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

“It is to me. Tell me what he said.”


“He just talked shit about you. Trust me, it’s not worth repeating.”


Part of me wanted to press Darren to tell me exactly what Carlos had said, but part of me really didn’t want to know. What good would knowing have done anyway? Yes, it would have satisfied my curiosity, but it probably would have pissed me off more than I already was.


“Well, thank you for defending my honor,” I told him.


“You’re welcome, although I should have just let it go. Carlos was trying to push my buttons and I let him. He wanted to see me go off.”


“What happened between you and Carlos? I mean, I know you said you two stopped enjoying each other, but there must have been more to it than that.”


“No, that was pretty much it. There wasn’t some dramatic event that caused us to break up. We truly just grew apart.”


“Deena said you two had a lot in common.”


Chapter 19