Perfect Timing (8 page)

M
axi and Mya found an isolated spot in a restaurant located near one of the pools. Most people were either at dinner or savoring the nightlife since the ship offered a great variety of entertainment choices. They didn't call it the “Fun Ship” for nothing.

Sitting down at one of the tables they ordered a tropical drink for Maxi and a glass of white wine for Mya.

Maxi immediately picked up on Mya's nervousness. She reached across the table and firmly gripped her hand. “What's this about, Mya?”

A wry smile formed on Mya's lips as she studied their joined hands. She then met Maxi's gaze. “I owe you an explanation as to why I didn't go to Howard University with you.”

Pulling her hand away Maxi slumped back in her chair. “No you don't. It's in the past.”

Mya shook her head. “No, it's not, Maxi, and we both know it.”

Maxi stared at her for a long moment before saying. “Why now, Mya? Why do you want to tell me now after ten years? Why couldn't you have told me then?”

Mya shifted her gaze to an object on the other side of the room. Moments later she returned her gaze to Maxi. “Because I couldn't. It was a secret Garrett and I couldn't share with anyone.”

Maxi stared at Mya thoughtfully, wondering what it could have been. She and Mya had shared everything. There had never been any secrets between them. “And you can tell me now?”

Mya nodded. “Yes. Garrett and I think you should know. Hopefully you'll understand why I did what I did and find it in your heart to forgive me. I know changing my mind at the last minute about going to Howard messed things up for you in a lot of ways.”

Mya waited for the waiter to place their drinks in front of them and leave before she began talking again, recalling that time right after they had graduated from high school. She met Maxi's gaze. “You know Garrett and I were sexually active.”

Maxi nodded. “Yes.” She'd known that Mya and Garrett had started sleeping together at the beginning of their senior year in high school.

“We'd always been careful but the night before he was to leave to began training at Texas Southern we got kind of careless and he didn't use a condom.”

Maxi raised a brow but said nothing.

“When I missed my period the next month I was fairly certain I was pregnant. You had gone on that trip with your parents to New York to visit your aunt and uncle, so I didn't have you around to talk to about it, and Garrett was in Texas. When he called one night I told him my suspicions, and he made up some excuse with his coach so he could come back home to see me.”

Mya took a sip of her wine to relieve the sudden dryness in her throat before she continued. “Neither of us knew what to do so we went and talked to Coach Johns.” Coach Johns had been Garrett's football coach and his mentor during high school. He had been instrumental in Garrett getting a full football scholarship to Texas Southern.

“Coach Johns explained to us that if Garrett married me because I was pregnant he would lose the scholarship. He suggested that I go somewhere and have an abortion.”

A soft gasp escaped Maxi and she sat up straight in her chair. She should not have been surprised by what the older man had suggested. Mya had told her several times that Coach Johns thought Garrett's relationship to Mya was too serious and should take a back seat to his career in football. “Did you…get an abortion?”

Mya let out an audible sigh. “You know me better than that. And Garrett wouldn't hear of such a thing either. He got upset with Coach Johns for even suggesting it.”

“So what did you do?”

“Garrett and I decided to get married anyway. Coach Johns wasn't happy about it but he helped us to make all the arrangements. Everything was done in secret. No one knew. Not my grandmother or his parents. Not anyone. Coach Johns said we had to keep it that way because if anyone found out, Garret would be stripped of his scholarship and get kicked out of college, destroying his dream of becoming a professional football player. The only persons who knew we were married were Coach Johns and the retired judge, a personal lady friend of his, who performed the ceremony but made sure it never became a part of public records.”

Mya took another sip of her wine. “Needless to say it was a false alarm and a few weeks later I discovered that I wasn't pregnant after all. But it proved to me just how much Garrett loved me and just how much he was willing to give up for me. That made me love him just that much more, Maxi. We were glad I wasn't pregnant but since we were married he wanted me with him at Texas Southern, which was understandable.”

She leaned back in her chair. “At first I had thought about telling him I couldn't go to Texas Southern, but Garrett had been under a lot of stress about making the team, and our marriage only escalated his worries. With me attending Howard, all he could visualize were skyrocketing phone bills between us and countless flights between campuses for us to be together whenever we could. He didn't want that because there was no way we could afford it. He wanted me with him and threatened to quit football altogether if I didn't attend Texas Southern with him.”

Maxi nodded, fully understanding. She had always known how much Garrett loved Mya. But then she'd known that he had loved football too. In the end he'd been willing to give up his love of football for Mya. Anyone knowing Garrett Rivers knew that was some kind of love.

“I couldn't let him give up football for me, Maxi. I couldn't let him do that. But then I knew I couldn't tell anyone we were married. Not even you. It wasn't a question of me not trusting you with the information, it was a question of me keeping my promise to Garrett and not tell anyone what we'd done.”

Mya held her head down for a second. When she lifted it up her eyes were filled with tears. “You don't know how much I wanted to tell you. How much I needed to tell you. I had felt so alone and confused. And that day when I had to tell you that I couldn't go to Howard with you, you got so upset because I didn't give you a reason why, I felt even worse. After that things began happening fast. In order to make the cheerleading squad at Southern, I had to leave right away and once I did things got too hectic to call and talk to you. By the time things slowed down you had left for Howard and I knew that, although we would always be friends, it wouldn't be the same. And it hasn't been.”

Maxi stared at Mya until she lowered her gaze. She knew things had been hectic back then and her father's unexpected death had almost devastated her. It seemed both she and Mya had been going through their own personal crisis that summer, and because they didn't have each other to lean on and confide in, they had suffered because of it.

“I just want you to know, Maxi, that I miss having you for my best friend. At times I would reach for the phone to call you to share things with you and then stop myself when I knew I couldn't because things weren't the same between us anymore. I wanted you there when the boys were born, and although you were at my wedding and at my granny's funeral, it was like you weren't really there—at least not for me. Not the way it should have been. You were supposed to be my maid of honor in my wedding, and you were supposed to be my sons' godmother. I was supposed to be your maid of honor but I didn't even know you were getting married until Granny called to tell me your fiancé had gotten killed. It didn't seem fair after all we'd been through together.”

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.”

M
axi 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 last 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.