Ryan Talonovich is the star of his college hockey team, until an accident during practice leaves him confined to a wheelchair. The doctors say he'll walk again but a new season is already underway and he's been replaced on the team, which leaves him feeling alone and betrayed. What's the use of fighting to get back on the ice now?<br><br>Then he meets Dante Espinosa, a short track skater on the city's speed skating club. Though he has to work overtime to afford his sport, Dante is hell on ice, and dreams of making the cut on the U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team.<br><br>Their love of the ice brings them together, but too many obstacles stand in their way: Ryan's struggle with therapy. The memory of Dante's first boyfriend. Lack of funding to the event, Dante's harassing boss, a skating friend in love with him, and Wil Dietrich, who will do anything to win.

Power Play

He’s actually not far from the ice, and when he wheels out onto the small landing above the player box, the coach sees him, gives him a thumbs up that’s not really as encouraging as it’s meant to be. He nods, positions himself at the end of a row of seats like he’s just another fan in the crowd, rummages through his bag for the camera and his notebook. Last night he started drawing out designs for the web site. After practice he plans to just sit here for a while, stare at the ice, maybe doodle some more, anything to keep from rushing back home.


Morning skate is never very long—his mother was right, just a little over an hour, and when the players file off the ice into the locker rooms, Jacoby climbs up over the railing and plops down into the seat beside him. “We didn’t think you’d come,” he says by way of hello.


Chapter 7