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

“You’re in!” Josey claps as Dante approaches the boards, her braid bouncing along her back with each move she makes. “Awesome, Dante,” she gushes. “You were great.”


“It’s just a heat,” Dante replies, unbuckling his helmet. He wipes sweat from above his upper lip and frowns at Ryan. “What did he say to you?”


Before Ryan can reply, Josey rolls her eyes. “He’s just being a jerk,” she tells him.


Ryan glances at her, then at Dante, waiting. Already the other three skaters are lining up on the ice, Dietrich one of them—this is it, the 500 meter race. Dante doesn’t need to be worrying about anything but winning right now. “Nothing,” Ryan says with a shake of his head. Dante’s frown deepens, and he promises, “I’ll tell you later. Go win.”


“Tell me now,” Dante says. He leans on the boards as if he has all the time in the world to wait.


“They’re waiting for you, Dante,” Josey points out.


Chapter 51