It’s been a week and this thing between me and Andy has escalated quickly. I’ve spent every night with him since last Saturday. In my defence, I went over to see him that Saturday night with the intention of ending things with him.

But somehow, he talked me out of it. Well, okay, we hadn’t done a lot of talking since last Friday night when this whole mess started. All he’s said about the matter is that he is serious about us.

Tumi says he wouldn’t be singing the same tune if I wasn’t sleeping with him. And I seem to have lost all common sense.

But he has said he will be ending things with Zama as soon as she is back, and they can have a face-to-face conversation. I didn’t even have to pressure him into making a choice. He came to the decision all on his own. I know I should be waiting to see what happens once Zama is back, but I trust, and I hope, that he will choose me this time around.

I’ve been trying really hard to be understanding. He is going through a lot, what with his father coming back and wanting to see him, and now having to end a relationship. I don’t want to stress him any further.

But I would be lying if I said I was cool with the fact that we only ever meet at his place after dark. I know he doesn’t want people seeing us and telling Zama before he does, but this is ridiculous. Surely we could go out for a movie, or dinner, without people thinking we are more than just friends?

I’m wanting to believe that things are different now, but there is too much of the past repeating itself for my liking. Maybe I should take the first step towards the change I want to see in our relationship. I should invite him over for dinner tonight and–

“Lihlo? Miss Khoza?”

“Uhm … my apologies! What did you say, James?”

Great. Now I am zoning out during an important pitch for an important client!

“Mr Lewis just wanted to know if the social media marketing would be daily updates, or weekly ones.”

“Oh … yes …the social media posts will be daily. Think of them as teasers sent out every day, leading up to the launch date of the new campaign.”

Mr Lewis, being a man of very few words, simply nods and he and his army of lawyers and business partners prepare to leave. Once everyone has gone, I begin packing up all the documents to clear the boardroom. Just as I get to a blue folder that I don’t recognise, lying on the table, the door opens and one of the men Mr Lewis came with walks in.

“Hi. Miss Khoza, right?” he asks, walking over to me.

“Yes, hi. You can call me Lihlo. How can I help you Mr …?”

“Mda, but please call me Brandon. That was a great pitch. You’re really good at this sort of thing.”

“Oh yeah, marketing is my thing. Thank you.”

Why is he gazing at me for so long? I can’t hold his stare anymore so I look down at the file in my hands. I don’t do well in uncomfortable situations.

“Well, I came back here for that file. Sort of need it for work.”

He walks over and takes the file from my hands. He turns around and walks towards the door, then stops suddenly and turns to face me again.

“Would you like to go out for drinks tonight?”

Oh, wow. Is he asking me out?

I mean, I won’t lie, the brother is beyond good looking. He has a certain charm about him and the muscles pushing against his suit, around his arms and chest, suggest that he has a sexy body under all those clothes. He is very tall and has kind eyes.

All that good stuff and he wants to take me out on a date. A date – not a booty call. I don’t know how to act. I haven’t been asked out on a real date in years. Also, there is the whole Andy thing. I can’t go out with him.

“I couldn’t possibly go out with you. You are technically my firm’s client and I’m working on your campaign.”

“No, technically I’m your client’s lawyer and you’re not working on anything for me.”

“Okay, well I still don’t think it’s a good idea …”

“Look, I like you and I want to get to know you. All I ask is for one drink. If my company is terrible you can just walk out.”

“I don’t know …”

“Come on woman. What do you want me to do? I’ll worship at your feet if that’s what it takes. Just one date, no strings attached. And I guarantee that you’ll have a good time.”

Well, would you look at that: my first sighting of a confident man who wants to take me out? Look at him actually talking me into going out with him.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Okay, that’s not a ‘no’ so I’ll take it. Here’s my card. My personal number is on the back. Call me once you’ve decided.”

I take the card from him and he grabs my hand and pulls it to his lips. Is this man actually kissing my hand? This is like a modern-day fairy tale. Okay, Prince Charming, I see you! He gives me back my hand after making out with it for three seconds, and leaves me grinning from ear to ear. That has to be the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me.

I have to tell Tumi about this. I mean, this can’t be normal. I rush to my office, shut the door, and call her.

“You know some of us do work for a living!? Being an Accountant isn’t child’s play.”

“I am the head of the social media department at my Marketing firm. Stop acting like you’re the only one with an important job.”

We’re both laughing now.

“Yeah, whatever! Did you get my text about dinner tonight?”

“I did and I’ll buy the wine on my way home. That’s not why I called you.”

“Okay … so what’s up?”

She is quiet the entire time I’m telling the story about Brandon. As I am telling the story I can’t help smiling like a fool, all over again. He was really sweet and charming. I’ve never met a man who has done that sort of thing.

“So, are you going to meet him for drinks?” she asks, failing to hide her excitement. “Maybe getting to know him wouldn’t be such a bad idea. But what about Andy?”

“I can’t. And ya, I have plans with Andy tonight. Plus, I don’t know this guy.”

“That’s the whole point of going out on a date: to get to know him. And your plans with Andy are after 11 tonight. Your drinks with Mr Romance will be over by then.”

“I don’t know … I’ve never dated two guys at the same time before.”

“You’re not exactly dating anyone yet. Go on the date first and then you’ll work out the technicalities of it all after.”

“I wish you had more faith in my relationship with Andy.”

“When he is officially dating you, I will.”

“Why do you have to be this person? I just need your support.”

“Lihlo I love you, so please know that this is coming from a good place. You need to see what else is out there, before you chain yourself to Andy’s sinking ship. I get that you love him but maybe this Brandon guy has more to offer.”

“I don’t want more. I’m perfectly fine with what I have with Andy, now that he has committed to me.”

“How can you know that for sure? Until you’ve experienced being with another man, how can you be sure that Andy is the best man for you? Look, all I’m saying is give this new guy a chance. He just might surprise you.”

At the end of my call with Tumi, I feel more uncertain about what I should do. She has made some valid points. However, I’m afraid that dating someone else might be a mistake. It feels like I’m giving up on Andy and I having a future together.

On the other hand, maybe seeing what else is out there might give me a clearer perspective on the situation. There is a tiny voice inside me that keeps saying, ‘Andy won’t leave his girlfriend, and you are wasting your time Lee’.

I pick up Brandon ’s card and turn it over. I see four tiny words he has written down. ‘You SHOULD call me.’ This makes me smile.

Maybe I should call him.

***

Tell us what you think: Is it okay to be dating two people at once, if none of the people involved is engaged?