14. Kamaya
CHAPTER 14
Kamaya
The next morning, I wake up to the sound of rain outside my window. In the summertime, I can usually hear kids playing bright and early at the playground not too far from my window. I tried to go back to sleep, but thoughts of last night kept my eyes open. Maxwell’s solid front was spooned against my back, his morning hardened length hit my ass, and his arm was draped loosely across my middle.
I could get used to waking up like this, and I’m hoping more mornings like this are in our future.
Last night was incredible. After the strange, strange night of my date with Zach, I came back here and felt even more disillusioned. How did I end up picking the wrong man every time? Just once, I wanted to meet a nice, decent normal guy, and once again I chose wrong. Like I always did, I blamed myself when it was the men’s behavior.
Then Maxwell showed up. My knight in shining armor that saved me from a night of feeling sorry for myself and drowning my disappointment in wine.
Just when I thought I was undatable—i.e. unlovable—he showed up.
Before my thoughts spiral anymore, I slowly extract myself from bed and look back at a sleeping Maxwell snoring softly. He looks peaceful in the bed, and I almost don’t want to leave him, but I can’t stand here like a creeper either.
I spot Maxwell’s shirt on the top of the fresh laundry basket. I relish the feel of the soft material over me, and it hits me right at mid-thigh level.
I decide I’m going to surprise him by making breakfast. I’m not a chef by any means, but I can whip together a decent meal in a pinch. Since Max was staying here for over a week, I already have staples he enjoys, such as eggs and breakfast sausages.
The smell or the sound of sizzling bacon must have stirred him because I hear the bed groan and turn to see him throwing the covers off.
“Morning, beautiful.”
“Morning, Max. Hope you don’t mind but I stole your shirt.”
I turn back to see him leaning on his forearms, watching me. His eyelids are downcast, and he’s still not fully awake.
“I don’t mind at all. Looks better on you than me.”
Maxwell reaches down to the side of the bed to put on his boxer briefs, and I turn back from the pleasant view to turn down the fire when I feel his strong, warm arms wrap around me.
“Should we talk about last night?” he asks, his voice muffled with his lips against my neck.
“What is there to talk about?” I say.
“You went out with old boy,” Maxwell prompts.
I clear my throat. “Can you please grab me two plates?”
Max sighs, pushing away from me to go to the opposite cupboard. He extracts two plates and puts them on the counter next to the stove.
“Are you trying to avoid the question, Kamaya?”
“No, I just really didn’t want to talk about Zach first thing this morning,” I say, plating our breakfast. I hand one to Max and we both sit down at the table.
“Last night was unexpected for a lot of reasons, but after the date with Zach, I was disappointed because I thought that, yet again, I let my idea of a man cloud my judgment about the reality of him. Then you showed up and well…” I trail off.
“Did he do something to you?” Max asks, defensive on my behalf.
“No, nothing like that,” I say, trying to placate him. “He was just asking me questions about our work.”
Max’s brows furrow. “A date seems like a weird place to bring that up.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
Maxwell sits back in the seat. “So, now do you believe me that something is not right with Zach?”
After last night, I was ready to pin this all on him and let Cecily van Zandt know she has a mole in her ranks. But I would hate to disappoint Brandon by telling him that his friend wasn’t who he thinks.
“Yes, I agree with you now. We just have to tread lightly when bringing this up to Brandon since, like me, he’s not going to want to believe it either.”
“Speaking of our boss, I have something I’ve been meaning to get your advice on,” Max says, setting his fork down and making me think whatever comes next must be serious.
“Okay,” I say, not sure if I’m ready for a serious talk after last night. I want to continue basking in the post-sex glow. Save all of the serious matters for Monday. Remain in the bubble for the rest of the weekend.
“I was sworn to secrecy before, but since Brandon let me know he was going to announce it on Monday, I wanted you to hear it from me,” Maxwell says.
I make an “out with it” motion with my hands. “Please, Max, you have me in suspense!”
He chuckles at my impatience. “Brandon is planning to open another security firm in London and is close to hiring another protection agent.”
“Brandon’s leaving? All the way to London…” I’m surprised because he’d been in New York for so long and mentioned even before marrying that he planned to make his place in Edgewater a permanent residence.
“Did he say why he was moving?” I ask.
Max begins to explain the opportunities Ava received in London and Brandon’s long-held dream of creating another security firm location in London. He was a great boss and friend, and I would definitely miss having him around.
“There’s more,” Max says, pausing to take a sip of orange juice. “He’s asked me to take over management of the office while he’s away.”
“Max, that’s amazing!”
This would be a great opportunity for Max while Brandon was gone. Max had great leadership skills and generally kept a cool head at all times. Traits he would need in a management role.
“The only problem is with you and me,” he says, his gaze darting from mine.
“I get it. Could be awkward at first, but look at Bree and Westin? They keep their relationship completely out of work stuff. I know it’s not ideal, but it’s not impossible.”
Max bites his lip. “You’re right, it’s just, with my track record, I’m afraid of messing anything up and hurting our friendship and costing one of us our careers.”
What he said was true. There was always a risk.
“Are we going to let fear hold us back for the rest of our lives?” I ask. “If you’re not absolutely sure about us as a…couple, then we can’t do what we did last night ever again.”
Max displays a cheeky grin. “Well, I definitely don’t want to stop that. I’m ready to do this for real if you are. Deal?”
He stretches a hand across the small table. I clasp his hand and interlock our fingers.
“Deal. So you’ll say yes to Brandon’s offer?”
Maxwell nods. “I’ll let him know come Monday morning.”
I’m apprehensive of what the future may hold for us, but for once, I have no doubts about the man. I believe Max when he says it’s different this time with me. He’s shown more vulnerability in the last twelve hours than he has in the two years I’ve known him.
Sometimes you have to take a leap, and at least we’ll make the jump together.
We’ve done the drive over to Maxwell’s apartment many times before. This time it’s different. Almost like we were now newer versions of ourselves and weren’t quite sure how to carry on.
We arrive at Maxwell’s neighborhood. I like where I live just fine, but Max’s neighborhood has a nice family-oriented atmosphere that I frequently thought about living in.A thought which gave me pause because what would our relationship look like in a few months or a few years’ time? Would we eventually move in together? How would that play out at work?
I was probably getting ahead of myself after one night.
I parallel park in front of his driveway and follow Max to his new townhouse. Maxwell’s place is always militantly clean—the blond hardwood floors gleaming and everything in its place.
“I’ll be back. Just going upstairs to grab my suits,” he says, stepping on the bottom landing.
“Alright,” I say back before he disappears up the stairs. While Max is occupied, I head towards the kitchen and notice the back door has been left ajar.
That’s strange. I know Max wouldn’t have been forgetful enough to not close and lock his door. As soon as I consider that, I hear Maxwell’s footsteps heading back down.
“Kamaya!” he yells.
“In the kitchen,” I say back to him, easing away from the door.
“My bedroom has been ransacked!” Maxwell exclaims when he finally reaches me. “My clothes are thrown everywhere out of drawers and torn off hangers. My laptop was left on my bed when I distinctly remember leaving it in the kitchen.”
“That’s not all,” I say, indicating towards the door.
Max immediately moves before me, shielding me from the cracked doorway. He inches it open and peers out at the patio deck.
“Anything look amiss out there?” I ask.
“No,” Max says, shaking his head. “The patio looks just how I left it. Guessing whoever broke in here must have gone out the back door.”
I stare at the doorway behind Max, incredulous at how someone managed to slip in undetected. Knowing someone was in the apartment feels violating. I hated the idea that someone encroached on Maxwell’s space, and had he been here, they could have seriously hurt him.
“How did they not trip the alarm?” he asks, heading over to the counter where he left his phone.
“My guess is by using a jamming device to shut off access to the security team, and then they were able to enter by picking the locks. We know if a person wants in, they will find a way.”
Maxwell runs a hand over his hair. “After I left Smokey’s, I decided to go to your place. That was around ten. Whoever came in might have been watching and lucked out when I didn’t return until this morning.”
“What about upstairs?”
“So far my bedroom looks like a tornado went through it. I haven’t touched anything.”
“Good,” I say. “We should call the police and report this. Have the break-in on record. Hopefully, whoever was here doesn’t plan on coming back.”
Max releases a deep sigh. “I sure hope not. I’ll call them now.” He moves towards his phone and begins explaining to local law enforcement what’s going on. He’s advised that an officer nearby would be out soon.
I could see how this was now weighing on Max. I couldn’t imagine how he felt. The idea of someone entering your space without permission felt icky.
I go to wrap my arms around his taut middle and rest my head on his chest. No words are exchanged, but in that moment, none are needed. Maxwell knew I was always there for him.
“Stay with me,” Max whispers into my hair.
The officer arrives sooner than expected, and I tag along upstairs after them. Max shows that his normally neat bedroom has his things strewn about. His favorite sports memorabilia and drawers are open, and the closet’s compartments have been pulled out.
The officer takes down Max’s info and takes some photos of the home in disarray.
“You were very fortunate to have not been here when the break-in occurred. Give us a call for anything suspicious,” she says before heading back to the cruiser.
Once the officer is gone, Max and I spend the next half hour securing all windows and doors, and he makes a call to his security company while he packs a bag for the weekend and work clothes for Monday.
Heading back to the car, I ask Max what has been on my mind since I discovered the open back door.
“You think this has to do with FJ ? Maybe it’s Zach or Harry?”
Max shrugs a shoulder, holding the door open and setting the alarm before stepping out onto the landing with me.
“It confirms that we’re being watched. Someone does not want us to figure out what’s going on with the leak.”
“Yeah, it’s starting to scare me. I realize now what you all go through out here while I’m used to being on the inside,” I say.
Max moves to put one of his strong arms around me. “I’m glad that if it had to be one of us, they chose my place. I’m not letting you out of my sight till this is resolved.”
I smile up at him. “And I’m not letting you out of mine.”