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

They tussle, fists striking without reason, legs bucking, feet connecting with mats and the walls, the floors, whoever’s nearby that can’t move out of the way fast enough. Ryan gets his hands around Dietrich’s throat, chokes him until the skater kicks him away, then the kid climbs onto himand straddles his hips to keep him down. He starts pummeling Ryan’s face and chest with inexperienced punches. “I’m notgay,” he cries. “You fucking queer, you fucking faggot, you’re the one who likes it up the ass, you’re the one that goes down on him, not me, not me. Not me.”


Chapter 167