Perfect Timing

by Brenda Jackson

  Maxi nodded. “I know what you mean. I would cringe each time I got what I considered as one of your courtesy Christmas cards, one of your rare phone calls or whenever you would come back home for visits. Everything seemed so phony between us, so contrite, and you and I had never been anything but honest and genuine to each other. That’s why I stopped calling or writing.”

  Mya reached across the table and captured Maxi’s hand in hers. “I never meant to hurt you, Maxi, or to let you down. I had always wanted to be nothing more than your best friend for always.” She inhaled a deep, long breath. “I know that rebuilding a torn friendship isn’t easy. But I feel we’ll be doing a disservice to each other if we don’t try. We’ve always been there for each other, Maxi. I know there’s no way we can go back and recapture all that’s lost, but I believe what happens between us now is what’s important.”

  Maxi nodded through her tears. She looked at Mya, seeing the same tears glaze her eyes. She reminded her so much of how she looked in the schoolyard that day so long ago. “Thanks for telling me everything. It explained a lot,” she asked quietly.

  Mya wiped away a tear and smiled. “Like I said, Maxi. It was hard keeping things from you but I had to.”

  Maxi reached across and captured her other hand in Mya’s. She smiled. “Yes, you did and I understand now.” She stood. “Come on, let’s go to our class reunion welcome reception and see our other friends.”

  Moments later the two women walked off with their arms around each other.

  Garrett nodded in visible satisfaction when he saw Maxi and Mya. He walked over to meet them knowing all was well between them. “I thought I’d be the lucky guy who would escort two beautiful ladies inside the reception,” he said smiling.

  “That’s not necessary, Rivers, I’m Maxi’s escort tonight.”

  The three individuals turned at the sound of the deep, masculine voice.

  “Christopher!” Maxi’s face broke into a smile when she saw him. “You decided to come after all,” she said, her smile widening when he walked up to them. He was dressed in a pair of tan linen slacks and a band-collar blue linen shirt.

  “Yes, I decided to come.”

  Maxi turned to Garrett and Mya who were watching her and Christopher with keen interest. “You remember Christopher, don’t you?”

  Garrett nodded. He smiled as he extended his hand out to Christopher. “Good seeing you again, Chandler.”

  Christopher shook Garrett’s hand. “Likewise, Rivers.” Garrett had been one of the few guys that he’d gotten along with in school. During that time, the man had been too caught up in sports and Mya Ross to have time for much of anything else.

  “Mya, how are you?” Christopher asked the woman at Garrett’s side.

  “I’m doing fine, Christopher.” She looked from Maxi back to Christopher. There was a curious expression on her face. “The two of you have kept in touch over the years?”

  Maxi chuckled. She knew Mya well enough to know exactly what she was thinking. “No. We hadn’t seen each other since high school. There was a mix-up with the ship’s computer and because we have the same last name, Christopher and I were given the same cabin, so we’re cabinmates. Isn’t that something?”

  Mya smiled, remembering the conversation she’d had earlier with Garrett concerning Maxi and Christopher. “Yeah, that’s really something.”

  Garrett shook his head grinning. “I see nothing’s changed where’s Maxi is concerned. You still manage to protect what you consider as yours, Chandler.”

  Christopher looked at Maxi and saw the look of surprise in her eyes at what Garrett said. He held her gaze and took her hand in his. “You’re right, Rivers. Nothing has changed.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Maxi had learned over the years not to put much stock in some things, but she couldn’t help her increased heart rate at the husky tone that had entered Christopher’s voice when he’d spoken, the warm smile that played on his lips, and the feel of his hard, warm fingers tightening around hers.

  She took a glance at him, then at Garrett and Mya. It seemed they were all privy to some kind of information that she should know. Why was Garrett making such a claim about Christopher having always protected her and considered her as his? And why was Christopher going along with such a claim when he’d barely noticed she was alive in school? At least not until that time they had worked together on the science project.

  “It’s about time you showed up, Maxi.”

  The four of them turned to the tall, muscular man walking toward them as he gulped down a big sip of whatever was in the glass he was holding in his hand. By most women’s standards Ronald Swindel was good looking, but what cut him short was his “better than you” attitude about some people.

  “I’ve been looking for you ever since this ship left dock. I hadn’t seen you around and was beginning to worry,” he said coming up to Maxi, showing his lack of manners by not acknowledging the others.

  “Ronald, there was no need for you to worry about me. Like everyone else I was getting settled in my cabin,” Maxi said, inhaling a deep, calming breath. Her tolerance for his impoliteness was at an all-time low. “I’m sure you know everyone.”

  It was only then that he seemed to have noticed the others. Especially the man standing close to her and who was holding her hand. It was obvious to everyone when recognition hit. Anger needled a thread of contempt through him when he recognized his old nemesis.

  “Christopher Chandler! What the hell are you doing here? You’re not welcome to be a part of this class reunion. And I see that you still forget your place in life.”

  “And I suppose you intend to remind me,” Christopher said, his narrowed gaze soldering on a smooth smile.

  Maxi’s stomach clenched. Ronald was goading Christopher and she could feel something lethal radiating from within him. She moved closer to Christopher. “Ronald, Christopher is a member of our class and has every right to be here,” she said angrily. “And I intend to make sure he has a good time.”

  Maxi knew the exact moment Christopher’s gaze left Ronald to light on her…and linger. But she didn’t dare look at him now.

  “And so are we,” Garrett piped in with annoyance in his voice as he backed up what Maxi had said. “I’d think after ten years your thinking on a lot of things would have changed, Swindel. After all, you are a police officer. With that position comes a bit of fairness and open-mindedness. Not to mention the fact that none of us were born with silver spoons in our mouths.”

  “So none of us have the right to think we’re better than anyone else,” Mya finished for her husband.

  Ronald downed another gulp of his drink. It was obvious he hadn’t liked being chastised by Maxi, Garrett, and Mya. Especially in front of Christopher. “We need to talk, Maxi. Privately,” he said in a huff.

  Maxi nodded slowly. “Yes, we do.” It was time they talked. She was sick and tired of him acting like there was something between them other than friendship. “All right.” She turned to the others. “Please excuse us for a moment.”

  Maxi took a deep breath as she watched Ronald pace back and forth in front of her for a full minute. He finally stopped his pacing. He looked at her quietly for a moment. She could tell he was still angry. Evidently the pacing hadn’t helped.

  “You, Garrett, and Mya had no right putting me down in front of Chandler. I can’t believe you would associate yourself with him. Have you forgotten how much trouble he got into when we were in school? All those fights, suspensions, not to mention his bad-behind attitude.”

  “Ronald, that was over ten years ago. And have you ever stopped to think that maybe Christopher had a reason for acting the way he did. You and your friends were never nice to him.”

  “There was never a reason to be nice to him. He didn’t fit. Hell, Maxi, he lived in the Vines,” he said, speaking of the low-income housing project. “And everyone knew only cutthroats and hoodlums came from the Vines. It wouldn’t surprise me if he hasn’t spent the l
ast ten years behind bars.”

  “Look, Ronald. Unlike you, I never thought I was better than the people who lived in the Vines. I got along with Christopher just fine, and have no qualms about spending time with him now.”

  Irritation flooded Ronald’s features. “Don’t you see what he’s doing? He’s only showing interest in you to aggravate me. Somebody must have told him about us and—”

  “There isn’t an us, Ronald. Why can’t you accept that you and I are friends and nothing more? I’ve told you that countless times.”

  “I understand you’re not over your fiancé yet, but—”

  “Don’t bring Jason into this. Accept the fact that I’m not interested in you other than as a friend.”

  “But you’re interested in Chandler as more than a friend, is that it?” Ronald asked angrily.

  Maxi sighed. “Christopher and I are just friends, too.”

  “He wants more. He’s been hot to get inside your pants for years.”

  “That’s not true!”

  “Yes, it is. I’ve always known it and he broke my arm one time to prove it.”

  Maxi lifted a brow, remembering that day. “The two of you had been fighting over Lorraine Brown.”

  “Lorraine Brown? Who would fight over her? That just goes to show how little you knew about what was going on back then. That fight was about you! Chandler had this thing about you and got pissed when I told him that he didn’t stand a chance with you, with you being the smartest person in school and him being the dumbest. Now, for whatever reason, he’s decided to come on this cruise and cause problems. I wish the hell he would have stayed under whatever rock he crawled out from under.”

  Maxi’s head was spinning with what Ronald had just said. Was it true? Had they been fighting about her and not Lorraine Brown that day? Surely he was mistaken. “Ronald, I think you—”

  “Do me a favor and stay away from him, Maxi. He’s nothing but trouble.”

  Irritation was evident in Maxi’s voice when she said. “There’s no way I can stay away from him since he and I are sharing the same cabin.”

  “What!”

  “Yes, you heard me right. The cruise line thought we were married and assigned us to the same cabin by mistake. There aren’t any more cabins left, so Christopher and I have decided to make the most of it.”

  “You can move into my cabin. Walter Casper can find somewhere else to sleep. I won’t have you sharing a cabin with Chandler. I want you out of there immediately.”

  Maxi’s anger flared. “First of all, Ronald, I don’t give a royal flip what you want. The sooner you realize that the better. Christopher is my friend just like you are, and I have all intentions of sharing his cabin for the rest of this cruise. It won’t be the first time I’ve had a male roommate. I had one in college and it worked out just fine.”

  “Then share my cabin. You know you’ll be safe with me.”

  “I have no reason not to think I won’t be safe with Christopher.”

  “You don’t know anything about him. I bet you don’t even know what he’s been doing for the past ten years. You’re too damn trusting for your own good, Maxi. You’re making a mistake.”

  “And it’s my mistake to make. I appreciate your concern but it’s not needed.” With those final words she walked off.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  For some reaon Maxi was not surprised to find Christopher, Garrett, and Mya still standing in the same spot she had left them five minutes earlier.

  She smiled faintly when Christopher left Garrett and Mya and began walking toward her. She thought about how good he looked and once again, instinctively, her senses picked up everything about him that was male, which was the last thing she needed. The purpose of this cruise was to relax and enjoy the company of friends, and not to rekindle the amorous feelings she’d had for one classmate in particular.

  She may have thought those things but the minute he reached her, she knew she was still attracted to him as she had been ten years ago. The look in his gaze was filled with concern as he eyed her carefully.

  “You okay?” he asked softly.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she responded while noticing that his dark eyes hadn’t left her for a moment. “Are you ready to go inside?”

  He nodded. “Yes, I’m ready.”

  She took his hand in hers. “All right then, let’s go and I guarantee you’ll have a good time.”

  Over an hour or so later, Christopher grudgingly admitted that he was having a good time. Although a number of people here tonight had treated him less than human when he’d attended school with them, now they appeared regretful over their youthful antics and were going out of their way to make him feel included and accepted. They were smiling and eager to converse with him. And he credited Maxi for it. Now he understood why she’d been so well liked and popular in school. She greeted just about everyone she saw with a hug and had remembered most of their names, where he had barely remembered their faces. She had easily brought him into the conversation like it was a natural thing for the two of them to be seen together ten years later at their class reunion. And for some reason those classmates they encountered didn’t act like it was such a big deal.

  Everyone except for Ronald Swindel. Whatever Maxi had said to him still had him fuming. Christopher saw the man cutting his eyes at him from across the room whenever he glanced his way.

  “So, Christopher, what are you doing now?”

  He turned toward Mya. The two of them had been left alone for a while. Garrett had gone to refill their drinks, and Maxi had decided to work the crowd. And she was indeed working it. He had noticed her movements around the room. They were graceful and deft, and every so often she would glance over at him and smile. He knew she was doing so as a reminder that she had not forgotten about him.

  “I’m in construction.” He decided to tell Mya the same thing he’d told everyone who had asked that night.

  “Exactly what do you build?” Mya queried further.

  Christopher inwardly smiled. No wonder Mya and Maxi had been friends for so long. Both of them liked to ask questions. However, where Maxi knew where to draw the line and not cross into an area that was considered as being nosy, it appeared Mya felt she had no such restrictions.

  “I build a number of things, mainly commercial.”

  “What’s the name of your business and where is it located?”

  “The Regency Corporation and we are home based in Detroit.” He met her gaze intently. “Is there a reason for all these questions?”

  Mya’s response was a series of chuckles followed by a quiet, no-nonsense look. “Just checking you out. You’re sharing a cabin with Maxi and I want to make sure you’re safe.”

  “Maxi’s a big girl. Don’t you think that should be her concern and not yours?” he asked coolly.

  “No. Maxi never had a level head where you were concerned.”

  Christopher frowned. “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked in an irritated voice.

  “Nothing. Just as long as you and I understand each other. I don’t want to see Maxi hurt.”

  Christopher smoothed his lips into a flat line and met Mya’s unwavering gaze. “I would never intentionally hurt Maxi.” His voice was quiet but absolute.

  Mya smiled, evidently satisfied with his response. “Good.”

  Their topic of conversation ended when Garrett returned with their drinks.

  Christopher and Maxi made small talk as they walked down the long corridor to their cabin, partaking in chitchat about the surprises they had encountered that night.

  “I can’t believe Lee Jenkins is a minister. Ronald looked out of place without him as his sidekick.”

  Maxi nodded. She then met Christopher’s gaze. “That just goes to show people do change and most of the time for the better.” She had enjoyed seeing old friends again. Only a couple of people had asked her about Jason. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother her as much as she thought it would when some had pulled out family p
ictures which reminded her of what she didn’t have.

  When they reached their cabin she stood aside while Christopher unlocked the door. Once they entered and turned on the lights she was suddenly made aware of how intimate their cabin was. That was something she had failed to take note of earlier that day.

  “Are you going back out tonight?” Christopher asked, watching her survey the room like it was the first time she had seen it.

  “Yes. Mya and I plan to do the midnight buffet. What about you?” she asked him as she tossed her purse on the dresser.

  A smile creased his lips. “I’ve had my share of entertainment for one night. Especially since it had been my intent to just stay in my room tonight and chill. But now I’m glad I went.” He studied Maxi intently before saying. “I need to pay a visit to the gift shop and buy a pair of pajamas.”

  Maxi lifted a dark brow. “You forgot to bring a pair?”

  Christopher chuckled. “I don’t own a pair. It wouldn’t have mattered had I been in this cabin alone. But since I have a cabinmate, I don’t think you’d appreciate me walking around in the nude.”

  Oh, she would appreciate it, Maxi thought. She just didn’t think she would be able to handle it. Around Christopher she was reminded, and not too subtly, that she was indeed still a woman.

  “I’ll see you later.” He gave her a smooth smile before opening the door and closing it behind him.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “If I eat another thing I’m liable to hurt myself,” Mya said, pushing her plate back.

  Maxi knew exactly what she meant. There was more than enough food at the midnight buffet to savor their every culinary delight and satisfy their every whim. And they had gotten a taste of just about everything.

  “I’m too full to sleep,” Mya groaned. “But I’m not too full to hear what’s going on with you and Christopher Chandler.”