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

Ryan nods at the ice, now empty and smooth, the hockey players gone and the skate club not yet arrived. “You’re losing practice time,” he says.


“I know.” Dante stands and stretches, then gathers up his jacket, his sweatshirt, and a duffle bag that’s hidden beneath his seat. Looking down at Ryan, he asks, “You’re going to be here tomorrow?”


“Yeah,” Ryan replies. He has nothing else planned and already he can’t wait to see Dante again. He’s going to dream of him tonight, he knows it, and during his therapy session, he’ll focus on his friend’s face just to chase away the pain. “I’ll be here. You?”


“Yeah—no, wait.” Dante frowns and digs in his pocket, pulls out a handful of crumpled dollar bills, and starts to count them out. “Damn,” he murmurs. “Not tomorrow. I only have eight dollars.”


“It’s fifteen to skate for club members,” Dante tells him. Shoving the money back into his pocket, he shrugs and asks, “Maybe Friday? I get paid tomorrow.”


Chapter 22