the biggest scam of all. I lost myself and I lost my power with him, and I want my power back. I used to be strong, confident. And I’ll be damned if I give another man a piece of me.”
She shook her head. “I sat on my virginity and didn’t give it up until I met Keith and what did he do? Tossed it away. Tossed me away.” She pointed to her chest. “I’ve always wanted to go into public office, I told him straight up when I first met him, and he agreed. But then he and his precious family convinced me to set aside my desires and stand by my man.” She snorted. “What a damn joke. So, yeah, I want to tell all. I want all the women he’s ever dated or plans to date to know he’s a scumbag. And quite honestly, if his dick fell off, I wouldn’t shed a tear.”
“I get it,” Kara whispered. “I so get it.” She cocked her head. “Listen to the song.”
We all went silent, listening to “Bag Lady” by Erykah Badu.
“That’s who we are,” Kara continued. “We take on all the baggage from other people. Our jobs, our men, our family. They pile it on until our backs break. And what do we have to show for it?”
“Not a damn thing.” Raina shook her head. “We’ve gotta let that shit go!”
“You’re right.” I pointed to Kara. “James is still giving me hell about going on tour. Yes, I’m a mom, but I’m not dead. I can do both.”
Sienna nodded. “And you’ll show James you can do it. You have to show men, show the world, that we shouldn’t have to be the ones to sacrifice everything. It’s time for our men to pull their own damn weight.”
Sienna lifted her wine glass. “To dumping the baggage.”
We lifted our glasses, answering Sienna’s challenge. “To dumping the baggage!” we toasted.
“I’m gonna miss you, Mommy.”
I scooped up my baby girl and squeezed her tight. “I’m gonna miss you, too, Bria-bree.”
James, stiff in his body and lips, held Junior tight. My mother’s arms were crossed. I settled Bria on the ground.
“Give Mama a hug, baby boy.” Reaching for my baby, I met resistance from James. I damn near had to pry my son away from him.
JJ wiggled in my arms. He wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but he swung his head from me to James, as if his toddler radar told him that Mommy and Daddy were not okay.
The horn blared from behind me in three long, dramatic honks. “Move your ass, Hardt!”
Fucking Trent. My ex was determined to drive a wedge in my marriage. I knew it. Hell, even my former best friend and drummer, Davey, had warned me to stay away from the flirty front man.
Bria tugged the hem of my sundress. “Ooh-weee! He said a bad word, Mommy.”
“That’s the least of her worries,” Mama not-so-quietly mumbled under her breath. James did his best nosy-church-lady impression with a mouth twist and a whispered, “Mm-hmm.” All that was missing was a small green New Testament Bible gripped in his hand.
“Guys, please.” I looked down at the kids, who volleyed their attention around the three of us like we were in some sort of weird tennis match. “Mama, can you look after the babies for a minute? I need to speak to James.”
Mama nodded. “C’mon, precious.” JJ leaned close to reach for Mama, and Bria grabbed her other hand.
“Let’s talk over there.” I jerked my head toward the back of the bus. James followed me to the back, still stiff, and still the asshole he’d been for the past three months.
“Babe.” I turned my back toward the harsh rays from the sun, forming a visor with my hands. “I don’t want us to leave on bad terms. Can we, can you . . . ?” I licked my dry lips. For the first time in a long while, I was nervous.
“Can I pretend that I’m happy that you’ll be spending day and night with your ex?”
“No, it’s not like that.” I shook my head. “It’s business. I’m hanging with Davey, Drew, Ethan, and the roadies, but I won’t be spending personal time with Trent.”
“Right, Nik.”
“I’m serious. I love you, only you. And besides, Trent will be too busy with his skanks to be thinking about me.”
“Jealous?” His brown eyes glinted.
“Are you kidding me?”
He shrugged. “I just don’t have a good feeling about this, Nik. I feel like . . .” He sighed,