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

Still, he’d like to talk to him again. A few minutes on the phone, what would it hurt? The ice isn’t completely free yet, he can take a quick break, run out to the phones in the lobby, call and by the time he comes back, maybe everyone will be gone. As he stands he sees Josey in a scrimmage with a couple of boys from Group A, laughing as she whizzes by the player box, and on the far side of the rink, Dietrich leans against the boards, talking with Pennock but looking his way. Dante ignores the hot stare, the half-heard whispers he swears reach out for him across the ice. Faggot,he still hears the word. He hears Dietrich’s mean laughter—from the corner of his eye, he sees him nudge Pennock, nod his way, and as the racers complete another lap, the two skaters start circling the rink. Watching him. Coming over here.


Chapter 39