Fire Always Burns (19 page)

"Holly! Come here, we found something," Andrew shouted, waving me over. I picked my way through the debris, careful of the cast on my ankle, to where the three men stood.

Ray had asked Luke what he wanted to name the new store. A new beginning, a new name, he had said. Luke had said he'd think of something. As Luke brushed off the heavy metal sign that had hung over the checkout desk for as long as I could remember, I knew the name was going to remain unchanged. WEST HARDWARE: A FAMILY BUSINESS. The metal was relatively undamaged.

"It's going to hang in the new store too! I found it!" Tyler told me excitedly.

"You're going to take my old job, right?" Andrew said nudging Tyler. Tyler nodded and began hunting for more buried treasures. Andrew's hand slid into mine as we watched Tyler and Luke poke through the rubble.

"You think you can leave all this behind?" he asked softly as he brushed some ash out of my hair. "I mean, the ash look really does become you."

"I am excited to try this school thing again. The education part especially. From what I hear, Fort Collins is a nice town. Besides, someone has to show the poor little freshman how college works," I teased. He bumped me gently with his hip.

"Hey, you'll be just as much a newbie as me there!"

"Yeah, but I am technically a sophomore, so I know more," I said, bumping him back. He laughed and we walked towards where the edge of the building used to stand. A small green tendril peeked out from under a seared wood piece. I bent down and moved it carefully, letting the small green plant reach for the sun.

Andrew turned to me. "I have a feeling we both have a lot to teach each other."

I laughed. I knew that things were far from perfect, but that everything was heading in the right direction. Andrew and I would be together forever, and the town would recover. Audrey and Ray had been broken, but they had found the strength they needed to fix themselves. The town was broken, but it would be fixed. I was broken, but I would be fixed, with the help of the love of my life. They say that fire always burns, but as the flames sweep away the detritus of the past, new beginnings can spring from the ashes. I smiled. I could feel the seeds of new memories germinating, reaching for the sun.

Insatiable Reads Book Tours

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If you liked "Fire Always Burns", I suggest you check out Nadia Simonenko's "Lost":

Lost by Nadia Simonenko

When Maria was fifteen, her life was torn apart by a horrible tragedy that she has kept secret for seven years. She withdrew from her friends and family, changed her personality to hide her invisible scars, and let the pain slowly devour her. Now, in her final semester of college, she still struggles against paralyzing fear just trying to speak up in class, and the terror and helplessness linger on in her nightmares.

Across campus, Owen sees his scars in the mirror every morning while he gets ready for class. They remind him of the broken home he left behind, the father he hates and fears, and the little sister he couldn’t protect. Now, in his final semester of college, he is scared that he may have to return to the hell he called home after staying away for almost five years.

When Owen becomes a teaching assistant for one of Maria’s classes, they find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. As the two learn each other’s secrets and grow closer, they realize that although they may be lost, they’re not alone anymore.

This new adult contemporary romance is recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and heavy subject matter.

Check out more books from the Insatiable Reads Book Tour at http://www.insatiablereads.com

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About the Author

Krista Lakes is a newly turned 30 year old who recently rediscovered her passion for writing. She loves aquatic life and running marathons. She is living happily ever after with her Prince Charming and her bouncing baby boy.

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