The Last Encore (It's Always Been You Book 1)

by Elodie Colliard

Her anxiety had always been a part of her, something she’d learned to live with, side by side. It was almost like a scar—it might fade with time and care, but it would always be there. Although she’d learned to tame it, she knew it was always lurking in the shadows, close to the surface, ready to pounce the minute she let her guard down. She was the prey, and her anxiety was her number-one enemy.

Loving yourself was a journey, one that had its ups and downs. Every day was a struggle when you were constantly reminded that your body didn’t fit society’s standards. Avery pinched her ass cheek between her fingers. Some days were easier than others. On those ones, she could look at herself in the mirror and think So what if my belly isn’t toned? Or my thighs are full of stretch marks? “They are the map of your body’s history,” her grandma used to say. “Be kind to yourself.”

Yes, you can wear this glamorous outfit. You have nothing to fear because you are a confident woman, in control of her choices and her body.

The body was a beautiful and fascinating thing, able to memorize details and store them away, like it had a mind of its own.

She always put the people she loved first, but who put her first? It was time she started prioritizing herself for a change.

Thank you for helping me go after my dreams.”

This feeling of never belonging anywhere because I’m too white to be Mexican, but too dark to be Canadian. I’m constantly living in this in-between where people here constantly ask me where I’m from, and when I visit my family in Mexico, they barely acknowledge me because I don’t know anything about my own culture. Because I’ve lived in Toronto almost my whole life. And I can’t help but think my father resents me for it, and that it’s in part the reason why he wants me to take over the restaurant so badly. So that I can prove to him that that I have a shred of his ‘Mexicanness’ in my blood.”

She would never get over his scent, so deliciously him. It soothed her better than any anxiety medications or essential oils ever could.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your tradition. It means a lot.”

You're insanely gorgeous, smart, funny, passionate, sexy. I'd be the fucking dumbest man on earth not to be completely crazy about you.”

For once in her life, she was in control, holding the power that Josh gladly handed over. She was not held back by anything, completely free to let herself go, to let her body relish the thrill it was feeling. Her brain was no longer in the driver’s seat, only her need was running the show and it was exhilarating. He gave her power and was telling her to fucking own it.