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

Room three reminds Ryan of an adult playground with its waist-high parallel bars, huge rubber balls scattered about, the floor covered in thick mats and a two-way mirror along one wall that reflects the room back to itself. There’s a bench to one side where Dante steers him, taking a seat as they wait for Tish to show up. “So this is it,” Dante says, his voice hushed. He looks around like a little boy, eyes wide, trying to take in everything at once.


Dante laughs and takes his hand. The nurse didn’t follow them into the room and the door’s still open, but he leans over and kisses Ryan’s cheek as if they’re alone. “When we get home, I’ll kiss away the pain,” Dante promises him. “I’ll massage your back and legs, how’s that? And make you forget all about this place. What do you say to that?”


Chapter 94