It’s been two years since the release of Prove It. I had hoped by now I’d have news about the release of the sequel, but unfortunately, Nate’s story isn’t quite done yet.

But in the meantime, I wanted to share this short epilogue for Noah and Alex’s story along with the alternate cover art I commissioned a while back from Victoria Newberry.

I hope you enjoy!

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Two days after the Calder finalists were announced, Noah’s dad called him to say he had a root canal scheduled for the morning of the NHL Awards and wouldn’t be able to make it. The ceremony was on a Friday, so that wasn’t unbelievable in a not possible way, but Noah knew if his dad wanted to be there, if it were important enough, he would have just rescheduled. Part of him, the part that couldn’t shake wanting his dad’s approval, was disappointed. But a larger part, the part that chose to hang out with Nate in Anaheim the last night of the Hellions’ Dad’s trip because he couldn’t stand to spend another hour with him, wondered if his dad had finally gotten it through his thick skull that Noah could only spend so much time with him.

He’s not sure his dad’s capable of that sort of olive branch, but now that he’s here in Vegas with Millie and his mom, he is immensely relieved that his dad is not here to ruin the weekend. Millie and Alex get along like a house on fire, and Alex’s family folds her right into their little group the same way they did with Noah and his mom at Christmas. Millie and Sierra team up to chirp him and Alex the entire time they’re together. It makes him blush, but there’s a warm, pleasant feeling of family making itself at home in his heart every passing moment, and Noah feels good.

He’s seated right behind Alex at the ceremony. When they get up there to announce the Calder, Alex turns in his seat, a shit-eating grin making his eyes shine, and whispers, “You’re buying us both real ice cream if I win this.”

Noah laughs, something slotting into place in his mind. It’s hard to look away from Alex’s beautiful mouth. The woman starts saying, “The Calder Memorial…” and Alex faces forward. She says Noah’s name. His stomach drops out, heart bursting. It’s a lot like the draft, everything happening in a daze. He hugs his mom and Millie, then there’s Alex standing up to pull him into a hug, too, whispering right against his ear, “I am so fucking proud of you.”

Noah swallows. His cheeks are hot. He glances back at Alex one last time after he shakes the other nominee’s hand, and Alex is looking right at him. He gives Noah two thumbs up and mouths, “You got this,” before the goofiest grin spreads across his face. Noah shakes his head, unable to keep his smile in check as he turns to walk up to the stage. He’s sure the whole thing’s been caught on camera, but for once, Noah doesn’t care. He loves Alex. People know they’re friends. They can have this. People can see this.

He goes through his speech on autopilot, catches Alex’s eye right as he’s wrapping it up and the need to bring attention to what Alex means to him surges right through him. He grips the trophy a little tighter, tries not to let I love you work its way onto his face as he finishes, “And finally, I’d like to thank Alex Valencia for being an ever-present thorn in my side, for constantly challenging me to be better, and of course, for the dinner he’s going to owe me after this.”

It gets a good laugh from the entire crowd, but Noah only cares about the way Alex tips his head back and claps his hand over his mouth. It’s the response he wanted, and he walks off stage bursting with happiness.

They don’t get another moment alone until they’re back in Noah’s hotel room, a promise to meet their families for breakfast in the morning, and a taunt from Sierra and Millie to make good choices. The door clicks shut, and they crash into each other. They undress in stops and starts, laughing as they stumble backwards over one of their shoes and into bed.

They’re both half-hard in their boxers, but the look in Alex’s eyes slows Noah down; nothing seems as frantic while Alex is looking up at him with open affection. He brushes hair off Alex’s forehead, drops a kiss to his mouth, his jaw, his throat, then says, “They asked me about you after my speech.”

Alex grins, eyes bright with mirth. “I’d say you brought that on yourself, but I’m pretty sure they would’ve asked you about me, anyway.”

It doesn’t have the same effect Alex’s teasing usually does. It makes Noah’s heart ache with a weird sort of longing. Noah shifts off Alex but stays by his side. He rests his arm against his chest and nervously traces his fingers over Alex’s collarbones. “Do you think they’ll ever stop?”

“Pretty sure they’d eventually get over the draft rivalry if we didn’t get drafted to teams with a historic rivalry. But to be honest, I think we fucked ourselves over the most by being friends.” Alex doesn’t sound too concerned about Noah’s line of questioning, but when he looks, there’s a small furrow between his brows that makes Noah’s stomach plummet before he even asks, “Does it bother you?”

“I like talking about you.” When Alex smiles, Noah almost can’t stand to add, “Which is the problem.”

Despite the guilt gnawing at Noah, Alex doesn’t look hurt, just curious. “How so?” 

Noah’s mouth twists. “You know how it is; they always want us to give something to the rivalry. Even if—I mean, people know we’re friends. But they still want to know how competitive we are.”

Alex hums.

“Sometimes it feels like—” He huffs, frustrated. “It’s like they’re trying to get me to put you down or say I’m better than you and that was already annoying as hell before we knew each other, but now all I want to do is tell them to shut the fuck up.”

“You think that’d be enough personality for socials?” Alex asks with a grin.

“Might be.”

Alex leans up for a kiss, and Noah sighs into it, opens his mouth for Alex to deepen it. Alex indulges him just long enough to get Noah on his back, and when he stops, Noah pouts.

Alex dips down to give Noah one last kiss, then runs his hand down Noah’s arm. “Gotta talk about this one before we do anything else.”

It’s fair, but Noah needs a moment to chew over his thoughts. Alex’s open, unconcerned expression makes it easier to sort through his feelings. “It’s not not about wanting to tell the media to fuck off. Like, I want to be able to talk about how good you are without all the bullshit of the rivalry. But I also really want to talk about you. The guys know there’s someone”—Alex looks sheepish as his gaze drops to the fading hickey he left on Noah’s collarbone—“and I hate that I have to let them assume you’re a girl. It fucking sucks. And I didn’t think it would be this hard to shut up about you.”

“You also didn’t think we would be friends. Now look at us.” He’s grinning, but it doesn’t soothe Noah the way it should, and Alex’s face falls. “What’s that face for?”

“It’s easier to keep a secret when I want it to be a secret.”

Understanding settles over Alex’s face. “You can tell people about me if you want.”

Noah glares but Alex grins. “Not, like, the world. I think half the league could be out and the NHL still wouldn’t be ready for two rivals dating. The press coverage might actually be worse than the rivalry one.”

Noah thinks that might be an understatement. “God, one off game and they’d think we were going easy on each other.”

“Socials might want us on the same team, though.”

“Socials already want us on the same team.”

“Okay, true.” Alex’s face softens into something thoughtful, something sweet. “What I meant is, you could tell people other than Millie and your mom.”

“The groupchat knows.”

“The groupchat doesn’t count.”

“Oh yeah? You wanna relay that to Nate?”

Alex rolls his eyes. “Nate would say the same.” Noah makes a skeptical face, and Alex insists, “He would! They love you, but they knew me first. Other than Millie and your mom, who knows that knew you first?”

“Julien knows.”

Alex eyebrows shoot up. “About us?”

“No, not yet. But I did come out to him when we played them back in December. When I met Kaden for the first time.”

“Oh god, Kade was insufferable that night.”

“Yeah? So was Julien.” Noah’s smile widens as he thinks back on that night. “He actually never stopped.”

“In what way?”

“Oh, you know…he was very insistent you were into me—”

“Shut up! No, he wasn’t.”

“He was! Thought so at the draft too.”

Alex gently pushes Noah’s shoulder. “Now you’re fucking with me.”

“I’m not,” Noah says, laughter seeping into his words. “We both still thought you were with Liv then, so he said he’d think you were into me if not. But don’t worry, he was totally chill with it, totally down with you wanting to fly your rainbow flag for me.”

Alex’s mouth splits in a smile, laughter bursting out. “Oh god, he said that, didn’t he?”

“Yes, because he’s fucking embarrassing.” Fondness laces every one of his words. “He’s actually—he’s the first one who said we were basically dating.”

 “Really? And you didn’t freak out?”

“I mean, I really thought you were with Liv. But he thought you’d broken up and was very insistent that if I wanted to, I should go for it. Or at least, flirt with you to see if you were into me.”

“Aw.” Alex is practically glowing. “Did Thorn plant the first seed for you thinking it’d be okay to try this? Do I have to send him a thank you card for getting us together?”

“Please don’t.”

Alex drops a quick kiss to Noah’s mouth. “He got me in the door. I think I gotta.”

“Guess I’m not telling him then. Can’t let you feed his ego.”

“It’s either him or the draft narrative.” Another kiss. “You gotta choose one.”

Noah feels like he’s bursting. “Oh, the narrative for sure.”

Alex laughs into the next kiss, drops to Noah’s jaw, then moves down his neck as he says, “Of course, no nice things for Thorn.”

He scrapes his teeth along the underside of Noah’s jaw, and Noah arches into him, body igniting with white hot desire. He threads his fingers through Alex’s hair, keeping him in place at his neck. Alex switches to soft, closed-mouth kisses that make Noah whine.

When the shame he used to feel for being so needy—the one he spent months wrestling down so he wouldn’t ruin these moments with Alex—doesn’t rear its ugly head, the realization knocks his breath away. He pulls Alex’s hair and kisses him to stop himself from saying the words on the tip of his tongue.

 When Noah pulls back to catch his breath, Alex says, “I’m so happy the draft lottery went the way it did.”

“Yeah? Would’ve been pretty hard to fall in love if we were on opposite coasts.”

It’s only a little more direct than anything Noah’s said since the morning after Alex clinched a playoff spot, but Alex lights up like it’s the real thing. “I love you so goddamn much. It would’ve been a shame to not experience this.”

Noah’s heart is so full. He flips them over and kisses Alex slow and thorough, knowing it won’t convey even half of what he feels, but needing another moment.

When he pulls back, Alex’s mouth is slick and red, his cheeks faintly flushed, and he’s never looked more radiant, smiling up at Noah like he took the kiss exactly as Noah had meant it. He drops a kiss to Alex’s nose, then each cheek, and finally has the nerve to say what he’s been feeling for so long. “I love you, too.”