Page 12 of The Switch: A Friends To Lovers Romance

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.”

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