly about it, but…what can I do? I simply never found him physically appealing. He’s touched me, but only a few times below the waist. And whenever he did that, or tried to, I got upset and broke up with him. Then, because of you, I came back. In the interest of full disclosure, I should add I used my hand to make him excited numerous times over the past year, to keep the peace. Do you understand what I mean by that?”

I nodded.

She said, “We weren’t really engaged. I agreed to let him tell people that—especially you, Alison and Jessie—so you wouldn’t keep pressuring him. You probably know Michael has a temper. He’s never hit me or anything, but he’s verbally abusive. You don’t have to agree, or comment, that’s just my opinion. And even though I never cheated on him, he always accused me of it. I think that’s mostly my fault, since I wouldn’t let him touch me. Is there anything you’d like to ask me about Michael or our relationship?”

I thought about everything she said before answering “No.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am. You covered it very well.”

“Do you think you can forgive me for the way I treated him?”

“There’s no need. You tried to make it work and Michael accepted the relationship you were able to give him, just as I will.”

“Can you keep from thinking about him and me when you and I are together?”

“Like you said, Nicki: what happens here is totally apart from what happens elsewhere.”

She smiled. “Thank you, David. I was certain you’d understand. There’s just one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

13.

“IN A MOMENT of weakness, I let Michael talk me into taking nude pictures of me. They’re on his phone. The reason I’m bringing this up is, Michael has a temper, and sometimes he’s verbally abusive. He said if I don’t come back to him he’s going to put my photos on a revenge site.”

“What’s that?”

“Do you ever watch porn?”

“No.”

“Well, there are porn sites where guys punish their ex-wives or girlfriends by posting their nude photos. Then the porn sites sell them to other porn sites and within days the photos are all over the world and there’s nothing the women can do about it.”

“That’s horrible. I’m sure Michael didn’t mean it.”

“Maybe not, but I can’t take that chance.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“If you can get your hands on his phone you could erase them.”

I frowned. “I’m not very skilled with cell phones.”

“I can show you how. It’s super easy.”

“You want to show me now?”

“No. Because in order to delete the photos, you’ll have to see them. And I’m not quite ready for that.”

I nodded. “Well, whenever you’re ready, show me what to do and I’ll make it happen.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I ask you a question, Nicki? You said you’ll always have a plan for what we’re going to do each time we get together.