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

“No, Mark, you don’t understand and you never will. You have no idea what it’s like being a black man out here. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been pulled over, especially on the North Shore…and I grew up there! Even here at the condo, people sometimes won’t get on the elevator with me if I’m alone.”


While I empathized with Darren, I also understood where those hesitant elevator riders were coming from. People were afraid of black men. Hell, I was afraid of some of them especially after being the victim of a crime carried out by one of them. Was it fair? No. Was it right? No. But for me and many others self-preservation had to come before political correctness.


“Do you want me to call Terrance?” Darren asked as he got out of bed.


“And say what? ‘Did you rob my boyfriend three years ago?’”


“Well, I wouldn’t phrase it like that.”


“Do you honestly think he’d tell you the truth if he did rob me?”


Chapter 27