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

That’s it,Ryan thinks. He’s gone too far.Across the ice in the player box, Dietrich is gathering his stuff together like Ryan’s anger is nothingto him, it doesn’t mean shit, it doesn’t bother him in the least. It will,Ryan promises himself. Backing his wheelchair up, he turns around in the narrow aisle and starts away from the ice. Dante trails after him. “Ryan, where…”


“Get on the ice,” Ryan tells him. The clack clackof Dante’s blades on the flooring tell him he’s not listening. Over his shoulder, Ryan mutters, “Get back on the ice, Dante, you’ll fuck up your skates.”


“Where are you going?” Dante wants to know. “Ryan—wait, please, where—”


Ryan doesn’t answer—he concentrates on the double doors ahead and in his mind navigates the corridors to get him from this section of the stands to the locker room. He has no clue what he’s going to do once he gets over there, but he hopes he’s not too late.


Chapter 166