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The hour of the clinic passed quickly. It was damn hard to wrangle the smaller kids when he was already upset but he managed. He didn’t even yell at any of them even the one that kept trying to slip through the fence.

Sean was a handful who needed his own personal coach. Kid was a runner at five years old. Every time they turned their back he was off.

Maddox found it hilarious, probably because he wasn’t the one running after him. If Tori were here she would have helped him. Or had parents come to get the kid.

“Sean,” Maddox shouted.

“Your turn,” Chance joked.

“It’s funner when you do it,” he grumbled but took off after him.

Thye wrapped up the drills and Chance led the group of kids to meet their parents. Sean was the first to be picked up. Chance relaxed just a fraction without needing to worry about him again.

“We need to redo the rotations,” he whispered to Maddox.

“You’ll be fine. It was one little kid,” Maddox laughed.

With their group collected by parents, Chance and Maddox held back waiting for the rest of the guys to turn their groups over to parents. Overall, the night had gone pretty smooth even without Tori to help.

Ellis looked lost, though. He seemed to be trying to help but people were running behind him fixing the things he was touching. The man didn’t have a clue.

“How’d it go tonight?” Chance asked Emmett.

“Great!” he bounced from foot to foot. “When are you in my group again?” he asked.

“Thursday,” Chance answered.

“Can you come help me with some practice before then?”

That hurt more than anything else. Even missing Tori was nothing compared to the fact that he was about to have to tell this kid no.

“I don’t think you’ll be seeing much of Chance anymore,” Isaac walked up. “Your mom tried whoring it up and it didn’t work out.” He looked Chance up and down.

Maddox put a hand on Chance’s shoulder. “It’s not worth it,” he said.

Chance tensed anyway.

“Listen to your friend, there. I can promise you she’s not worth it. Been there done that, clearly,” he pointed at Emmett.

Maddox squeezed his shoulder but jumped into the mess. “I was talking about you. Good thing Tori wised up and got rid of you.”

“Is that what she told you?” He threw his head back in laughter. “Tori was a frigid bitch and couldn’t please her man. I was done with her.”

Emmett was standing there, watching the argument take place. To think that anyone could stand in front of their child and say things like this about their other parent was insane.

“Nothing to say to that one, huh?” Isaac challenged.

“Get the kid,” Chance ground out.

As soon as Maddox dropped his hand from Chance, he was in motion. Maddox scooped Emmett out of the way as Chance lunged forward, landing his fist in Isaac’s face, watching Isaac back up until he stumbled and fell.

The crowd that he hadn’t realized they’d gathered gasped. Phones were out and he knew he was screwed. This would be on the internet before he made it home.

Oh well, there was no taking it back now. Chance looked down at Isaac still on the ground. “Don’t talk about her like that, especially in front of her son.”

“You’ve just proven what everyone says about you is true,” Isaac didn’t get up but he did turn his head and spit blood out.

“Awe. I’m honored. You must have searched me since you didn’t even know who I was the other day. Happy to know I take up your time because I can assure you, you take up none of mine.”

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