‘Damn it.’ He raises his hands. ‘I am so sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.’
Even though I was the one to stop it, I feel hurt by his words.
‘We both got carried away,’ I mumble while he walks out of the room.
‘Goodnight, Thandeka.’ He shuts the door behind him.
CHAPTER 11
GUNDO
That was damn close. That was fucking close.
I call the elevator to take me to the parking lot. It arrives and I get in, but instead of pressing ‘P’ for Parking, I rush back out to the corridor and all the way back to her room.
I knock a few times. No answer.
‘Thandeka, please open for me,’ I whisper, careful not to disturb the other guests. ‘Thandeka?’
I am shattered when she doesn’t open. She must have dozed off. She finished the whole bottle of wine all by herself. No wonder she fell asleep so quickly.
I wanted to apologise again. I shouldn’t have kissed and gone that far while she was tipsy. She was right to stop me. I just hope she doesn’t think I was taking advantage of her.
There’s nothing more I can do now. Let me rather go home. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll have a chance to apologise and explain. I just pray she doesn’t change her mind about our movie date. I want to make it special.
* * *
I wake up to a quiet house. Ciara is at her mother’s this weekend and my housekeeper is hardly here on weekends.
Thandeka has been invading my thoughts since we parted ways last night. My worry is she might think I am a pervert for going so wild on her. I was damn turned on. It hurt so much to walk away just like that.
Breakfast!
Ciara usually demands pancakes on Saturdays. But since she is not here, I make a breakfast shake instead before I call Thandeka. When last did I feel like this? My heart leaps whenever I have to talk to her.
‘Morning,’ she says, her voice so sweet.
‘How did you sleep?’
‘Like a baby.’
‘I figured. I went back to knock on your door but you had already dozed off.’
‘Really?’ she laughs. ‘I heard your knock but thought I was just dreaming.’ What else did she dream about when I left? Did I invade her thoughts like she did mine?
‘Our movie starts at twelve-thirty. Pick you up at eleven o’clock?’
‘You were serious about the movie?’
‘I already booked us seats.’
‘Okay, eleven o’clock it is then.’
I am all smiles when I hang up the phone. This is fucking crazy! Since when do I get this excited over a movie date? How many girls have I taken to the movies over the years? Countless. But for some reason, Thandeka feels like the very first one. I feel like a damn lovesick teenager.
I head to the living room and switch on the television, letting it play softly while I think up ideas to keep Thandeka in Joburg. If she leaves, I am doomed.
She doesn’t want to take her old job back. She doesn’t want to be our au pair. She doesn’t want me to get her a flat. Isn’t it crazy that nothing can keep her here?
An advert flashes on the TV screen. It is about a college in Rosebank. I pick up the remote from the table and rewind.
‘Registrations are still open. Book your space now before it is too late,’ a young lady says on the screen.
Yes! I hope this one works. This might convince her to stay and then there will be a chance for us to give this a try and have a relationship!
It is a few minutes before eleven. I grab my car keys and happily drive to Melrose to pick Thandeka up. I text her to let her know that I am parked just outside the hotel.
The hotel room is booked until tomorrow. And then what? What can be done about her situation? I don’t want her to go back to that flat ever again. The next time she does, it will be to pick up the rest of her stuff.
Men walking around shirtless in boxers only? She can’t go back there.
I watch as Thandeka walks out of the glass doors and looks around for the car. She sees me and rushes over. She is wearing a tight pair of blue jeans and a blouse, with a pair of pink sandals. I am drooling over her.
It hits me. I am in love, definitely!
‘Hi,’ she greets after jumping into the car.
I wish I could drop a kiss on her lips, but I’ll keep my distance for now. Especially after last night! I push the urge away and put my bravest face on.
‘We are about to break your virginity, are you ready?’ I announce.
She stares at me with her eyebrows raised.
‘I mean your cinema virginity? First time ever?’ I swear under my breath. I have succeeded, so many times, in making myself look like a goddamn fool in front of this woman.
‘Ohhh, yes,’ she responds and laughs, making me feel better about myself.
But wait, what did she think at first? Her mind is as wild as mine!
I drive us to the mall in silence. Neither one of us wants to talk about last night. It was steaming hot. I would love to continue where we left off, any day, anytime.
I’m glad that this date is during the day – no alcohol involved. If things get steamy again, I’ll have no worries that it is just the wine doing its thing.
I collect the tickets at the self-service booth and get us snacks before leading the way into the cinema.
‘Here are our seats.’
I got us a love nest so that there is no barrier between us. I want her to lean on my shoulder while she watches the movie. I want her to rest her leg on my thigh if she wants to. I want her to just have fun with me.
I want her.
‘What is the movie we are watching?’
‘The Hate U Give,’ I say and she nods. It is based on a teen novel by some young girl from America. I saw the reviews and liked them. Initially I was looking for a romantic movie, but there seemed to be none showing. This was the next best option. There was no way I was cancelling our date. I also knew not to pick one of my usual movie choices; I don’t think she’d like an action movie with lots of shooting and car chases.
What did I say about the love nest? We are in the middle of the movie and she sometimes rests her head on my shoulder. This is such a sad film. It gets under your skin when this young girl fights for what she believes in. It is youthful, not really my cup of tea, but the point is for Thandeka to enjoy it.
I sneak a peek at her face. Clearly Thandeka is loving the movie.
All I see is Ciara in this young girl’s character, Starr. Ciara is going to be an activist somewhere in life when she grows up. I can just tell by the way she debates and tries to get her point heard. I see myself in Starr’s father. A man that raised his children to believe in their voice. That is just me.
‘This is a beautiful movie,’ she comments, sniffing. She is a crier! I don’t blame her. This movie triggers all emotions. It gives one goosebumps at times.
I am not enjoying the movie as such; I am enjoying watching her and feeling her next to me. By the time the credits roll, she has laughed and cried and laughed and cried again.
A point for me.
‘You are such a crybaby,’ I tease while leading the way to Cape Town