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

“Ouch,” Ben said, as Tom Alan finally headed off the ice.


“I’ll be right back.” Tom Alan whipped off his gray-and-orange striped hat for emphasis. He was going to call someone all right, just not Milo.


“What the heck!” he spat as soon as she answered. “What did you tell Papa?”


“Your version of it.” He stretched as he talked to stay limber.


“You’re the one tossing around bullshit.”


“And you’re just jealous.” He hiked up his pants when he felt air on his butt.


“Fuck you!” She knew Tom Alan would never say it back.


“I can’t even talk to you!” he did say. “I don’t even want to.”


“Well I don’t wanna talk to you either. It’s the middle of the night,” she muttered, full of spite. “Dick breath.”


Though neither wanted to speak to the other, no one hung up the phone.


Chapter 40