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 they’re not alone, Josey’s here with her sister, and she keeps talking talking talkinguntil Dante just wants to ask her to shut up, please? Every now and then he smiles past her to ask Ryan something but she’s quick to answer, ever eager to snag his attention again. By the time they’re finished eating, Ryan doesn’t bother to say anything at all, just sits with his arms folded in front of him and frowns at a spot in the flowered display at the center of the table. “So what are you guys planning to do now?” Josey asks, pushing her plate away to signal that she’s done. She says you guysbut Dante knows she only means him. She hasn’t looked in Ryan’s direction since she sat down.


He shrugs, glances across the table in the hopes of catching his boyfriend’s eye, and sighs when Ryan doesn’t look up at him. “I’m not sure,” he admits. “We still have to unpack—”


Chapter 125