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

“Can’t you just face the facts, Josey?” Dietrich is saying, his voice traveling the length of the hall to reach Dante. “You’re a fag hag. Tell me, do you think about them getting it on when you rub one out?”


Suddenly there’s a sound like the smack of skin on skin, and the skaters gathered gasp as one. Dante whirls around, so sure that Dietrich’s gone too far this time, he hit Josey or something worse—


But Dietrich’s rocked back on his heels, held up by two guys behind him, a dazed expression on his face. He holds his hand against his nose and as Dante watches, he pulls away fingers wet with blood. “Oh shit,” Ryan murmurs. Dante turns the chair slightly, just enough so his boyfriend can see what’s happening, too. “She didn’t—”


No, Joseydidn’t, Becca did—the older girl stands over Dietrich, her face flushed with anger, her hands balled into fists at her sides. “You fucking bitch,” Dietrich spits, his teeth flecked with more blood.


Chapter 127