On his way to realizing his Olympic dream, Tom Alan Baranowski finds himself in the midst of a dilemma. His traditional Japanese coach is insisting upon an arranged marriage between his biological daughter Erika and adopted son Tom Alan, who are partners on the ice. Tom Alan loves Erika, and his coach literally saved his life, rescuing him from an abusive home. How can he say no?<br><br>Somewhat resigned to his “not so bad” fate, everything changes when Tom Alan meets British ice dancer Milo Fisher. The spark between them is almost hot enough to melt the ice beneath their blades, and the two fall into an affair.<br><br>What about Erika? What about loyalty? What about gold? For Tom Alan, the impossible throw quadruple jump is suddenly the least difficult thing in his life.

Quadruple Flip

“And we’ve probably dealt with whatever it is you might be going through.”


“Yeah,” Ben agreed. “Olympic athletes, questioning our sexuality, friends versus lovers…Been there, bought the T-shirt.”


“Well, I’m definitely gay, for starters.”


“And you’re worried about coming out to your friends and partner?” Kat asked.


“You’re worried about the sport—the media, the sponsors, the fans,” Ben stated.


“That’s not really it, either. Partially, but not totally. Everyone assumes figure skaters are gay anyway. It’s the straight ones that have to prove something.”


“What then, Tom Alan?” Kat looked at him warmly. “It can’t be something that different than what we’ve been through over recent years.”


Ben nodded. “We’re here to help.”


Tom Alan inhaled deeply. “I’m afraid I will disappoint my father if I don’t marry his daughter.”


Chapter 28