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

But one of his friends takes Dietrich’s arm, pulls him towards the rink. “He’s a cripple,” he whispers, Ryan hears it clear as day. “Don’t go there, man.”


From the corner of his eye, Dietrich gives Ryan an evil look that he matches perfectly. Try me,he thinks, but the skater isn’t up for it today. He takes one step, another, and then he’s gone, shoving through the doors into the rink and muttering something to his friends that makes them laugh again. Ryan lets out a breath he didn’t know he held and his fingers start to rub at Dante’s wrist in a soothing gesture. “Jesus,” he says, his voice shaky now that the threat of a fight has passed.


“Fucking ass,” Dante spits suddenly.


Chapter 106