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

The coach leads Dante out into the corridor where a temporary press box has been set up outside of the locker rooms. Reporters from the city newspaper and one or two of the local television stations jostle for position and when they see Dante, the questions come in a barrage like bullets. “How do you feel?” “What’s going through your mind right now?” “Think you can do it again?” Turning to the coach, Dante whispers, “I don’t really want—”


“Just a few minutes,” the coach replies, beaming at the reporters. Then a thought occurs to him and his smile disappears. “Oh wait, you probably have to get to work, don’t you?”


Chapter 53