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

Dante doesn’t think Josey’s that crass but he doesn’t really want to find out, either. He only sees her at the rink and sooner or later she’ll lose interest in him, when he doesn’t flirt back or when she can’t get him alone because Ryan’s always around. She’ll move on, girls always do. Picking up another stone, Dante hefts it at the hubcap and asks his boyfriend, “What did you tell her?”


“Me?” Ryan asks, surprised. “Nothing. What was I supposed to say? That he’s right?”


Dante shrugs. It would make things easier on him, wouldn’t it, if Ryan was the one to say something to Josey? There would be nothing else he couldsay, just smile sadly and tell her it’s true, he’s in love with someone and it’s not her, sorry. Ryan looks at him sharply and adds, “She’s not myfriend.”


Chapter 55