William & Bernard by Charlie Tran

William Juniper used to be a legend in town. But those days are over. All he wants is to get back out onto the rink. To feel the wind blowing in his hair, to feel like he was flying across the ice. To hear cheers from the crowd and the chanting of his name. The weight of a medal around neck. It’d been years since he participated in any winter games.

Bernard Smith has taken over his figure skating crown. His is the name that people cheer for, the new local hero. It’s hard to not resent him after taking William’s win after he hurt his leg. But to Bernard, William deserves another chance at redemption, and to reclaim his title. For the sake of Mrs. Juniper. The trouble is, no one will take on William and manage him. Who would want to sink money into a hasbeen with a wonky leg anyway? The training, the coaches, it wasn’t worth it. But Bernard comes up with a brilliant idea, one that his own sponsor can’t refuse.

Pair skating. The more they train in preparation for the winter games, the closer William and Bernard get with one another. Can William ditch his resentment for the younger man? Will Bernard convince him that being so close, literally, isn’t such a bad thing?