The Switch: A Friends To Lovers Romance

by Nia Arthurs

  “Again, not seeing the issue here.”

  “The issue is… I can see myself falling hard for her, but it can’t go anywhere. I won’t let it. Before, I hoped that she would be strong enough to stand up to my family if that day came, but now—after talking to her for a few weeks, I know she won’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “She’s used to being liked. I can tell. Someone hating her for nothing more than her skin will destroy her. And I don’t want to be the one who leads her to that.”

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “Am I?”

  “You won’t know if you don’t try.”

  “Michelle’s not some experiment.”

  “So… experiment on me.”

  Luke leaped to his feet and paced her living room. “You’re back with that dumb idea again.”

  “It’s not a dumb idea. And it’s much better than you giving up on someone you really like because of your family. Tell me the truth. What’s the number one reason your parents don’t want you dating a black girl?”

  “To prevent the pollution of our own, noble race,” he said as if he’d been taught that in a textbook.

  Ashanti’s jaw fell. “Okay, that was uncomfortable. I thought it was because of black people’s perceived poverty and poor education?”

  “Oh, that’s a close second.”

  “Then why the heck did they allow us to be friends if race was such a big deal?” she asked, starting to get irritated.

  “I can have as many friends as I want.” Luke shrugged. “I just can’t love the ones they don’t approve of.”

  The need to bash his parents and their determination to remain closed off burst to her tongue, but Ashanti held it back.

  Luke’s culture was a part of him and his parents made him into the amazing man that she loved today—honorable, kind, hardworking, and responsible.

  She knew he would never disrespect them just as she knew he would never accept that disrespect from her or anyone else.

  So all Ashanti could say was, “It’s not fair.”

  “It’s how things are done.”

  She bristled at that statement. Something inside of her took it personally. What if she met and fell for a man of a different culture? Should she roll over and choke because his family didn’t like black girls?

  Not in a million years.

  Ashanti turned to Luke. “Let’s do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “Take me home to your parents.”

  “Ash, I said no.”

  “It’s easier to hate on an imaginary black woman than one with a name and a soul. One with a father who loves her every bit as much as they love you. I want to try.”

  “Why? It has nothing to do with you?”

  “It has everything to do with me.” She pounded her chest. “Everyone should be treated equally. Everyone deserves to be judged on their character and actions rather than the color of their skin.”

  “Look, most of the world agrees with that, including my parents.”

  “Yeah, they agree. Until it comes to who you should date or marry. Then they start listing exceptions. And it’s not like anyone will stop them. Especially not the people who the restrictions are placed on.”

  “This isn’t a crusade to me, Ash. This is my life.”

  “And the one thing I’ve always done as your friend is make your life better.”

  One corner of his lip tipped upward. “That’s debatable.”

  “Please, Luke. Don’t give up on Michelle. Fight for her. Use me as your sword. It’s what friends are for.”

  “I’ll think about it,” he said at last.

  She nodded, trusting that he would. “Want some ice cream?”

  “Why not?”

  She disappeared into the kitchen, her hands still trembling from her passionate speech. The cool air from the freezer blew into her face and helped to calm her.

  Ashanti scooped ice cream into two bowls and headed back to the living room. “Hey, Luke. I was thinking we could finish that movie we didn’t…” Her words stopped when she saw Luke sprawled out in her couch, dead to the world.

  She grinned and backed away, leaving him to sleep in peace.

  Chapter Five

  “Hey, Dad. Thanks for meeting with me.” Luke stood and bowed as his father slipped into the chair across from him.

  Zhang Yong Chung, better known as Jacob to the rest of Belize, was a man of average height, average build and average appearance. He wore a plain blue T-shirt and khakis with leather sandals. His black hair was beginning to thin in the middle and he did nothing to disguise it.

  To Yong Chung, life was all about balance and thus he had raised his children with the expectation that they would excel academically, work for whatever allowance they were given, and also master one instrument and sport each.

  Of all his children, Luke knew he was the one who had given his dad the biggest headache. His grades had been behind the other Asians in his class, bringing shame to the family.

  He had also chosen to study at a Caribbean university instead of in the States. Bringing more shame to the family.

  He was terrified of disappointing his father further, but it had to be done.

  Luke had barely convinced Ashanti to put a hold on her plan to ‘convert’ his parents by begging her to let him talk to them first.

  Who knew? They could be more tolerant than he’d first thought and surprise him.

  “How is the café doing?” his father asked.

  “Good. Uncle Eddie laid all the groundwork. I’m just benefitting from it now.”

  Yong Chung nodded sagely. “That is the way it should be.”

  “Yeah.”

  His father watched him squirm. Just like Uncle Eddie, his dark eyes seemed to look straight into Luke’s soul and unearth his darkest secrets. “Is there something specific you would like to talk about?”

  “Yes.”

  He nodded. “I found it strange that you asked me to keep our meeting secret from your mother.”

  “That’s because I was hoping you could help me tell her.”

  “Tell her what?”

  Luke folded his hands together. “I met someone.”

  “Who?”

  “A woman.”

  Yong Chung pursed his lips. “So I guessed.”

  “She’s beautiful, kind and smart. I admire her, think highly of her. She’s incredible, Dad.”

  His father arched an eyebrow. “You are approaching the age to settle down. Why not formally introduce her?”

  “She’s black.”

  Silence.

  His knee bounced beneath the table. Reading his father’s face had always been a challenge. Whether he was happy, sad or angry, Yong Chung wore the same expression.

  Finally, his father spoke. “How black?”

  “What?”

  “How black is she?”

  “I don’t know.” Luke lifted one shoulder. “Regular black?”

  “Why would you tell me this?”

  “Because she’s someone very special to me and, eventually, I would like to introduce you.”

  His father pushed away from the table. “Continuing to see this girl means you will face challenges from our family. Do you realize that?”

  “I’m aware of how our family will react. That’s why I came to you first. To find an understanding before I bring her to a gathering.”

  “Don’t do that just yet. Give me time to think about this.”

  “Dad…”

  “I need to go.”

  Luke watched his father run from the restaurant. He had never seen Yong Chung sprint that fast for anything. Not even when his mother was about to give birth to his younger brother and needed to be rushed to the hospital.

  “That was a disaster,” he mumbled. Ashanti’s face popped into his mind. “She’s going to get even more stubborn about this.”

  “Sir?” A waitress touched his shoulder. “Are you ready to order?”

  “Sorr
y.” He ordered a sandwich to go so the restaurant’s time wasn’t wasted and then headed home.

  He was halfway there when Ashanti called his cellphone. As soon as he picked up, she blurted—“Have you thought of what I said on Friday?”

  “Ash, I told you I needed a few days to think.”

  “Yeah. That’s why I gave you Saturday and half of Sunday.”

  He smiled in spite of himself. If anyone could stand up to his parents, it would be her. “How was church?”

  “Same old. Don’t try to change the subject.”

  “I’m not.” He parked and leaned his head back. “How’s your dad? He enjoying the cruise?”

  “He met someone.”

  His eyes popped open. “You’re kidding.”

  “He got super shy and hung up before telling me anything else,” Ashanti said. “But the fact that he even mentioned it means it’s pretty serious.”

  “Congrats.”

  “We’ll see how it turns out. I’m not holding my breath. Dad’s skills in the flirting department are as good as mine.”

  “So he’s a failure.”

  “Hey, I’d give myself a D minus at least.”

  He laughed. “What are you doing today?”

  “The dreaded refrigerator cleaning. I think something died in there, but I’ve been putting it off out of sheer laziness.”

  He glanced at his apartment building again and asked, “You want some company?”

  “Really? You’re volunteering to help me?”

  “Get your ears checked, Ash. I’m offering you the privilege of watching my handsome face and body as you work. I didn’t say anything about touching your expired food.”

  “Don’t bother if you’re not actually going to help.”

  “Fine.”

  She paused. “If you’re bored, why don’t you call Michelle?”

  He tugged on his ear lobe. “I told you. I’m not going to continue things with her.”

  “So what? You just stopped talking to her after a date and two weeks of texting non-stop?”

  “I told her I was busy.”

  “Luke, come on.” Ashanti scolded him. “Just because she’s black doesn’t mean she doesn’t have feelings.”

  “I know that. I’m trying to protect her.”

  “Then use me. And stop running from love.”

  “Do you even know what you’re asking? I talked to my dad today. All I did was mention that the girl I liked was black and he ran out of there like a fox was on his tail.”

  “You talked to your dad!” Ashanti shrieked.

  He pulled the phone away from his ear before she busted an eardrum. “Yeah, I did.”

  “What did he say?”

  “Not much. That he needed time to think. He also warned me that bringing her home would be a ‘challenge’.”

  “I expected worse than that. Maybe they’ve lightened up.”

  Luke thought of his father and shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

  “Anyway, if you should be spending time with anyone right now it should be Michelle. Call her, Luke.”

  “Maybe.” He could feel Ashanti glaring at him through the phone. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Bye.”

  He hung up and headed inside. On his way up the stairs, he read through his old messages with Michelle.

  Their conversations ran way into the night. Ignoring her this weekend had felt odd. After such a short time, he’d grown used to texting her intermittently through the day and for a solid four hours after he’d locked up the shop at night.

  At that moment, his phone glowed with a text from her.

  MICHELLE: Hey, Luke.

  His heart thumped as he waited for another text. It came a second later.

  MICHELLE: It’s been a while since I’ve heard from you.

  MICHELLE: Is something going on? If you don’t want to share, I understand but…

  MICHELLE: I really like you and I thought you liked me too. Please tell me if I read you wrong or if you’re not interested in me like that.

  MICHELLE: I’d rather know the truth than be left in the lurch.

  Feeling like a jerk, Luke texted her back.

  LUKE: I’m kind of dealing with something right now. It has nothing to do with you. I’d just like to… step back for a bit.

  He chewed on a fingernail as he waited for her to respond. A few hours passed. He did some push-ups. Cleaned up around the apartment. Did the accounting for the café. Watched a few videos online.

  Nothing.

  The next morning, he woke up to find a text. Luke scrambled to open the message, but his heart sank when he saw only two letters in the blocks of white space.

  MICHELLE: Ok.

  Luke puzzled through her response for the next few days. By the time Thursday rolled around, he was no closer to decoding it.

  A few days later, Ashanti breezed into his café and took her usual seat by the counter. He immediately poured her a cup of coffee and slid her mug over. She eyed him over the rim as she took a sip.

  “What’s with the special treatment today?”

  “I need your help. What does this mean?” He showed her Michelle’s messages.

  Ashanti screwed her lips as she read.

  He studied her brown skin, her nose, and the plumpness of her mouth. For a second, he felt a zip of attraction but brushed it off. Ashanti was way too much personality for him to handle. “Well?”

  She gave him his phone back and in a clinical voice said, “You’re screwed.”

  “What?”

  “She didn’t spell out ‘okay’ or even end it with a smiley face. She basically punched the ‘o’ and the ‘k’ on her keyboard and hit the period to let you know it was over. So if it’s not over on your end, you’re screwed.” She took another sip.

  Luke felt panic clawing up his throat. “That doesn’t make sense. It’s not like I broke up with her.”

  “How can you break up with someone you technically weren’t dating yet?” She tapped her temple. “Michelle’s looking for something solid. She doesn’t want to play games and that’s what you appear to be doing.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m serious about her too.” He held the phone up and shook it.

  Ashanti shrugged. “That’s life.”

  Determination welled. Luke turned to Ashanti, his jaw clenched. “Do you have time this evening?”

  “For what?”

  “Meeting my parents.”

  Ashanti slowly lowered her cup. “Are you serious?”

  “Let’s do it.”

  “Alright.” Ashanti’s eyes glistened. “I’m game.”

  The fire he’d felt in that moment slowly but surely slipped away as the evening progressed. As he locked up the shop. And as he escorted Ashanti to his car.

  By the time he spied his parents’ apartment—a sprawling expanse above his grandfather’s hardware store—his hands were shaking. He tightened his grip on the wheel to keep his nerves a secret from Ashanti.

  This was such a bad idea.

  Ashanti, on the other hand, seemed more energetic than ever.

  She dove for the door handle. He stopped her. “Wait. Take a minute to prepare yourself.”

  “Prepare for what?”

  He glanced at her fearfully. “Anything.”

  “Luke, I’ll be fine. And so will you. I mean, what’s the worst your parents can do?”

  “Disown me.”

  Ashanti whistled under her breath. “They’d really do that?”

  He frowned. “Yeah.”

  “Well, you don’t need their money anyway.”

  Yeah, but he wanted their love and support. Which would dry up when he admitted to breaking the one rule they’d hammered into his head since he hit puberty.

  “You ready?” she asked, looking at him this time.

  “Are you sure you want to do this? I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Luke, for me to get hurt, I’d first have to have a low self-esteem. And you know, my self-
esteem is stupidly high. Maybe without reason but there you go. Barring that, for them to hurt me I’d have to actually like you and, no offense, but you’re not my type.”

  “None taken. It’s the same here.”

  She smiled brightly. “Does that help?”

  “Yeah.” He sucked in a deep breath and cracked his door open. “Let’s go.”

  His feet pounded against the sidewalk as he led Ashanti to his childhood home. The streetlamps cast an orange shade on his forehead. The night was deathly still. Quiet. As if all of Belize’s creatures were anticipating a showdown.

  He walked up the stairs to the second floor and knocked on the door.

  “Who is it?”

  He recognized his mother’s voice and responded in Mandarin. “It’s me, ma.”

  The door burst open and his mother stood in the doorway, a huge smile on her face… that gradually disappeared as she took Ashanti in. “Who is this?”

  “This,” he clasped Ashanti’s hand, “is my girlfriend.”

  Chapter Six

  Luke’s mother looked like any other Asian woman she’d seen around Belize—dark hair, dark eyes, and very few wrinkles.

  But this wasn’t just any Asian woman. This was Luke’s mother and, because of that, Ashanti found her palms were sweaty when she reached out to shake Mrs. Zhang’s hand. She stopped mid-thrust and wiped her hands on the sides of her jeans before offering it again.

  “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”

  Mrs. Zhang watched her hand and then her face. She didn’t accept the handshake. Instead, her grip on the doorknob tightened. She turned and yelled a couple words in Mandarin.

  Ashanti smiled politely, though she didn’t understand and lowered her hand. Luke shot her an apologetic look, but she responded with a grin and a wink.

  It wasn’t like she’d expected them to throw out the red carpet and welcome her with hugs and kisses. This was warfare of the mind and she had come prepared for battle.

  Footsteps thudded and, a moment later, Luke’s father appeared in the doorway. He was short and stocky with thinning black hair and a wide face. His expression when he saw her was nothing short of horrified.

  Ashanti bowed respectfully the way she’d seen Luke do to every elder he encountered. “Good night, Mr. Zhang.”

  “Can we come in?” Luke asked.