[He'll just keep petting him like this, like it's casual, though he does have to pause every now and again to cough to the side.]

...To be honest, while I wouldn't have been surprised to hear that you were dating others, I never got the impression that there was anything serious. You have no ring, you live on your own, and the only person you've mentioned is your old "master." It could be that things didn't end up very well. I'm sorry.