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

Why can’t it be that simple? Because you’re stuck in a wheelchair,he thinks. Out in the center of the ice Dietrich skates up to Dante, says something low and mean that makes him move away. Because you’re not a hero, you’re not even whole, you can’t fight for your boy when you can’t even fucking walk.Dietrich follows Dante, says something else, something that makes Dante’s face redden, and didn’t Ryan say he’d hurt that fucker if he said another word to him? Didn’t he promise it to himself? Wheelchair or not—


“He’s dead,” he mutters to no one in particular. Becca glances warily at him, sees the hate shining in his eyes, and looks away. Wil Dietrich won’t have to worry about the competitions, he’s not going to get the chance to race—Ryan doesn’t know how yet, but he’s ending this today.


Chapter 165