Twenty year old Corey Evans is one-half of 2ICE, the biggest duo on the radio at the moment. Pronounced twice, they're number one on the Billboard charts this week with their latest single. And number one in download sales, with two albums that have already gone platinum, to hear their manager tell it. And currently on their second U.S. tour, which has sold out stadiums across the nation. Despite this, there's an emptiness inside him which Corey can't seem to fill, no matter how many groupies he takes to his bed. He sees this same emptiness mirrored in the eyes of his band-mate, Ian Coltraine, who drowns his evenings after each show with a bottle of whiskey. Ian's the one Corey turns to when he wakes beside an unknown fan, still asleep in his bed and needs help evicting her. He's Corey best friend, the only person on the tour he can confide in, who he really trusts ... The one, Corey finally realizes, with whom he is madly, deeply, terribly in love. And he suspects Ian might feel the same. But his recent string of one-night stands makes Ian cautious about Corey's true feelings. He's wanted Corey for so long, and has watched him go through countless fans in search of ... what? Ian doesn't know. And he doesn't yet believe Corey when he says Ian might be it. Ian hopes so, but can't bring himself to believe Corey's fickle desire won't be gone in the morning. Can these two young men somehow move beyond Corey's past and Ian's pain to embrace a love they both so desperately desire?

Beautiful Disaster

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask if Ian thought he was real or not when Ian said, “Corey, stop it.”


“Stop what?” Corey asked, confused.


“Stop pouting.” Ian rolled onto his stomach, turning toward Corey. His eyes shone in the darkness, and his arms hugged his pillow. His elbow brushed Corey’s shoulder. “I can hear you thinking. Get to sleep.”


“I can’t,” Corey admitted. “Can I ask you something?”


Ian blinked and stared at Corey’s mouth. Corey tried to resist the urge to lick his lips and couldn’t. When his tongue darted out to wet them, Ian sighed. “What is it, Corey?”


“Why don’t you ever…” Corey shrugged, rustling the sheets. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ever invite any of the girls back here?”


Ian laughed. “You mean why don’t I fuck the fans?”


That’s all it was, wasn’t it? Fucking the fans. Because they were there, and they were willing, and for a short time at least, they made Corey feel important, and special, and maybe one day they’d make him feel real.


Chapter 4