Page 22 of The Switch: A Friends To Lovers Romance

“I’m sorry, Luke. I can’t overlook this.”

“Why not? It has nothing to do with you or the shop.”

“Your mother wants me to fire you,” Eddie said.

Luke’s head whipped toward the man sitting stoically on the barstool. “Uncle…”

“I told you not to get involved with that woman, Luke. I warned you that it would only bring heartache and pain, not only for you but for your parents as well. How will they hold their head up in society?”

“I’m dating a black woman, not murdering a village.”

Eddie didn’t react to his comment. “What do you expect me to do?”

“You would seriously fire me over this?”

“Will you break up with her if I said yes?”

Silence fell between them. Luke’s chest heaved. The unfairness of it all seeped beneath his skin and burned. Everything in him wanted to lash out, but Uncle Eddie had been pulled into this fight. He hadn’t chosen to get involved.

“Well?” Eddie prodded.

“I love this café.” Luke glanced at the blue walls, colorful tables, comfy booths, and the posters he’d customized. “I’ve worked hard for you, to prove my worth. If I have to leave, I’ll go knowing I made this place better.”

“You will stand by your choice? Give up a shop that, in a few years, will belong solely to you?”

Luke dipped his head.

“Very well.” Eddie turned around and shuffled out the door.

Luke rubbed his temple, squeezing his eyes shut to calm himself.

So his mom had gone after the café now?

That was low. Effective, but low.

Feeling restless, he pulled down the shutters of the store and then hopped into his car, driving toward the sea. When he spotted the water thrashing against the concrete wall lining the edge of the city, he stopped and stared through the windshield.

The sky was dark and very few stars were visible. The moon hovered over the angry waves, spilling silver light on the dark horizon.

Belize was a beautiful country, and he was proud to be a citizen. His parents had moved from China to the Caribbean before he was born, so this view, this people, and this life was all he’d ever known.

He climbed out of his car and trotted closer to the sea wall. The wind tore at his hair and T-shirt, flapping it around like a flag gone awry. The scent of salt hung heavy in the air. He breathed deeply, allowing it to cleanse him from the inside.

His phone buzzed again. This time, Luke pulled it out and answered. “Hello, Ma.”

“Has Eddie spoken to you?”

He briefly contemplated throwing his phone into the water as an excuse not to answer. Instead he gripped it tighter and said, “Yes.”

“Then it’s settled? You’ll forget this black woman and move on?”

“No.”

“Luke!”

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. For Luke, the cause of his war was moving. Morphing. This wasn’t just a fight to date Michelle, but one to have his decisions respected. “I love you and dad both. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

“Then why are you disobeying us?”

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