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

“I shouldn’t be telling you any of this either. We break more rules than we keep lately, Kiki. You more than me.”


Erika raised a hand to him again but put it down.


“Listen Kiki, I know I vacillate. No one is more annoyed by my indecision-making—”


“Yeah, that. No one is more annoyed by that than me. Well…” He thought a moment. “Everyone probably is.” Erika smiled at him and shook her head. “Anyway, I don’t know. I’m open to suggestions.”


“I love Billy. You don’t get it.”


“I totally get it,” Tom Alan said. “I might be the one and only person in the whole entire world who gets it as good as you.” He pulled her into his arms again. They just stayed there, together, several minutes. “Where did you leave things with Bill?” Tom Alan finally asked.


Tom Alan managed half a laugh. “Okay.”


“I guess I lied. ‘Cause I swore to him there was no way in hell I’d be marrying you anytime, after the Olympics or ever.” 29


Chapter 98