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

“Fine,” Ryan says again. He’ll be fine.


After Jacoby leaves, more skaters take to the ice. They stick to small groups, teams of three or four with yellow helmet covers that stand out bright against the dark stadium. Each cover has a three digit number on it—the lowest is 152, it belongs to a girl whose hair hangs down her back in one long, blonde braid. She’s fairly quick, skates a tight circle around her giggling friends, glances over her shoulder at Ryan and then skates away. The other girls trail behind her, whispering together. Ryan’s certain they’re talking about him.


The lower stands start to fill up, mostly parents and what looks like an elementary school class trip, two teachers and a gaggle of knee-high munchkins laughing and shrieking as they throw popcorn at each other. Ryan looks around—is this a meet? Trials? He wonders if someone will come by and ask him for a ticket. He’s not paying to watch this.


Chapter 8