‘Is Three Relationships Too Many?'

With his girlfriend out of town, Jack’s* wife suggests he finds a third partner

My wife, Lucy,* has suggested I get another girlfriend. This is something of a surprise since we are still happily married… and I already have a girlfriend. Welcome to the unconventional world of polyamory.

Lucy is trying to address an imbalance in our set-up. She sees her boyfriend, Max,* twice a week. He lives nearby, works from home and, though non-monogamous, currently doesn’t have another relationship. Meanwhile, my girlfriend, Nell,* lives an hour away, is often away on business, and has her own primary partner. All this means I can’t see her for another two weeks.