A Rocker and a Hard Place

by Keane, Hunter J.

  With my eyes, I told Tyler this was a bad idea. He grabbed my arm and pulled me close.

  “You can do this,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ll be right beside you.”

  Nervously, I glanced at the audience. With the bright lights shining down, it was hard to see beyond the first few rows, but I knew that every seat was filled with a body. I could see my former seatmates glaring angrily at me and my hand started to shake.

  “Emma. Just look at me.”

  So I did. I kept my eyes locked onto Tyler’s reassuring face and my breathing slowly began to return to normal. Once he saw that I wasn’t going to have a panic attack, Tyler said into the mic, “This song is called My Salvation.”

  You were there from the beginning

  Long before the stardom

  You were there before the money and the fame

  You were my salvation.

  Now it was my turn. Tyler made it look so easy. He seemed completely unfazed by the hot lights and screaming fans. I did what he told me to do- I kept my eyes on him.

  You came along right when I needed you

  Never asking for anything in return

  You were all I ever wanted and more

  You were my salvation.

  Tyler smiled encouragingly and his eyes were so bright, I no longer even wanted to look at anyone or anything but him.

  Together, we sang the chorus.

  The first, the best, the last

  My life’s greatest passion

  The good, the bad, the great

  You were my salvation.

  The rest of the lyrics flowed so smoothly, like we had practiced this moment a million times. Our bodies swayed in perfect synchronization, moving closer and closer together with every line. By the time we hit the last refrain, I was shocked to hear the entire audience singing along

  The first.

  The best.

  The last.

  You are my salvation.

  Tyler had thrown the guitar behind his back and we were singing from the same microphone. Our lips were just an inch apart as the last word echoed through the theater. I was aware that the crowd was still there- applauding and yelling. But I was even more aware that Tyler and I hadn’t been this close to each other since we had almost kissed on his porch.

  With the song over, there was no longer any excuse for our close proximity. I took a small step back, but I couldn’t look away from him. Tyler was also entranced for another beat, but he eventually stepped aside, sweeping an arm in my direction. Another round of applause, meant for me, thundered loudly.

  Tyler came close again, pulling me into a tight embrace.

  “You are amazing, Emma Wellington,” he said. “And now everyone knows what I’ve known since we were twelve.”

  “What’s up next?” I couldn’t imagine anything Tyler could plan that would top this moment.

  “We’re going home.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Tyler

  By all accounts, it was a perfect day with Emma. After the show, I held a meet and greet with the fans, and Emma had made a few of her own as well. She signed her first autograph and even posed for some pictures. We grabbed a late dinner before getting on the plane, and by the time we were in the air, Emma was asleep on my shoulder.

  I dropped her off at her house, regretfully declining her invitation to come inside for coffee. She was tired- I knew that she only asked because it was the polite thing to do. But she accepted when I asked her to dinner the next night.

  For the first time in a very long time, I slept soundly. I woke up late the next morning and turned on the television while my coffee brewed. Typically, there wasn’t much to watch on a Tuesday morning, but one of the morning gossip shows seems especially excited. When I heard my own name, my inner warning flags started flying.

  “Tyler Cole performed an acoustic set at the Lyric in Nashville last night. It was his first ever acoustic show, and fans in attendance are giving it rave reviews. But the real news is that he performed a new song with a mystery girl by his side. We’re told that her name is Emma Wellington.”

  I froze, coffee mug just about to reach my lips. A picture of me and Emma on stage flashed on the screen. She looked beautiful, as always, and I was smiling at her like a schoolboy with a crush.

  “An inside source says that the two use to date and from the looks of things, that old flame may be heating up again.”

  Another picture of the two of us embracing.

  This would only be the beginning, I knew. Once the vultures got hold of something that would bring an audience, they didn’t back down. It was only a matter of time before someone learned about T.J.

  It was my own fault. I should’ve known better than to take Emma on stage like that. I had thought that because the show had barely been publicized, it would be okay. I hadn’t mentioned her name on stage, and only a few fans after the show knew who she was.

  It was incredibly stupid of me not to realize that this would happen.

  Almost as soon as the clip was over, my phone rang. It was my publicist, Karma. Word traveled faster than I had imagined was possible. The news about T.J. was about to go public and Karma wanted to know if I would like to make a statement. She never bothered to ask if it was true, which meant whomever had the story also had plenty of evidence to support it.

  I hung up after a cursory “no comment,” and hurried into the shower. I needed to find Emma at the store before she heard the news from someone else.

  A man I didn’t know was working the counter when I arrived. Unlike Maggie, he did not seem to be a fan.

  “Is Emma around?” I asked.

  “Humph.” He eyed me up and down warily. “Aisle 3.”

  Despite the bad news I was carrying, I couldn’t help but smile when I found Emma in the paint aisle, head bent over a clipboard.

  “Did you steal that from Lily?” I asked, catching her by surprise.

  “Tyler!” She flipped her hair out of her eyes and grinned. “I think that thing was glued to Lily’s hand. I couldn’t have stolen it if I wanted to. It did look like a nice clipboard, though.”

  “I have her number if you’d like to give her a call and ask her where she got it.”

  “She gave you her number?” Emma’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “And you took it?”

  I held up a defensive hand. “She slipped her card into my pocket when I wasn’t looking. I swear.”

  “Likely story.” Emma’s battle with a smile was lost. “What brings you here? Need some more paint?”

  “I finished that project actually.” Emma had known I was doing some painting in Dad’s house, though I hadn’t told her it was for T.J.’s room. “I need to talk to you about something. You’re not going to like it.”

  Emma gave me a long look. “Let’s go outside.”

  The town square was just a block away from the hardware store and we were the only ones around as we sat on one of the park benches. It had been a beautiful summer day, but clouds had begun to roll in the minute we sat down.

  “Are you leaving again?” Emma asked before I could begin.

  “What? No,” I stammered in surprise. “Why would you think that?”

  Emma shrugged. “When you have bad news, it usually involves you leaving town.”

  “I’ve told you a dozen times, Emma- I’m not leaving again. Not like that anyway.” We both knew that my career would require me to be on the road at least part of the time. “When I do have to leave, I promise I will come back. Every time.”

  “What’s the bad news then?” She still didn’t look convinced.

  I started slowly. “The show last night was a huge success. The fans really loved My Salvation.”

  I was rewarded with a blank stare.

  “Well, anyway, when fans like things, they tend to comment on those things. A lot. Post things on the internet and whatnot.”

  “Spit it out, Cole.”

  “You’ve been on the news all morning.”

  Her hea
d tilted. “You mean our performance?”

  “Yes and no.” I tried again. “People have taken an interest in you. It seems someone that knows one of us has spoken to the media, and they know that we used to date.”

  “So what?”

  “I guess based on that performance last night, people are speculating that we might be a couple.”

  Emma’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Oh. Well, I mean, that’s not so bad. Is it?”

  “That alone, no, not so bad. But someone has also reached out to my publicist.” I paused. “They know about T.J.”

  “T.J.?”

  Emma was confused at first. Whether she was trying to decide how they had found out about him, or just how bad it was that they knew, I couldn’t tell. But from the way her face fell, I could tell that she had come to same conclusion as me.

  “This is going to be bad for us, isn’t it?”

  “I think so.” I reached over and took her hand. “My life isn’t private, Emma. The fact that I’ve been able to hide in Salvation this long has been a minor miracle. Photographers follow me everywhere. Fans stalk me outside my house. When they find out I have a son, they will all be fighting for a piece of the story.”

  Emma nodded, accepting the inevitable. “What can we do?”

  “Not much. But I think the first thing you need to do is talk to T.J. before someone else does.” I couldn’t stand the thought of T.J. learning the truth about me from a stranger. Or worse, seeing it on television or in a magazine.

  “He should be safe at camp. They don’t have television or the internet. He has permission to call home, but that’s it.” Emma’s mind was racing; I could practically see the thoughts flying around as I looked into her eyes. “I’ll tell him as soon as he gets home.”

  “Do you want me there when you tell him?”

  Emma looked away. “I don’t know.”

  “Okay.” I squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry this isn’t going to happen the way you want, but it’s going to be okay.”

  “I don’t want that kind of life, Ty,” she said, still looking off in the distance. “I don’t want to live my life in front of cameras and prying eyes.”

  “I know.”

  The first few raindrops fell from the sky and Emma looked up. “Do you think this is a bad omen?”

  “I think that it’s summer in the Midwest. Rain isn’t exactly a rare phenomenon.” I tried to sound confident, but my stomach was still twisted into a giant knot.

  “I should get back to the store.” Emma finally turned back to me. “Are we still on for dinner tonight?”

  It was like Emma knew the exact thing I needed to hear at that moment. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world.”

  Unfortunately, the world had other plans. By afternoon, the story of my illegitimate son had spread like wildfire all over the internet. So far, they hadn’t tied the story to Emma, but that was only a matter of time.

  An hour before dinner, Emma called from her store.

  “There are some men with cameras out front,” she said, sounding worried.

  “How many?”

  “Five? Six?”

  I knew that was only the beginning. “Just stay right there. I’ll come get you.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ty. Won’t that just make them excitable?”

  She was right. They would snap a few pictures of her while she walked to her car, but that would be it. If I showed up, they would follow us as we drove away and I really didn’t want them knowing where Emma lived.

  “Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. Walk fast and go straight to your car. Don’t look at them or say anything. Drive straight to my place.”

  “Okay.” Emma sounded determined now. “I’ll see you soon.”

  By the time she reached my house, pictures of her walking to her car were already on the gossip blogs.

  “Did anyone follow you?” I asked after I greeted her at the door.

  “I don’t think so.” She hurried inside with a nervous glance over her shoulder. “I didn’t really look back though.”

  “Good.” I pulled her into a firm hug. “I’m sorry, Emma.”

  She sighed as she leaned her head against my chest. “They didn’t even get my good side,” she joked.

  I laughed, spontaneously and genuinely. Even considering the circumstances, I felt nothing short of joyous being able to hold Emma and laugh. That was the only reasonable explanation why I quite easily said, “I love you, Emma Wellington.”

  Emma tensed in my arms and I thought it was because my proclamation had been too much. I started to apologize, but a flash of light caught my eye.

  “I think they did follow me, Ty,” Emma said, looking over my shoulder.

  I turned, keeping myself between Emma and the open door. Three photographers stood outside with their lenses aimed at us. Infuriated, I slammed the door.

  “Who has the nerve to take pictures of people in their homes? Creeps.” I punched the door once for emphasis.

  “It’s okay, Tyler.” Emma’s voice betrayed her real feelings though when it wavered and cracked. “Okay, actually it sucks.”

  I peered through the peephole and saw that the other photogs had also arrived. “Well, the good news is that it looks like all of them are here which means they aren’t at your house.”

  “I guess we should get started on that underground tunnel,” Emma joked.

  “I was actually thinking we could leave through the back. We should be able to make it to your place if we stick to the backyards.” I wasn’t sure if any of our neighbors had fences, but I was hoping they wouldn’t be anything we couldn’t scale.

  “They’re going to find my house eventually.”

  I knew that she was right, but I wasn’t ready to admit defeat yet. “All the more reason to keep it a secret for as long as possible.”

  The backyard trek went surprisingly smooth. We didn’t come across a single fence until we hit Glenn’s yard, and by then it was safe enough to walk around the front. Just as I had hoped, no one was waiting for us in front of Emma’s house.

  “Are you coming in?” Emma asked with a laugh after I didn’t follow her inside. “We’re supposed to be having dinner, remember?”

  “I want to come in. Trust me, you have no idea how bad I want to come in.” I gripped the doorframe in my hand and pushed against it. “I should head back and take care of some stuff. My publicist needs me to make an official statement.”

  “And that will be…”

  “That it’s nobody’s damn business.” I was gripping the doorframe so hard that my fingers started to ache. “Or something less hostile. That’s what I pay her to do- make me not sound like a jerk.”

  “You must pay her a lot of money.”

  Emma’s smirk was adorable and almost made me change my mind about leaving. My attraction and devotion to her was going to be a problem. “You’re making it very hard for me to leave.”

  “So don’t go.”

  “I really should…” I felt myself being pulled toward her and just as I was about to give into the urge, my phone rang.

  “Saved by the bell,” Emma said. I gave her an apologetic look as I reached for my phone. “Go. Have a good night.”

  I headed back up the street following the same path we had just taken. The drummer in my band, Craig, had heard the news and was looking for the inside scoop.

  “Who’d you knock up?” he asked the second I answered.

  “Hi, Craig.” My voice dripped with bitterness. “I’ve missed you, too.”

  “Shut up. Is she hot?”

  My eyes rolled, even though I knew he couldn’t detect that through the phone. “She’s none of your business.”

  “So she is hot. How old is the kid?”

  “I don’t really want to talk about this right now,” I said, adding internally and especially not with you.

  Craig and I had been playing together for five years, but we weren’t what you would call friends. Drinking b
uddies would be a more accurate description. Even then, Craig usually only wanted me to hang out with him so that I could foot the bill.

  “I can’t believe you had a kid and just abandoned him. I didn’t think you were that big of a jerk.” Craig’s words slurred slightly and I knew that he was on the verge of being drunk. It was a Tuesday evening after all.

  “That was rude.”

  “When are you coming back, man? Miranda has been asking about you.”

  I had completely forgotten about Miranda. Not that there was much to remember aside from a few foggy hookups. “Not for a while.”

  “Does the label know that? Because we’ve got all those promotional gigs coming up this week.”

  “Shit.” I had completely forgotten. My new album was being released at the end of the month and I was booked for a bunch of appearances to help boost interest. Since promotional appearances were part of my contract with the label, I couldn’t exactly bail on them. “I guess I’ll be back sooner then.”

  “Call me when you get to town. I’ll let you buy me a drink.”

  Less than 24 hours later, I was on a plane to California.

  Not only did I have obligations, but I also hoped that the paparazzi would follow me back and leave Emma alone. At least that was what I told her when I snuck over to her house the next day to say goodbye. Even after a million promises that I would be back soon, Emma was less than thrilled by the news of my departure.

  This plane ride was one of the all-time worst. It was bad enough that I was sober, but I was also plagued with insecurities about leaving Emma and T.J. My schedule was going to keep me busy until well-after T.J.’s return from camp. That meant that Emma would be telling him the news without me.

  I called her after I landed and she sounded distant. I knew that my abrupt exodus from Salvation had pretty much confirmed her worst fears and she would remain cautious until I returned to town. Over the next few days, she proved me right. Our conversations were strained and brief. Emma claimed that she was busy at the store and the time difference was an obstacle, but I could tell that she was keeping her distance on purpose.

  It didn’t help that everywhere I turned, someone was asking me about her. They all wanted to know about the mystery girl that had appeared on stage with me. A few people were curious because they thought she was talented, but most people were hoping for a more sensational story.