A Touch of Pettiness
Summary:
When Tommy fills in for Buck at a PTA meeting, he gets more attention than he bargained for from a flirty new parent.
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"I can't just leave, Tommy, because I'm the Captain and the paperwork needs to be done. I know that, but this meeting is also super important because it sets the tone for the whole school year and—" Buck said over the phone, his frustration clear even through the static.
"Sweetheart," Tommy interrupted gently, "do you want me to go?"
"Would you?" Buck asked, and Tommy could hear the relief in his voice. "I should be able to get there before it ends, but it would be really helpful. Maddie already has the girls, so you wouldn't have to worry about them."
"My shift ends in thirty minutes anyway," Tommy said. "I can head straight to the school from here."
"Thank you. Best husband ever," Buck said warmly.
"Love you too, baby. I'll text you if anything important comes up."
An hour later, Tommy was pulling up in front of Silver Creek Elementary School, having changed out of his flight suit and into civilian clothes. PTA meetings were definitely not his thing—he'd much rather be flying or working on aircrafts than discussing fundraisers and curriculum changes. But he would do anything for his husband and daughters.
Tommy slid into the back of the meeting in the library, hoping not to draw attention to himself.
"The meeting will start in ten minutes. Please help yourself to the refreshments in the back of the room," a woman addressed the gathered parents and guardians.
Never one to turn down a sweet treat, Tommy headed to the refreshment table, hoping to snag a cookie or pastry.
"Hi," a blonde woman said, sauntering up to him with a bright smile. "I'm Cammy Phillips. We're new to Silver Creek Elementary."
"Oh, uh, Tommy. Tommy Kinard," he said, shaking her hand politely.
"I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see such an involved father," she said, moving closer than necessary. "My son's dad is a total deadbeat."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Tommy said, taking a small step back.
"So, Tommy, is there a Mrs. Kinard?" she asked, her tone hopeful.
"Oh no, no Mrs. Kinard," he began, but before he could explain further—
"I'd love to take you out for a cup of coffee sometime," Cammy interrupted, clearly misunderstanding his response.
"The meeting will come to order. Please find your seats," announced a woman at the front. "I'm acting president Amber Nelson."
Tommy felt relief wash over him as the interruption gave him a moment to figure out how to politely clarify his situation to the overly forward parent beside him.
Cammy slid into the seat next to Tommy, boldly placing her hand on his leg. "So how many kids do you have?" she asked.
"Two girls," Tommy said, gently shifting his leg away from her touch while trying not to be obvious about it.
"How old are they?" Cammy pressed, seemingly oblivious to his discomfort.
"Seven and four," Tommy replied, glancing toward the front of the room where Amber Nelson was shuffling through papers.
"Oh, perfect ages! My son Jax is six, so they'd probably get along great," Cammy said, her hand finding its way back to his arm. "Maybe we could arrange a playdate sometime. The kids could play while we...get to know each other better."
Tommy shifted uncomfortably. "That's, uh, that's very kind of you, but—"
"I know this is forward," Cammy interrupted, leaning closer, "but I really think we could have something special. Single parents need to stick together, you know?"
"Actually, I'm not—" Tommy began, but was cut off again.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone!" came a familiar voice from the doorway. "Traffic was terrible, and I had to finish some paperwork at the station."
Tommy's face broke into a relieved smile as Buck hurried into the room, still slightly out of breath. Cammy's hand was still on Tommy's arm as Buck made his way to the front.
"Alright, let's get this meeting started," Buck said, taking his place at the podium. "For those who don't know me, I'm Buck Kinard, PTA president."
Buck caught sight of Tommy and raised his eyebrows.
"Kinard?" Cammy said, her eyes darting between Tommy and Buck. "Is he your brother?"
"Nope, definitely not my brother," Tommy laughed, relief evident in his voice.
"Well, it looks like my husband has been playing welcoming committee for us," Buck said with a knowing smile, his eyes taking in Cammy's hand still resting on Tommy's arm. "Would you like to introduce yourself?"
Cammy's face flushed red as she quickly pulled her hand away and stammered through an introduction. "I'm, uh, Cammy Phillips. My son Jax is in Mrs. Rodriguez's first-grade class. We're new to the area."
"So happy you could join us," Buck said with a polite but pointed smirk. "I think most of the volunteer opportunities have been snagged up unfortunately, but I'm sure you'll make a fine addition to our cleanup crew."
Tommy bit his lip to keep from laughing at his husband's barely concealed territorial response.
"The cleanup crew sounds... great," Cammy said weakly, clearly wishing she could disappear into her chair.
"Wonderful," Buck said brightly. "Now, let's get started with tonight's agenda, shall we?"
On the drive home, Tommy glanced over at Buck with a mischievous smile. "I like jealous Evan," he said. "He doesn't come out quite as much as he used to."
Buck kept his eyes on the road, but Tommy could see his jaw tighten slightly. "Well, seeing her with her hand on you had me seeing red," Buck admitted. "I know you can handle yourself, but she was being so inappropriate."
"Oh, she definitely was," Tommy agreed, reaching over to squeeze Buck's thigh. "But I have to admit, watching you assign her to cleanup crew duty was pretty satisfying."
"She had it coming," Buck said, finally cracking a smile. "The audacity to hit on my husband right in front of me."
"In my defense, I did try to tell her I wasn't single," Tommy said. "She just kept interrupting me every time I tried to explain."
"That checks out," Buck said, his voice softening. "If it wasn't for that stupid paperwork I could have saved you from that whole awkward situation."
"It's fine, babe. Made for an interesting evening," Tommy said with a laugh. "Though next time, maybe I should wear my wedding ring to PTA meetings."
"Next time, you're wearing a shirt that says 'Property of Evan Kinard,'" Buck said, pulling into their driveway.
Tommy burst out laughing. "Deal. But only if you wear one that says 'Property of Tommy Kinard.'"
"Deal," Buck said, leaning over to kiss his husband. "Now let's go relieve Maddie before she loses her mind. You and I both know that all four of the kids together is no joke."
