Page 52 of Final Temptation (Alpine Peak #2)

“Hi, my name is Myles, and I’m an alcoholic,” I announced to the audience in the small white church in town where I’d attended countless meetings before. This one wasn’t the same as any of the others, though.

“Today, I celebrate one year sober.” I cleared my throat, the statement choking me up.

“I’ve never celebrated one year before. I almost made it one year before my first and only relapse.

A relapse so bad, it almost took me away from everyone I love,” I paused, clearing my throat, “in fact…it did take me away from them, for five whole weeks.” I flipped my new bronze sobriety coin between my fingers, feeling every groove and divot.

Anxiously, I felt the weight of the coin in my hand, looking up at the crowd, immediately spotting the girl who never left my side. She’d been there for me on the good days, the bad ones, and everything in between.

Her bright smile encouraged me to keep speaking.

“Last year on October 8th, I woke up from a five-week coma, induced by the overconsumption of alcohol. It’s been exactly a year to the date that I was able to make the conscious decision to be sober.”

My eyes grazed over everyone in attendance. Next to Sophie was her dad, my brother, and Paige, my parents, and even Lisa, Paige’s mom, made it. The only person missing was Chase; he was back at school but called me this morning, knowing how big this day was for me.

“I can’t express enough how much I appreciate all my family and friends sticking by my side for the last couple years.

It hasn’t been easy, and your efforts don’t go unnoticed.

I’m aware I could have been almost two years sober, but instead, I stand here today celebrating one year.

I don’t regret what I did—although I do hate it—it will always hurt to know I put everyone else through that kind of pain in the process. ”

Each word that came out of my mouth only struck me with more emotion. The sweat on my palms gripped the edges of the podium, bowing my head, I took in another deep breath.

“I’ve made a promise to myself that I won’t spend my days dwelling on the past and only strive to create a better future for myself, alcohol free.

There are a few of you here I need to express my gratitude for, and then I’ll be done talking your ear off.

” A few chuckles were heard from the audience.

“Lisa, you took care of me day in and day out when I was at my worst. While you waited for me to wake up, and when you nursed me back to health when I did come around. You not only took care of me, but you took care of my girl, who refused to leave the hospital room.” My eyes shifted from Lisa to my brother.

“My brother and his beautiful wife, you two never gave up on me. You were there for me from the start and refused to leave me alone, even when I thought being alone was what I needed most. Mom and Dad, you provided me with work and a roof over my head when you had every right to show me tough love and kick me out. I love you guys so much.”

My gaze roamed over each guest in attendance, each person with their eyes on me, waiting for what I would say next.

Landing my sight on the girl in the crowd, who was impossible to miss, I looked at her directly in her gorgeous, teary eyes.

“Sophie.” I shook my head, unable to hold back the smile that spread across my cheeks.

“You walked into my life on my darkest days, completely unaware of just how bright you made them. I’ve never felt happier, freer, and more confident.

I now look forward to the future—more days spent with you by my side, and fewer days walking down a path full of guilt and regret. ”

Her vision never strayed from mine, even when it became blurry and filled with tears. I could hear the sniffles around me, but I had no idea where they were coming from. My eyes were focused on Sophie, with no intentions of ripping them away.

“Thank you for being here today, celebrating my accomplishments and milestones, and listening to me today and every other day I’ve walked into these meetings.” I stepped away from the podium, down a few steps, and headed straight for my girl.

Sophie stood as each step of mine got closer to her.

“You did so good, Myles.” Her hands flew around my neck, and her legs around my waist.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I mumbled into her hair, “I have something to show you.”

“What do you mean?” She looked at me with a crinkle in her brow.

“Follow me.” Her body slid down mine, her hand wrapped in mine as I guided her away from the church.

Turning my head, I winked at her family and mine, their all-knowing grins shining back at me.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Just wait. We are almost there.” Our steps aligned as we walked down High Street, away from the church and closer to Peaks .

Standing right next door to the place Sophie grew up, the bar her dad ran, and the place I used to visit way too often to catch secret glimpses of her, was a small storefront for lease.

It was a vacant building that used to mean nothing to me, a place I didn’t even know existed until we accidentally stumbled upon it.

“What are we doing here? Where did the flower shop go?” Sophie glanced around the building, a puzzled expression on her face, while she waited for me to explain my intentions.

“It closed a while back. But now it’s yours.” I pulled the key chain from my pocket, unlocking the door to the old rustic building.

“Myles, what do you mean? This is for me?” Her eyes widened, taking in the old brick walls and dusty floor. The building needed some work done, but I knew if anyone could do it, it would be her. This place would be exactly what she needed.

“For Wildflower Weddings , I leased it for you.” She spun around, tears in her eyes.

“Myles. How… What—” She was speechless.

“I leased it for at least five years. Gives you enough time to finish school, really get your business up and running, and for us to work on fixing up this place.” Her soft hand came up to my face, resting it there as she tried to form her words.

“I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to fixing up a place like this.”

“It’s a good thing your fiancé is in construction, then.

Between me and Declan, this place will be fixed up in no time.

And don’t lie to me and tell me you don’t already have a Pinterest board put together, imagining something like this.

” I let the word fiancé slip, hoping she’d catch on to the other reason we were here.

My hand met hers, pulling it from my cheek down into my hands.

She’s already speechless. Why not take this a step further?

I dropped to my knee, watching her eyes flood with tears.

“Sophie Turner, I told you when I had more time to work on myself, I’d be able to fully give myself to you.

It’s been a year of hard work, but I’ve never felt better, and I want to continue to take steps forward with you by my side.

I want to support you every day just like you have with me.

I want to watch you chase your dreams and succeed in everything you do, helping you do that in any way I can. ”

“Oh my God, Myles.”

I opened her shaky palm, setting the key ring in her hand, holding the keys to this place and a diamond ring.

“I’m asking you two things right now, Sophie.

One, take this key and make this building into the most show-stopping shop in all of Alpine Peak, one that will be every bride’s dream place to walk into the moment they have a ring on their finger.

And two, let me be the luckiest man in the world and watch you make it all happen. Marry me, Sophie.”

My knee throbbed from kneeling on the cement with every second that went by, waiting for her answer.

“I always knew you were a romantic.” She nodded aggressively, anxious to put the ring on her finger.

“So, is that a yes?” I asked, peering up at her from the hard floor.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Standing up, I wrapped her in my arms, kissing away each happy tear that slid down her cheeks.

The diamond cut into my palm from squeezing it so hard, only reminding me that I needed to detach it and slip it onto her finger.

“You know, I thought this was a really cute idea until I had to get the ring off the key ring.” She laughed, the infectious sound echoing off the bare brick walls.

“It wouldn’t be us if something like this didn’t happen,” she joked.

Finally twisting the golden band off the key ring, I held the stunning piece of jewelry between my fingers, the princess-cut diamond sparkling between us, and repeated in a whisper, “Marry me, Sophie.”

“I’m all yours, Myles Cooper.” I slipped the delicate band onto her finger, this moment that felt like an absolute dream, forever etched into my memory.

With the ring on her finger, officially marking her as my soon-to-be wife, we reveled in the moment, kissing each other’s tears until we heard a light knock on the front door.

Through the glass windows, all our friends and family stood on the other side, eager to celebrate with us. Giving them a wave, they entered the building, popping party streamers and filling the champagne flutes in their hands with sparkling cider.

I was surrounded by people I loved—the sound of laughter, comforting hugs, and salutations being praised. Two years ago, if you had asked me if this was what I saw in my future, I would have answered, “It’s everything I’d ever dreamed of, but never believed I’d be lucky enough to achieve.”

THE END.