Ian feels he has not been blessed with good looks, and his treatment from others lends weight to these beliefs. From a child, where he is teased about his big nose, to his twenties, where his best friend, the handsome Zack, seems to get all the attention, Ian is made to feel inferior. The resulting insecurity means he won't look in a mirror unless absolutely essential.<br><br>Then one night at Zenith, the local gay club, he locks eyes with Brad. He likes what he sees, but so does Zack. As Zack approaches Brad, Ian's heart sinks. However, there is a small chance Brad will tell Zack to take a hike.<br><br>Is Ian's life about to change for the better? Will he finally get a chance at love? Or will his so-called best friend Zack ruin everything? Could Zack really be that cruel?

Ugly

Ian felt a flash of guilt. “Sorry about that. I fell asleep and…”


“You’re here now.” They arrived in the kitchen where Brad had set a beautiful table. “If you want to sit over there…”


Ian sat and admired the setting. The small bouquet of flowers, the candle and cloth napkins in silver rings. The silver salt and pepper shakers. The expensive-looking plates.


Ian took a sip and nodded. “Very nice.”


Only then did it strike him that he hadn’t brought any himself. Another thing to feel bad about.


Brad brought over a small tray of antipasto. “There you go. It’s basically a sampling plate because I want you to have room for the main event.” He sat and raised his glass. “To a wonderful evening.”


“To a wonderful evening.” Ian looked over the tray. “It all looks very nice.”


He picked up an olive and a slice of salami. The second he had taken a bite, Brad asked him a question. “So tell me, Ian, what do you do for a living?”


Chapter 11