Tommy

I always knew the day would come when I'd meet Kimberly's kids. In a small town like Angel Grove, it was only a matter of time. Hell, I'd already had a run-in with one of the little demons, but facing all three—especially the two oldest—was not on my Saturday morning agenda.

The moment I introduced myself, I could feel their stares like daggers. Tyler, the oldest, looked at me as if I were the reason his father bailed. Not exactly the warm, fuzzy welcome I was hoping for. He was tall for his age, just a couple more years and he could easily reach me. Kimberly definitely had her hands full raising these boys, and I wasn't about to let a couple of hormonal teenagers ruin my slim chance.

Then there was the little one. Cute kid. He looked like a mini version of Kimberly, big round curious eyes and light brown moppy hair. He didn't seem to hate me nearly as much.. yet.

"Hi, I'm Maddox," I hear coming from the smallest. "So, you're my new dad?"

I blinked, caught off guard. What the fuck?

"Uh, no, buddy," I forced a smile, even though every instinct in my body told me to jump out of the nearest window."I'm just your coach." I glanced at Kimberly, suddenly second-guessing everything. "Your mom and I… we're just friends."

Maddox's face lit up, oblivious to the tension. Ahh to be a kid again. But then there was Jeffrey, the middle one. His eyes? Cold. Great. If winning over Kimberly was going to be tough, it looked like winning over her kids would be impossible.

Kimberly's eyes met mine, and it hit me—this was why she kept her distance. These boys were her world, and I was an outsider, a temporary fix she couldn't afford to entertain. And honestly? I wasn't sure I could do this. I don't like kids… especially these, but did I like her enough to put up with it? Knowing that they hate me before even knowing me?

As I glanced around the Youth Center Gym, the smell of polished wood and sweat filled the air. Kids were laughing and playing in the background, the sound a stark contrast to the eerie silence surrounding us. I could see Tyler and Jeffrey exchanging glances, plotting their next move like a couple of wolves.

I turned to Jason, throwing him telepathic signs.

Help me, motherfucker.

He smirked, clearly enjoying my life unravel. Luckily for me, he stepped in and tried to ease the tension. "Hey, sorry about this," Jason said, his voice too damn casual for the situation. "I didn't realize this would be an issue."

Fucking liar. Jason knew all about Kimberly, he just didn't know she was this Kimberly.

"I promise that Tommy is just here to help you all have some fun."

I turned to Jeffrey. "I know this is hard, but I'm just here to coach, okay? That's all. This isn't—"

"Don't act like you care," Tyler snapped, his voice cold. "You're just like him."

And there it was. The gut punch. Comparing me to their deadbeat dad? That cut deep. Deeper than I wanted to admit. I wasn't their father. Hell, I could barely manage my own shit most days. But to be put in the same category as the guy who walked out on them? That stung.

Kimberly stepped forward, her eyes pleading with the boys, trying to keep it together. But I could see the stress etched on her face, the weight of it all pressing down on her. She looked torn, caught between wanting to shield them from more pain and keeping me at arm's length.

Tyler, however, remained unmoved. "We'll see about that, jerk-off," he muttered, his eyes still locked on me like I was a threat.

Oh boy.

"Tyler," Kimberly rubbed her hands to her face. "I'm sorry this was a terrible idea. Get your stuff guys, we're leaving."

"No, mom," Maddox's shoulders dropped, his excitement quickly replaced with disappointment. "I want to play," he repeated, looking up at Kimberly with big, pleading eyes. "Please, Mom. I want to try."

Jeffrey scoffed, crossing his arms tighter. "This is a joke. You can't be serious about him coaching us." His glare was directed at me, and I could almost feel the heat of his resentment.

God damn. What the fuck did she tell them happened between us?

Kimberly hesitated, clearly caught between her desire to let her boys have some fun and her instinct to protect them from… well, from me. "I just thought it might be a good opportunity for you all to bond, to have some fun…" Her voice trailed off, as if she was trying to convince herself as much as the boys.

"Fun?" Tyler shot back. "You think playing baseball with him is fun? He's just some guy you met who can't even keep a relationship!" The moment the words left his mouth, the gym fell into a tense silence.

I swallowed hard, feeling the burn of his accusation. I mean, he's not lying. My track record wasn't exactly stellar. I used to wear my reputation like a badge of honor, now it feels more like a badge of horror. I wasn't here to talk about my past. I was here to coach and hopefully win over these fuckers.

I chose to ignore the outburst. If I lose it now, ill never get a chance, but my restraint was thinning.

"Maddox," I said gentl, kneeling to his level. "If you really want to play, I promise we'll make it fun. I've coached before, and I know how to keep things exciting… but I need you to help me out. Can you do that?"

Maddox nodded, his enthusiasm flickering back to life, but the uncertainty in his eyes remained. It's because of his brothers. Like Jason and me, they do things together. It's all or none. I've just come to the realization that I'm gonna have to put up with Bundy and Dahmer.

"Tyler… Jeffrey," I addressed them both directly, "you don't have to like me, but you could give this a shot. It's not just about me—it's about the team. If you don't want to play, that's fine, but don't let that ruin it for your brother."

The tension in the room felt palpable as Tyler and Jeffrey's glares bore into me. But I could see a flicker of hesitation. They want to play. They just don't want me anywhere near their mother. Which is a huge problem because that's all I want to do.

"Come on, guys," Maddox pleaded, "Don't be jerks. I wanna play, and you know it could be fun. We could be the best team ever!"

Tyler sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he wrestled with the idea. "Fine. But if he starts acting like a total dick, I'm out," he muttered, still unwilling to fully commit.

A smile creeped up the corner of my lips. Finally. A small victory.

The sun had almost dipped below the horizon by the time we hit the field, casting long shadows across the dirt. I stood by the dugout, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold as the boys familiarized themselves with the field. Maddox left with Jason and from the looks of it, he was already in his element, running circles around the other kids. On my end of the field, I had Tyler and Jeffrey keeping their distance, standing off to the side like they'd been forced into a prison yard brawl instead of little league practice. This is a damn disaster. How did I get roped up into this mess? When Jason asked if I could help him with his little league, I thought I would be with well behaved teenagers, not a pack of future felons.

"God, I need a drink," I muttered under my breath, rubbing a hand down my face.

Jason stood beside me, smirking. "Isn't this fun?"

Fucker.

I shot him a look. "Fun? Watching two teenage boys hate my guts while their six-year-old brother tries to get me to adopt him? Yeah, Jason, I'm having the time of my life."

Jason laughed, slapping me hard on the back. "Welcome to fatherhood, man. You're doing great."

"Fatherhood? Don't even joke." Those devils don't need a dad, they need a cage. I rubbed my neck, glancing at Kimberly across the field, talking with another mom. She looked stressed. Like she was holding the weight of the world on her shoulders. I recall our conversations in New York, but I had no idea she had this waiting for her back at home. I hated seeing her like that. I wanted to help, but how? I was already on thin ice with her demons and the last thing she needed was more complications.

"Earth to Tommy." Jason snapped his fingers in front of my face. "You've got the googly eyes thing going on again. You look like a lovesick puppy."

"Shut up," I grumbled, dragging my gaze away from her, but it was impossible not to think about her. Every time I looked at her, something in me shifted. I didn't do relationships… not anymore, but with Kimberly? The thought of not having her at my side nearly killed me. And damn it, I'd never been one for commitment.

Then again, I wasn't sure if I even had a chance. Not with her kids glaring at me like I had just pissed in their cheerios. They lack discipline— respect. These kids needed a reality check. A fucking big one.

I'd seen kids like them before—acting out because they could, because no one called them on their bullshit. And Kimberly? She was too tired and too stressed to deal with it all. I got it. Single mom, doing her best, but damn if those two didn't need a wake-up call. They thought they could run this show? Not on my field.

I looked over to Kimberly again and sighed. She's gonna hate me for doing this. There's no winning over teenagers with smiles and promises, that much was clear. No, I'd have to earn their respect the hard way.

"Alright, let's get started," I called out to the group, clapping my hands together. The kids shuffled into a line. All minus Tyler and Jeffrey. ""We're gonna start with something simple. Let's do some warm ups."

The group started out my stretching and then quickly fell into some light exercises. Tyler and Jeffrey stayed off to the side, watching but not participating. I had a feeling this was going to be harder than I thought.

"You two gonna stand there all day or are you planning on giving this a shot?" I called out, trying to keep my tone casual.

Tyler looked at Jeffrey, who just shrugged. "We'll pass."

I clenched my jaw. I'm reaching my fucking boiling point. I throw my hands on my hips before looking over at Jason who is laughing his ass off. Not helping, asshole.

"Alright, fine," I sighed, hoping to try again. Maybe having a bat in their hands might get them more excited. "How about doing some swings to warm up?"

Their brows raised but they didn't move an inch. Tough crowd.

I turn to Jason who still has a dumbass smirk on his face. His group was hanging off his every word. Who knew that a couple of six-year-olds could follow better directions than teenagers?

"Fine," I shrugged. I turned to the team, "Laps. For everyone."

Tyler groaned. "You can't be serious."

"Dead serious," I shot back. "You think baseball's just standing around? Nope. Let's see if you're up for it."

Jeffrey glared at me, but he didn't move. "I'm not doing laps."

"Then you're not playing. Simple as that." I folded my arms, matching his defiance with my own. This wasn't a negotiation. You don't intimidate me, kid.

"Not happening." Jeffrey spit the words out, his jaw tight. "I don't take orders from you."

I stared at him, unflinching. "You do now."

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Kimberly stood off to the side, arms folded, watching. Her eyes flicked between me and her boys, uncertainty written all over her face. But she didn't step in, not yet. I wasn't going to let her. This was between me and them.

Tyler finally gave in with a roll of his eyes and a dramatic sigh. "This is bullshit," he muttered, but he started jogging. Jeffrey followed, slower, full of attitude. They weren't pushing themselves, just going through the motions, thinking they could half-ass it. They thought I wouldn't notice.

"Pick it up," I blew my whistle before barking, "You're running, not strolling. Move your asses!"

Tyler shot me a look of pure hatred but sped up. Jeffrey mumbled something under his breath—probably an insult, but at least he moved faster.

I wasn't done with them yet. "Now, up the bleachers! Let's see some hustle."

That did it. Tyler stopped dead in his tracks, glaring at me like I'd just kicked his cat. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"You heard me," I blew my whistle, again, "Up the bleachers. Now." I yelled, the kind that left no room for argument.

That's when I heard her footsteps coming my way, fast and pissed off. Kimberly stormed up, her eyes flashing with fury as she stopped inches from me. What a fucking turn on.

"What the hell is your problem?" she snapped, standing so close I could see the fury in her eyes. "You can't just make them run until they drop dead! They're kids, Tommy!"

I cut her off. "They need this!" I kept my eyes on her boys, who were standing there, defiant, daring me to back down. "They need discipline, and they need to learn how to follow the rules. No more talking back, no more acting like they're in charge. You've let them get away with murder."

Her mouth fell open, shock and anger flashing across her beautiful face. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," I said, turning to face her fully. "You've been letting them walk all over you because you're tired, because you feel guilty. But that's not doing them any favors."

Her eyes narrowed, and for a second, I thought she might slap me. I almost wished she would. At least it would break the tension. But I wasn't finished. "They're my kids. How I raise them is none of your business."

"They're little shits, Kimberly," I bit out, letting the blunt truth hang in the air between us. "Tyler thinks he can challenge every word out of my mouth, and Jeffrey's this close to giving me the finger. You think that's healthy? You think that's respect?"

"They've had a hard life!" she shot back, her voice trembling. "Their father walked out on them! They're hurting!"

"And so what?" I barked, my frustration spilling over. "You think I didn't have it rough? You think I didn't grow up feeling abandoned?" I told her all about my upbringing in New York. She knows how I struggled to fit in. "But guess what? No one gave a shit about my sob story, and I had to learn to grow up— fast. That's what these boys need."

Her face twisted with anger, but there was something else there. "You don't understand—"

"No," I cut her off, my voice firm. "I understand just fine. You're afraid. You're afraid of being the bad guy. But being a parent isn't about being their friend. It's about teaching them respect, boundaries, and discipline. And right now, you're failing."

That hit a nerve. Her face went white with shock, her fists clenching at her sides. "How dare you," she hissed, her voice trembling with fury. "You don't get to walk in here and tell me I'm a bad mother."

"I'm telling you the truth," I said, my voice dropping low. "And you know it. Look at the way they talk to you. They have no respect. If you don't teach them discipline, the world will. And trust me, it'll be a hell of a lot harsher than anything I'm doing here."

"Go!" I shouted at the boys, who were watching us explode, "Up the bleachers. This isn't a show. Don't make me tell you again."

Tyler scowled, but he started moving, dragging Jeffrey with him. They trudged up the bleachers, one agonizing step at a time, their resentment clear in every heavy footfall. I watched them, arms folded, not giving an inch.

Kimberly was breathing hard beside me, furious but silent. "This isn't about punishing them," I said quietly. "It's about teaching them respect. For you, for themselves, for authority. They need it. You know they do."

She said nothing, just stared at her boys as they finally reached the top of the bleachers, panting, worn out. I could feel her frustration, her anger, her helplessness, but I wasn't going to let that stop me.

She opened her mouth to argue, but she closed it just as quickly. Instead, she turned her back to me, her shoulders stiff with tension, and called out to the boys. "We're leaving," she said, her voice cracking.

The hell they are!

"No! One more round!" I called out to the boys. "keep going. You can thank me later."

Tyler glared at me from the top of the bleachers, eyes burning, but he didn't argue. He just started running again, dragging Jeffrey along with him. That caused me to smirk. That's right.

"I said, we're leaving." Kimberly's voice cracked again, her eyes flashing as she marched toward the bleachers, hand outstretched to call the boys down.

Tyler's head jerked up, caught in the middle of his mother's dramatics and my command. Jeffrey glanced between the two of us, his gaze bouncing like a tennis match, wide-eyed and tense.

"Keep moving!" I barked at them, folding my arms tightly. "I said one more round and that's exactly what you're doing!"

Tyler hesitated, jaw set, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. Part of him wanted to keep going, to see where this challenge would lead him, but then his eyes flicked to his mom, and his shoulders stiffened.

"Mom said to leave," Jeffrey muttered, looking at Tyler for backup. "We're leaving."

"Don't you take a step." I growled, daring them to defy me.

Kimberly stomped closer, fury pouring off her. "Tommy, they're done. You don't get to bully them like this!"

"This isn't bullying," I shot back. "It's teaching them how to handle themselves. They'll thank me for it one day. Right now, they're staying."

"No, they're not!" she snapped, her voice rising. "Boys, get down here, now."

Tyler looked torn. I could see him wrestling with himself, unsure whose word to take, unsure which side would ultimately serve him better.

"Listen to me," I barked. "One more round up those bleachers. This isn't about her, it's about you. Show me you can finish what you started."

"Tyler, Jeffrey, come with me," Kimberly countered, her voice softer but urgent. "Right now."

Tyler took a half-step toward her before stopping, fists clenched, looking at the ground. "I don't know," he murmured.

"Yes, you do!" I shouted. "Push through it! This isn't a decision, it's discipline. Finish the damn laps."

"Tyler," Kimberly said, voice gentler now, almost pleading. "You don't have to do this. I'm right here."

He looked up at her, then at me, caught between us. I could feel the tightness in my chest, the frustration clawing its way up. He needed this—I could see it in his eyes, that last push to prove himself, to stand up for something. Hell, to stand up to me.

But Kimberly's hand reached out, firm and gentle, guiding Tyler toward her. "We're leaving," she repeated, quieter now, her tone final.

I held my breath, fists clenched, watching them step down the bleachers, the silent tension settling between us like a heavy weight. I'd tried—damn it, I'd tried to break through. But the walls were higher than I thought.

Author note: Hey there! Gah, I'm having so much fun right now you don't even understand! I have so much more coming up. I'm almost done with the next chapter, just finishing up some editing. Let me know what you guys think. Did Tommy take it too far? I hope you guys enjoy!