I have the perfect life. I’ve finally found my happy ending.
I fought through the loss of one husband, lucky enough to be given a second chance at a lifetime of happiness. Settling into our new lives, however, may not be as easy as it seems.
What really happens after the fairytale ending? What happens after the prince rescues the princess? After he sweeps her off her feet and carries her off into the sunset? Do they truly live happily ever after?
Well…
This is our story.
That’s a 50% success rate. Not bad when considering my actions last evening…that and those many years I spent dismissing Blake entirely.
Memories begin to flood my mind as I drive up to the red brick two story house I spent so much time at while growing up.
…Blake and I climbing the huge oak tree in the front of his house to get to the tree fort we built together when we were seven years old.
…Both of us playing hide-and-seek in the garden by the side of his house with me yelling at him for cheating...there’s no way he could count to one hundred that fast.
…The time we made a bike ramp and tried to jump the fence…definitely not one of our best moments. I find myself grinning widely at that memory. Mainly because Blake couldn’t make the jump, ruined his bike, and had to ride his sister’s very pink Barbie bike until he learned his lesson (as his parents put it). I tortured him with that one for years.
Parking my car in the drive, I look at the front door and breathe a heavy sigh. I glance down at my hands as I remove them from the steering wheel – they’re slightly trembling. I shake them in an effort to get rid of the obvious nervous energy and wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. I run my hair over my ponytail to smooth any fly-aways and exit the car. Looking down while straightening my “Goonies Never Say Die” t-shirt, another memory surfaces.
Blake and I used to make homemade t-shirts all the time together. Mine were always way better than his, of course, but at least he tried. My favorite one of his was this army green, G.I Joe “Knowing is Half the Battle” t-shirt. He wore it all the time. So much so that the iron on letters started falling off and it eventually read “Koin is alf Bat.” God, I would laugh every time he would wear it. I think that’s why he wore it so much.
I look back at my hands. They are still shaking. It seems that even with the comfort of old memories running through my mind, I still can’t shake off my nerves. Making my way to the front door, I mentally chastise my anxiety. “This is ridiculous, Alex. You’re a grown woman. Act like it,” I mutter while walking up the porch steps. I note there’s only a motorcycle parked in the driveway, which bodes well in my favor. This is going to be difficult enough without having a parental audience.
Approaching the door, I raise my fist to knock, pausing for another second to take in a cleansing breath. Breathing out, I say a prayer and knock loudly.
I hear his heavy footsteps coming towards the door, followed by the sound of the deadbolt unlocking. I watch nervously as the handle turns, but when I look up, I’m completely unprepared for what is standing directly in front of my face.
As the door flies open, so does my mouth. Blake is standing in front of me, shirtless, wearing only his red and navy plaid pajama bottoms, bare feet on the floor. His light brown hair is all over the place, but incredibly sexy as it falls messily over his forehead and flips out from behind his ears. One look at this man’s stomach renders me momentarily speechless, and I have to fight to keep myself from running my hands over every single hardened ridge of his abs. So instead, I place my hands over my open mouth and start giggling like a ten year old little girl.
Mid-giggle, I notice the door starting to close. I quickly jump into action. I immediately put my foot in the doorjamb and my hands on the door, using all of my weight to keep him from being able to close it – a trick he taught me by the way.
Shaking his head at me through the opening that I’m desperately trying to maintain, Blake emphatically states, “Nope. Mmm-mm, Alex. It’s too early for this right now. Go home.”
Today I am sitting down with the three of the most adorable
little people I have ever met…Oh sorry Nycole, I mean young ladies I have ever
met. J Ladies
thanks for sitting down with me and letting me ask you a few questions. Those
who have read your mom and Blake’s story, love to hear about the three of you.
Book #1 - Running On Empty - L.B. Simmons TEASER
The drive to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan’s house is a familiar one. And it’s a
good thing it is, because I’m finding it extremely hard to concentrate on where
I’m actually driving at the moment. I am, however, breaking down every possible
scenario that could happen when I knock on that door. Good news is, as each and
every scenario plays out in my head, they all end in one of two ways. He either
speaks to me or he doesn’t.
That’s a 50% success rate. Not bad when considering my actions last evening…that and those many years I spent dismissing Blake entirely.
Memories begin to flood my mind as I drive up to the red brick two story house I spent so much time at while growing up.
…Blake and I climbing the huge oak tree in the front of his house to get to the tree fort we built together when we were seven years old.
…Both of us playing hide-and-seek in the garden by the side of his house with me yelling at him for cheating...there’s no way he could count to one hundred that fast.
…The time we made a bike ramp and tried to jump the fence…definitely not one of our best moments. I find myself grinning widely at that memory. Mainly because Blake couldn’t make the jump, ruined his bike, and had to ride his sister’s very pink Barbie bike until he learned his lesson (as his parents put it). I tortured him with that one for years.
Parking my car in the drive, I look at the front door and breathe a heavy sigh. I glance down at my hands as I remove them from the steering wheel – they’re slightly trembling. I shake them in an effort to get rid of the obvious nervous energy and wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. I run my hair over my ponytail to smooth any fly-aways and exit the car. Looking down while straightening my “Goonies Never Say Die” t-shirt, another memory surfaces.
Blake and I used to make homemade t-shirts all the time together. Mine were always way better than his, of course, but at least he tried. My favorite one of his was this army green, G.I Joe “Knowing is Half the Battle” t-shirt. He wore it all the time. So much so that the iron on letters started falling off and it eventually read “Koin is alf Bat.” God, I would laugh every time he would wear it. I think that’s why he wore it so much.
I look back at my hands. They are still shaking. It seems that even with the comfort of old memories running through my mind, I still can’t shake off my nerves. Making my way to the front door, I mentally chastise my anxiety. “This is ridiculous, Alex. You’re a grown woman. Act like it,” I mutter while walking up the porch steps. I note there’s only a motorcycle parked in the driveway, which bodes well in my favor. This is going to be difficult enough without having a parental audience.
Approaching the door, I raise my fist to knock, pausing for another second to take in a cleansing breath. Breathing out, I say a prayer and knock loudly.
I hear his heavy footsteps coming towards the door, followed by the sound of the deadbolt unlocking. I watch nervously as the handle turns, but when I look up, I’m completely unprepared for what is standing directly in front of my face.
As the door flies open, so does my mouth. Blake is standing in front of me, shirtless, wearing only his red and navy plaid pajama bottoms, bare feet on the floor. His light brown hair is all over the place, but incredibly sexy as it falls messily over his forehead and flips out from behind his ears. One look at this man’s stomach renders me momentarily speechless, and I have to fight to keep myself from running my hands over every single hardened ridge of his abs. So instead, I place my hands over my open mouth and start giggling like a ten year old little girl.
Mid-giggle, I notice the door starting to close. I quickly jump into action. I immediately put my foot in the doorjamb and my hands on the door, using all of my weight to keep him from being able to close it – a trick he taught me by the way.
Shaking his head at me through the opening that I’m desperately trying to maintain, Blake emphatically states, “Nope. Mmm-mm, Alex. It’s too early for this right now. Go home.”
When I heard that Alex and Blake's story was going to get a Novella to continue on and fill in the blanks to the end of Running on Empty, I was thrilled! I am so in love with Running on Empty. L.B. Simmons' writing is easy and fun. You fall for her characters with ease and feel as if they are your best friends instantaneously. I never knew how much I missed Alex, Blake and the girls until I picked up Recovery and started to read again.
We start off hours before Alex and Blake are about to walk down the isle. Alex is beyond nervous and with good reason. She gets some news. News that not every newlywed couple wants to hear. But in true Blake fashion he is there and supportive of Alex. This book takes a look at what it is to love, no matter what. It's honest in its approach that not everyone has the happy Cinderella story Love can be painful and hard and not always pretty. Love can conquer all, but only if everyone is on the same page. It's a story about how dynamics change, going to instant family and not always agreeing with your partner. It's real, it's raw and it's what makes love go around.
The girls add the humor along with their Aunt Harlow. We are also introduced to new characters in this novella, who will have continuing plot lines in upcoming books from L.B. I can not wait for the next book in this series and I am sure I will devour them just as much as I did with Recovery.Five great big stars for Recovery!
So first off, how old are you and what grade are you in?
Nycole – I’m 10 and I’ll be in Fifth grade.
Kyndall – 8 and I’ll be in Third grade with Ms. Smith. She’s really pretty and nice.
Rylie – (Holds up hands with all five fingers extended) I’m five years old and mommy said I’ll be in sixth grade kinda -godden. I wish I was in the same grade as Kyndall so I could play with her. I’m scared to go to my new school, but mommy says she’ll take me on the first day and stay with me for a little while. Her eyes always get wet when we talk about sixth grade kinda -godden.
What word would you use to describe Blake?
N – Very patient.
K – Handsome and strong. Oops, that was two words. Sorry!
R – He’s funny. He tries to sing and dance to Nycole’s music and smiles when she rolls her eyes. It always makes me laugh.
Give me a word or two to describe your Aunt Harlow?
N - (laughs) – Crazy
K - (also laughs) – Yeah, crazy.
R – Um, crazy?
What words come to mind when you think of your mom?
N – Loving, silly, and definitely over-protective.
K – Kissing and hugging. She always gives us hugs and kisses.
R – Mean. She made me eat broccoli last night with dinner. But I didn’t. I gave it to Cooper. But he didn’t want it either. So I threw it in the trash. (Nycole and Kyndall – RYLIE!!!!!)
What are some of your favorite things you do as a family?
Nycole – I love movie nights.
But only when I get to pick.
Kyndall – Anything. I love spending time with my family. It’s all my favorite.
Rylie – Sunday Breakfast Dates!!!! On those days I get to pick what I want to wear. Last Sunday I was Tinkerbell. Next Sunday I’m gonna be a witch. I already stole mommy’s black pencil she uses to draw on her eyes to make a big, black dot on my face. She doesn’t know though so don’t tell her. (Nycole rolls her eyes and Kyndall’s eyes double in size before looking back at me.)
Ok now some quick questions I will give you two answers and
you tell me which on you like best–
One Direction or Big Time Rush?
N – One Direction. I just got a brand new poster of
Zane. Mom likes it because it covers my
walls.
K– Big Time Rush. They’re funny.
R – Who? (Nycole and Kyndall giggle)
Chocolate Ice Cream or Vanilla Ice Cream?
N – Definitely chocolate.
K – Mmm-hmm. Chocolate.
R – Where? I want some!
Hello Kitty or Barbie?
N – Barbie. I
like to make clothes for her. I’m going
to be a fashion designer when I grow up.
Mom’s already got me in art classes.
K – Hello Kitty. I have a Hello Kitty pillow, Hello Kitty sheets. Hello Kitty socks, and I just got Hello Kitty Pajamas.
R – Hello Kitty. I love her. I take her to school with me every day, but I have to keep her in my backpack. My teacher said so.
Selena Gomez or Taylor Swift?
N – Selena Gomez.
She’s really pretty and I love Wizards of Waverly Place. In fact, that’s my next movie pick. (Kyndall and Rylie – NO!) Nycole grins.
K – Taylor Swift. Her music makes me happy and I like her words. Mama always plays it for me when I take a shower. And then she sings all the words with me.
R – Taylah Swift. I like to sing “nevah evah evah”. That’s my favorite song…evah. (Rylie giggles)
Thanks girls for answering my questions! I hope you had some
fun. Now how about that ice cream I promised you? Good thing I asked what kind
you like.
L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a degree in Biomedical Science. She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets. 
fantastic!! love these little ladies :) can't wait for their story to continue!
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