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

But Corey was looking at him with those beguiling eyes, the hint of a pout on those full lips, and all thoughts of going back to his room left Ian’s mind. “I’ll just be a minute,” Corey said. “Please?”


Without answering, Ian plopped down on the bed and stretched out to stare at the ceiling. When Corey didn’t move, he asked, “Well? You gonna get your shit together or what?”


Ian sighed and tried not to breathe in the stench of stale perfume hanging like a miasma over the bed. He tried not to notice as Corey moved around the room, glancing at him as he picked up his clothes and stuffed them into his bag. Beneath his breath he hummed a song Ian recognized but couldn’t place, and Ian closed his eyes against the pain that beat in his head in rhythm with Corey’s tune. “Let me jump in the shower and then I’ll be ready to go.”


Chapter 7