Always There Bayou by Aricka Alexander

When you spend your whole life being a protector, it’s hard to let others be one for you.

From the young age of nine, Cory Tate has always had to be the strong one. She constantly had to protect and care for her younger siblings because their mom was busy living a life that no child should ever be exposed to. But even after they moved in with her dad, that didn’t stop her from continuing to worry about her mom, constantly visiting to convince her to do better. However, it all seemed to be for nothing when she eventually lost her to the pull of temptation a few days before her high school graduation.

Now, years later, Cory is an adult full of regrets, PTSD, and a whole bunch of bottled-up anxiety and depression. She’s standoffish and feels weak, constantly blaming herself for things out of her control and taking it out on those who don’t deserve it. She believes that showing emotion is weakness, and she refuses to be seen as anything other than the strong, older sister.

But there is one person who gets to see every side of her…her childhood best friend, Denny.

Denali “Denny” Houston is every bit bubbly, lovely, and patient. Having been friends with Cory since they were eleven, and over the years, they’re the one person she truly feels comfortable around. Denny knows what it’s like to lose a mom. Denny knows what it’s like to feel helpless. Denny knows what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t feel the same for you…or at least you don’t think they do.

Follow best friends Cory and Denny as they navigate the ups and downs of adulthood in this emotional rollercoaster of a friends-to-lovers romance. Through drama, trauma, laughs, and love, they realize that their happily ever after had been within reach all along.