After being robbed by a black assailant, white Chicago dentist Mark Cross is hesitant to go out at night, let alone get involved in an interracial relationship, but that’s exactly what happens after he meets Darren Nichols, a black high school teacher and basketball coach. When Mark and Darren are introduced at a party, their attraction to each other is immediate and intense, and they soon begin dating. As their relationship progresses, Mark realizes he loves Darren. But he’s hesitant to ask Darren to move in with him because Darren’s last relationship ended poorly and Darren is scared to get involved with another man so quickly after that experience. Mark also worries he doesn’t live up to Darren’s expectations and fears Darren ultimately longs for a man who isn’t white. And Mark is still haunted by the man who mugged him and harbors fears about black men in general. Despite his worries and insecurities, Mark asks Darren to move in with him and Darren agrees. Though they both bring baggage to their bond, Mark and Darren work hard to build a life together. But when Darren invites over some of the guys he plays basketball with, Mark suspects one of the players, Terrance, is the same man who assaulted him. Mark shares his suspicions with Darren, but Darren isn’t convinced his friend could do something so terrible. Mark is determined to uncover the truth, but will he jeopardize his relationship with Darren in the process?

Pivot

“This isn’t going to work if you don’t trust me, Mark,” Darren said.


“I do. I just saw that guy today and…I don’t know. I thought that’s the kind of man you’d rather be with.”


Darren laughed. “I talked to the guy for, like, five minutes!”


“You could have talked to him for five seconds and I probably would have thought the same thing.”


“Yes, because he was black and because he seemed like someone you’d be comfortable with.”


“You don’t think I’m comfortable with you?”


“No, I think you are, but we’ll never have the kind of bond that you’d have with another black man.”


“Yeah, but he wasn’t white either.”


Darren sank back in his seat and exhaled. “Mark, you need to lighten up.”


Easier said than done, I thought. I glanced at Darren before turning my attention back to the road. “You’d prefer to be with a man who isn’t white, wouldn’t you?”


Chapter 16