Summary

In Chapter 3, “Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan,” although Ivan and Goran had not slept together in a while, they “did not talk about” it (93). They went “about their lives as though nothing . . . had changed” (93). When they fought, they were really fighting “about them not fucking” (93).

Goran was pursuing his graduate degree in music and “Ivan in finance” (93). Because Goran came from money, he paid for almost everything. Ivan felt he “could never get the upper hand” (94). Ivan often forgot Goran was black because he had been adopted by a wealthy white family. He secretly believed Goran had no understanding of or connection to his people. He tried to “keep a low profile” in their relationship and apartment (95).

Goran often went out “to the poet bar” with the married poet he was sleeping with (96). Ivan studied and listened to the neighbors. Sometimes he...