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 ignores her. Instead, he swings one leg up over the back of the seat next to Ryan’s wheelchair and sinks down, stretching his legs out in front of him. From up his sleeve he pulls out a bandanna, shakes it, then ties it over his hair gangster-style to keep his bangs out of his face. Leaning his head back, he closes his eyes and pulls his bandanna down over them. Ryan pats his thigh in what he hopes is a comforting gesture. Dante hasn’t spoken to him yet, hasn’t said a word. Is he mad at him, maybe? For insisting on knowing what Dietrich said?


When he moves his hand away, though, Dante catches it and sets it back on his knee. He’s not mad then, not at Ryan, and his fingers rub along the inner seam of Dante’s sweats, soothing. When you’re ready to talk about it,he thinks, hoping Dante somehow understands without his having to say the words. I’m here for you when you need me to be.


Chapter 151