Page 6 of Final Temptation (Alpine Peak #2)

My eyes shot open to the sound of my phone alarm ringing. There wasn’t much to accomplish on my agenda today besides a small amount of homework that had to be turned in by midnight. Focusing on homework and a pounding martini headache from the night before certainly wasn’t a good mix.

After turning off my alarm, I continued to lay in bed, mindlessly scrolling. The conversation between Myles and me flooded back to the forefront of my mind. I can’t believe I mentioned needing a roommate, and even worse, he was apparently looking to move out.

What were the freaking odds?

For him, it probably sounded like a grand plan that fell right into his lap.

Me, on the other hand, an absolute disaster of an idea.

I could see it now—Myles moving in, girl falling for boy, boy bringing home a new chick every night, and girl having no choice but to deal with it because he’d be paying the bills.

I tossed my phone to the side and grabbed my pillow, wrapping it around my face. “UGH!” My scream muffled into the soft, feathery fabric.

Texting my best friend was the only thing I could think of doing at that moment. Paige was a few years older than me, with a bit more life experience. She was independent and always seemed to know the answer to everything.

Me: Please tell me you aren’t working this morning.

Paige: Somehow, I managed to have today off. What’s up?

Me: 9-1-1 can you come over and bring greasy carbs and a non-judgmental attitude?

Paige: Oh man. This sounds like a good one. I’ll be there in twenty mins!

While I waited for Paige to arrive, I threw myself together the best I could. She must have been ready for her day and able to leave ASAP, because by the time I had gotten up to brush my teeth, wash my face, and chug some water, there was already a knock on the door.

“You’re a lifesaver.” I pulled her into a tight embrace and closed the door behind her.

“Rough night?” she asked as she made her way to the kitchen, pulling a couple plates from the cabinets to set up our greasy breakfast sandwiches.

“Rough night, party of one.” I grabbed my plate from her and made my way to the couch, Paige following closely behind me. “I may have done something stupid.” I cringed.

Taking a seat next to me, Paige mumbled with a mouth full of bacon, “Is this regarding the thing you didn’t want me to be judgmental about?”

The flakiness of the buttered croissant melted in my mouth, little by little, easing the pain of my hangover. With a full mouth, I nodded before adding, “There may be something I’ve been hiding from you.”

“Spill the beans, Soph. I’m on the edge of my seat.” Should I start with last night? Or do I begin with the kiss?

Shifting side to side, I attempted to get comfortable. “So, I’m just going to come out and say it… I kissed Myles.” My hands flew up, immediately covering my red-hot cheeks.

“Um, I’m sorry. Did you just say you kissed Myles? The person you swore you never wanted to get involved with?” My hands slipped from my face, my eyes shooting daggers at my best friend.

“I told you: you weren’t allowed to judge.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry, Soph. Mind starting from the beginning?” she pleaded.

“It was six months ago—” The moment the words slipped out of my mouth, Paige’s jaw dropped.

“Pick your jaw up off the floor. I’m sorry, okay?

I’m sorry I’ve been holding this one in the vault, but I told myself nothing would ever happen again.

I didn’t think it was necessary to spill the beans when I originally planned to take this one to the grave.

” My head fell back to the cushion, a wave of relief washing over me now that I finally admitted the secret I’d harbored from my best friend for months.

But I wasn’t out of the woods yet. I had more to tell her and advice to ask for.

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m not mad at you for keeping this from me, Soph.

I’m just wrapping my head around it all.

Clearly, there is more to the story, right?

So, let it all out, I’m here to listen.” She set her nearly full plate to the side, sitting crisscross applesauce with her hands in her lap, fingers fully intertwined, eager to hear me out.

I started from the beginning—girls’ night.

I confessed every dirty detail, from the hottest kiss I’d never forget, the way it made me burn up inside, and the idiotic thoughts that ran through my mind that night when I was drunk off wine, and fresh off accidentally matching with him on the dating app—which I made sure to sarcastically thank her for.

“The truth is, I’ve felt so fucking alone lately, Paige.

I see how happy you are in your relationship, and that’s something I’ve always wanted.

I’m a relationship girl. I know I’ve never been in a serious one, but it’s what I desperately want.

I don’t want to fuck around forever. I want the guys I hook up with to see me as more—more than just a pretty face.

” I ran my hands through my hair, combing it back and tying it up in a knot.

“So, you finally gave in to messaging Myles last night when you were feeling lonely?” She has no idea.

“To be frank? I knew Myles would be a good time. Look at him, of course he’d be a good time.

But I didn’t think that when I kissed him, I’d never be able to wash that memory away.

In reality, I hoped I was drunk enough that I’d forget it.

I had a moment of weakness last night when I messaged him.

I was lonely, horny, and everything in-between, you name it. ”

“Was the conversation a good one?” she asked, hope laced in her voice.

“It started off flirty and fun, but it turned serious out of nowhere. Honestly, it was a good conversation. There was a lot I enjoyed about it—especially how talking to him made me feel . It changed after a few fun text exchanges. I never thought Myles was capable of showing his vulnerable side the way he did. It made me feel a little differently about him—look at him in a different light, I guess.” I shifted in my seat.

“Different good, or different bad?”

“Different good. I’ve had this idea of him in my head based on what I’d heard or known myself.

The days of working at the bar and seeing him interact with women every night with his playboy mentality left a bitter taste in my mouth.

He’s always been hot, but he never felt safe for me—unapproachable.

Until last night. Even when we kissed months ago, he still had that cocky way about him.

He opened up for the briefest moment, until he kissed me—then he was all fuck boy swagger.

But last night…he opened up. He just seemed different .

” I sighed; every word of truth slipped from my mouth, releasing the built-up tension I’ve carried for months.

“You know…he is different, Declan and I have seen it too. Last night we went to his AA meeting. He celebrated six months sober. I think if you take out all the problems from last year and the reckless drinking, he is different. He’s been working on himself, and maybe this is all part of it, being more open and honest with his feelings.

He can’t hide behind alcohol anymore.” She shrugged.

Paige was right. I asked her not to judge me today, but I had been the one judging all along.

It made me feel like shit.

“Yeah, you have a point there. He did say something about working on himself. Something along the lines of trying to be more… adult . He said he was even looking to move out of his parents’ house.” There ya go, Soph, ease Paige into this next part.

“Wow. Declan hasn’t mentioned anything to me about Myles wanting to move out. I wonder how long he’s been sitting on that one.”

I bit my bottom lip, hating that I knew the answer to her question based on one conversation.

“Well, I did kind of mention to him that I was looking for a roommate?—”

“Wait, what? Since when?”

“I’ve been weighing my options. I only have so much in my savings, and if I want to fully focus on school, I’ll need a job or a roommate to help with the bills.

And if I get another job, I’m afraid I won’t have time for school.

I’m trying to bust out extra credits each semester so I can get done quicker.

So, I mentioned to Myles before he said anything that I was potentially looking for a roommate.

Then he happened to say he had thoughts of moving out.

We kind of ended the conversation with the assumption that I’d think about his offer to take over my other room.

” I took a deep breath, the weight instantly lifting off my shoulders after admitting everything.

“That is a lot to take in. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect when you texted me this morning. But it definitely wasn’t this.

” Chuckling to herself, she added, “Truthfully, though? I don’t think it’s a terrible idea.

You can both help each other out. He can continue to work on himself while being responsible for paying his bills, and you won’t have to stress about money while you go to school.

Seems like a win-win to me.” She shrugged.

“You don’t think it’s a terrible idea to move in with the guy you can’t stop thinking about?” I asked.

“Well, Soph, that seems like a problem for another day. Who knows, maybe you guys will end up being super close friends, or maybe you will end up being my sister-in-law.” She stood up and winked.

“Where are you going?” I went after her.

“I have a day date with Declan’s penis, and you have a decision to make. Text me later!” Before I knew it, I was watching the back of my best friend walk out the door, her hand in the air, waving goodbye, and her gorgeous brown locks waving side to side.

I was hopeful her advice would be more direct. Instead, I felt even more confused when I picked up my cell to text Myles, this time to his phone number and not the dating app.

After typing out a few different messages, I finally decided to press send and hop in the shower. My pores reeked of vodka and greasy breakfast food, and I didn’t want to get into a habit of mornings spent in my own filth if I was potentially going to entertain a new roommate in the future.

Not wanting to repeat the same mistake as last night, obsessing over my phone buzzing with Myles’s response, I set it on the bathroom counter and enjoyed a long, hot shower.

This time, he could be the one to wait for me to answer back.