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

“Few days,” Ryan admits, but he amends silently, Forever.That’s what it seems like to him and he thinks Dante feels the same way. It’s not a question of whether or not their sudden friendship can stand the test of time—for him, it’s knowing in the instant they met that neither of them would ever, ever forget the other.


“He’s amazing,” Josey gushes, like Ryan needs her to tell him this. As she holds the door open for him, she smiles and asks, “Isn’t he? I’ve never seenanyone skate like he can. He’s heading for the Olympics for sure.” Ryan wheels out beneath the stands and Josey lets the door close behind them. It’s dark here but he can see the light off the ice ahead, rows of chairs stretched out around them, skaters flying by. “He’ll make State,” Josey continues, following Ryan out to the chairs, already filled with parents and friends. “I just know it. And then it’s Regionals, that’s in another month or so, and I knowhe’ll win that.”


Chapter 48