Chapter 9 - Chapter 8

"I'll be back in about an hour," I tell Katlego, uPhuthu's manager, adjusting my earbuds and scrolling through the messages on my phone. Two WhatsApps from Vuyi, both still sitting there unanswered.

"Sharp," he says from the other end of the line. "Yoh, it's mad in here tonight, especially for a Wednesday, but we've got it."

"Thanks, man." I take a seat in the empty classroom, studying the clean whiteboard and the motivational posters on the walls. The day's heat is still sitting in the room, and through the window the pavement outside has gone purple with fallen jacaranda. "This parent-teacher meeting shouldn't take long. I'll be in as soon as it's done."

Disconnecting the call, I hear the clack of approaching footsteps and turn to find Naledi standing in the doorway. She offers a tentative smile and comes into the classroom. We haven't seen much of each other since Saturday's Movies in the Park.

"Hey," she says, taking the desk beside mine.

I remove my earbuds, stealing a glance at my ex-wife. The petal-pink short-sleeved knit hugs her breasts in a way that, in my objective opinion, is indecent. Naledi's never been a skinny woman, and with each pregnancy, her shape only got fuller, lusher.

Bigger breasts. More ass. Thicker thighs.

But she always manages to keep it tight, toned. Just more of everything.

And I've always been the beneficiary, but now I watch other men follow her with their eyes, knowing if she gave even a sign that she's interested, they'd be after her. Until now, she's never given any signs. At least as far as I know. How will I feel when she does?