HAZE

CHAPTER 8

BETRAYAL

"Good evening, fellow mastermind," Nana proclaimed as soon as she was able o get Griff on the phone.

"Good evening, partner." Griff retorted in the same quirky tone.

"What are you doing today?"

Since all of their friends had gone to one place or the other, it left the two of them to either spend time alone or together. They both subconsciously agreed that the latter was the way to go. Be it virtually or physically.

"I'm assuming you have something in mind; that's why you're on my line."

Griff had timed how long it would take her before she sought him out. The Rolex on his wrist read 5 pm, and he was glad that he had estimated her just right.

"Good, I am in your living room."

"What!"

Before Griff could say anything more, she hung up. He came out with the phone still in his hand, no doubt uselessly forgotten as he spotted her. Griff was in his sweats, and to say that he looked unkempt would be lying. Somehow he always managed to look decent despite what he wore. And Nana sneered mentally at that particular truth.

Apparently, it was a thing with the men she knew, Rick, Ken, Norbert, and now Griff.

"How did you get in?" The demand in his voice was unmistakable, but it was the scowl on his face that made her burst out in giggles. "Relax Romeo. I took a page out of your book." She said as she flaunted the key that looked remarkably like his.

To say he was torn between being pissed and impressed was an understatement.

Nana explained to him that her mother had flown to Petrichor and she would have one hour between her flights and had decided to have dinner with her. And since they had a non-existent relationship, she wanted Griff to go with her.

The foremost thought that usually came to her mind was that the connection between them had been severed as soon as the umbilical cord tying them together was. They would sit at dinner for an hour and have nothing at all to talk about. At times she felt guilty about how things were. Growing up without her mother's love created a love-hate disconnect inside her. To some degree, she tried to understand, but some other part latched on to resentment. It was hard to balance the two parts, and therefore she figured that a third party would balance the odds.

Griff understood her; it was sad that he did. The push and pull relationship with both of his parents weren't anything as critical as Nana's. At least he could claim to have a semblance of a relationship with them. With his mind made up, he turned around and went back into his bedroom. Nana took that as a yes and sat cross-legged on his red velvet conch.

In no time, he was suited up and ready to go. The perfume he'd spritzed on himself was just as appealing as his attire. He wore a fitting blue three-piece suit that matched Nana's body-hugging blue off-shoulder dress, and his golden watch perfectly complimented her jewelry and six-inch heeled shoes. When he walked out of the room, Nana stared at him, speechless for a minute.

"Nana!" He called out her name, bringing her back to reality.

"Dude, you look stunning. If I knew that all I had to do to get you in a suit is sob at your feet about my pitiful relationship with my mum, I would have done it a long time." Nana said while straightening up his collar. In truth, he did look good, but underneath the humor, she was grateful for his help in her voice.

It being a Friday, there was a lot of traffic. To say that it was irritating Nana wasn't enough of an accurate assumption. The longer it took for the roads to open up, the more it grated on her nerves. She wanted to get it over and done with and back home so she could drown her contempt in wine. Even the distracting stories that Griff told her didn't calm her down. Just then, her phone chimed, and she answered it.