Page 55 of Nanny for the Rockstars

“Hey,” I say. “I have to get going. I’ll call you later, okay?”

Colleen is asking me what’s going on as I hang up the phone, but I don’t want her to hear what I’m dealing with.

“What gives you the right to just walk into this bus?” I ask. “You know you’re trespassing.”

“That’s my baby. I have every right to go to him when he’s around.”

“That’s not true,” I say. “You left him, and with that, you left the rights you had to be his mom. If you want anything to do with him now, then you’re going to have to figure out the right way of doing it. Showing up randomly in places you’re not allowed is not the way to do it.”

“Sounds to me like you’re just jealous of the fact that I’m the mom and you’re nothing more than the nanny,” Clarissa says. “You’re the one who has to have permission to be around him, and with what I just saw, there is no way in hell I’m going to allow you anywhere near him.”

“You aren’t the one who makes that choice,” I retort. “I am employed by his fathers, and they are the ones who chose to give me permission to be around him. You aren’t able to decide whether I can or can’t, and I bet you anything if they find you in here, they’re going to be pissed enough that you’re going to have to go to court before you get to see him again.”

Clarissa laughs at my threat. I hoped that she wouldn’t know how to deal with any of this, but it seems she’s done a level of homework.

“That’s cute,” she says. “But you’re the one who has no say in any of this, and if you’re not going to listen to what I have to say, I’m going to get a restraining order against you that says you can’t come near him. And if you do, you’re going to be the one going to jail.”

Before I have the chance to reply, the door opens, and the three guys are here. They look shocked to see me and Clarissa in the bus together, but I’m not going to give them time to get involved in this argument. I don’t want to have a screaming match with the four of them.

With how things have been going, I feel outnumbered as it is. Like the three of them have been against me for a while. Now that we have Clarissa on board, I’m sure they’re going to take her side over mine since she is the mother.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Caleb demands.

“I came to make sure my baby is being watched, and I find him unsupervised in here with this woman on the phone,” Clarissa says.

“I was watching him,” I say. “I was just on the phone while I did it. That’s not a crime.”

“Shut up!” Clarissa hisses at me. “As his mother, I have my standards of how he should be treated, and I’m not going to let him grow up lying in some crib while the person who’s supposed to be watching him is just on the phone. That’s not fair to him.”

“You have no idea how well she does with him,” Julian says, coming to my defense. I’m surprised with this sudden development, but it’s not enough to change the way Clarissa is talking to everyone. It’s quickly becoming evident that she is the one in control in this situation, and she knows it.

“Neither do you,” she says. “Since you weren’t here, either. Look, I’m only going to say this once, so you all better pay attention. I don’t care who you think you are or what you think your money will do. You now have to make a choice. Either you get rid of this woman, or you’re losing custody of the baby. If you don’t think I’m serious about this, then try me, but you have no idea who you’re going up against here.”

“Do you really think I’m scared of your threats?” Caleb asks, but I cut in before Terry or Julian have a chance to get involved.

“Forget it,” I say. “I know when I’m not wanted, and I’m not going to fight for someone who doesn’t want me. You win, Clarissa. Do what you feel is best with Hendrix, I’m not going to stand for this anymore.”

“Just what is that supposed to mean?” Julian demands.

“It means I’m leaving,” I tell him. I grab my things and sling my bag over my shoulder. I’m glad I packed lightly to join the tour. It makes it really easy for me to just grab and go now that I’m done with this.

“Where are you going?” Caleb demands.

“Who cares?” Clarissa asks with a smirk. I want to punch her in the nose, but I refrain from even looking in her direction as I push my way through the four of them on the other side of the bus.

“Jeanette!” Terry calls, but I don’t slow or stop.

I order an Uber on my way out the door, and I wait for it on the far side of the parking lot. I don’t care where I’m going at this point. Right now, I just want to get as far from those people as I can. I feel heartbroken over Hendrix, but I can’t force his fathers to love me.

And I’m sick of trying.

Colleen is right. I have to get myself out of this situation and take care of myself before I do anything else.

I have to take care of me.

No matter how guilty I feel for doing it.

TWENTY-SEVEN

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