Triple Beat-nook(34)

“Three years,” Dani replied. “But we’ve been writing music together for six.”

“How long have you been in love with them?”

Dani blushed. “That obvious?”

Mama Lewis squeezed her hand gently. “I’ve had a bit of practice reading the signs lately. You noticed the family has grown quite a bit in your absence.”

“Justin’s relationship is—” Dani started before stopping suddenly. What the hell was it? Besides extremely unusual and infinitely fascinating.

“Is what?” Mama Lewis prodded.

“Different.”

“That it is. But it works. Ned and Bella were made for my Justin. But it’s not his relationship you’re worried about, is it?”

Dani shook her head. “Aiden, Bryson and I are sort of new to this. So new, in fact, I’m not sure it’s even a thing.”

Mama Lewis released her hand and picked up her cup of coffee, taking a tiny sip before saying, “Oh, that’s wonderful. There’s nothing more exciting than the beginning of a new love affair.”

Dani agreed it was exhilarating. And terrifying. “You don’t think it’s strange? I mean, despite Justin’s relationship, three people together isn’t exactly a normal thing.”

“If it feels right to you doesn’t that make it normal?”

Before she realized it, every fear Dani had experienced since she’d woken up this morning came pouring out. “The thing is, I’m not sure it’s smart to start something like this. We just signed a contract that is going to tie the three of us together for the next several years. What if it doesn’t work out? What if it goes bad? We’d be stuck, forced to work in very close proximity, living together on a tour bus.”

“That’s definitely something worth thinking about. But every relationship in the world comes with risks. Have you talked to Bryson and Aiden about it?”

“No. We haven’t talked about anything. It just happened. Last night.”

Mama Lewis smiled. “Wow. That is new. I assume by it, you mean sex?”

Dani’s cheeks went hot, but she nodded. “Yeah.”

“But the friendship, the love, that’s not new. And that’s a very good foundation, Dani. Many successful couples have started with much less. Strangers meeting in a tattoo parlor. An employee going on a date with her bosses.”

Dani laughed as Mama Lewis described how Caleb and Justin met their lovers.

“Or you could have faced what Chloe and Blake did. Finding each other after years apart and having to overcome the betrayal and broken hearts that accompanied their first time around.”

“What about Jett and Carissa?” Dani asked.

“You and Jett were always such kindred spirits. Like you, he fell in love with his best friend. All I’m saying, Dani, is every relationship starts out with barriers, problems that feel like good reasons to walk away. You could certainly take the easy road, play it safe and break things off. But you’ve never been a quitter.”

Dani appreciated Mama Lewis’ compliment, but at the moment, she felt very much like a coward. For so many reasons. “I’ve never told them about my dad. Bryson and Aiden think my parents died when I was young.”

Mama Lewis’ brows creased. “Why haven’t you told them?”

Dani swallowed heavily. “When I left New Orleans, I never intended to come back.”

Dani caught Mama Lewis’ hurt expression and she reached out to hold the woman’s hand. “I wanted to see you again so badly. I love you, Mama. But when I left here, I was Dani Patton and nothing more than a helpless victim. In my head, all those things are tied to this city because he’s still here. No one knows about my past. When I’m in Nashville, I’m Dani Lewis, a singer and songwriter, a strong, independent woman. I like that Aiden and Bryson see that woman instead of the weak one.”

“You took our name.”

Dani could see the pleasure that gave Mama Lewis. She nodded. “I loved you all so much. I hated leaving, so I decided to keep a part of you with me.”

Mama Lewis smiled. Dani saw the sheen of tears in her eyes. “Thank you, darling.”

Dani swallowed heavily, unable to speak for a moment.

Mama Lewis was the first to break the silence. “You realize you’re not one person or the other, Dani. You can’t separate who you are into two parts and call them different people. All of those traits have combined to make you the person you are. The woman Bryson and Aiden love.”