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

But when Ryan does reply, his answer surprises Dante. “Since the accident? No one’s asked me anything. Not, how are you doing, Ryan? Not, what’s it like to sit all the time? Not, how the hell do you take a piss anymore?” He forces a wan smile. “Nothing. No one mentions the chair or my legs. Like they’re scared they might offend me.”


“The doctors,” Dante suggests, settling back in his seat.


Ryan shrugs. “Sure, the doctors ask. Where’s it hurt? How’s this feel? Can you do this?” With a lusty sigh, he says, “For all their talk of me walking again, it hasn’t happened yet. All I do at the therapist’s are sit-ups and leg-lifts and damn warm-up exercises. I want back in the game, you know? I don’t want to sit on the sidelines, I don’t want to warm up with the rest of the team just to watch.” He looks at Dante, his eyes pleading for empathy. “You know?”


Chapter 13