Triple Beat-nook(9)

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Bryson took a quick step toward her, angry at her response. She stiffened her spine. It wouldn’t be the first time Bryson had tried to play knight to her damsel. The only problem was she never let him see her distress. “Goddammit, Dani. I thought we were past this.”

She knew what he referred to. When they’d first started writing music together, she’d held both men at bay, working hard to remain aloof. It had taken the better part of a year before she’d trusted them enough to share little bits of her life with them. Meanwhile, Bryson and Aiden had been open books from day one. How many times had she wished she could be more like them?

Aiden put a hand on his best friend’s shoulder, holding him back. “We didn’t come here to fight, Dani.”

Dani wasn’t sure if Aiden’s quiet comment was to reassure her or to remind Bryson. Either way, it worked. Bryson visibly relaxed. She walked over to a couch in the sitting area and sank down tiredly. Then she took a few moments to study her surroundings.

“Swanky place. Awfully nice of the label to let us use it.”

Aiden ran his finger along the top of a baby grand that stood in the corner. “I think this is going to be the norm for the next little while. We’re their rising stars and as long as we don’t blow it, it looks like we get to live the good life.”

The idea of the “good life” would have sent her soaring a month ago. Now all she could hear was the “if we don’t blow it” part. How would MC Records react if the details of her past came out? She wasn’t sure they’d be pleased to hear words like “sexual molestation”, “incest” and “runaway” hitting the media about one of their newest artists.

Her chest tightened as she tried to recall if there was something in the contract that would allow them to dissolve it. She was fairly certain there was. What if her father went public, made some sort of big stink, and MCR dumped them? It wasn’t just her future success she’d be destroying. It was Aiden and Bryson’s as well. And the worst part was…they’d be completely blindsided by it.

Bryson sat next to her on the couch, leaning against the soft cushions, his arm resting along the back. She giggled when he tickled the back of her neck. “I could definitely get used to this. Which is why it’s upsetting when the third member of our trio splits without saying a word.”

“I was going to email you as soon as I got here,” she said.

Bryson scowled. “Gee. That’s big of you.”

Dani rested her head against the cushions, Bryson absent-mindedly playing with her hair. “How did you get here so quickly?”

“We knew you were leaving before you left, so we booked flights,” Aiden replied.

She frowned. “When did you find out?”

Bryson stretched out his long legs and crossed his ankles, looking far too pleased with himself. “Marco called about an hour after you picked that damn fight.”

Dani didn’t respond. She didn’t know how. She had felt guilty ever since she’d stormed out of the recording studio a few days earlier. The return trip to New Orleans had been looming before her and she still hadn’t figured out how to tell Aiden and Bryson she was leaving.

With her nerves on edge, she’d hit a breaking point as they’d discussed a song list for their first few concert dates. She’d flipped her lid over something really stupid and left the studio. She had wanted to call them immediately to apologize, but she’d decided to use the argument as her out, a reason to give them the silent treatment—something she’d never done—for the few days it took her to travel to New Orleans, clean up her mess and get back to Nashville. She had hoped they’d be none the wiser about her escape.

“I’m sorry about that,” she said softly.

Both men grinned and she realized the apology wasn’t necessary. Knowing her friends, they’d forgiven her before she’d finished executing her storm-out.

Bryson reached for her hand, squeezing it. “What is it, Dani? Is it the contract? I know you’re not comfortable with the limelight, but lately it felt like that had been getting better. I thought this was what we all wanted. What we’ve been working so hard for.”

MC Records had offered them a sweet deal and there had been no question they’d hit the big time. All the hours, writing and rehearsing, performing in clubs and at county fairs had paid off.

The label had huge plans for them, including a three-album deal, a performance on the CMT awards show, and a forty-seven-city tour headlining for Bryan Lucas, the hottest name in country music. It was a dream come true and, according to their agent, James, an unheard-of offer.