Free A Rocker and a Hard Place by Hunter J. Keane

how to play an entire song?” T.J. took the stack of plates I handed him.
    “Probably.” I tried to listen to him, but my mind was distracted by the fact that Connor and Tyler would be in the same room this evening. “You’ll have to ask him. Now, take those into the dining room.”
    T.J. hurried away and reappeared in seconds. “Danny Little says that Tyler is a famous musician. Is that true?”
    “Danny Little is three years older than you. What are you doing hanging out with him?” I started peeling the carrots, taking out my nervous energy on the helpless vegetables.
    “He was at the picnic. Anyway, is it true?”
    I handed him the silverware. “Yes, it’s true. Go.”
    Now it was time to chop the potatoes. Each hack was delightfully satisfying.
    “I bet Connor won’t be happy that Tyler is coming,” T.J. said, back at my elbow.
    There was a knock at the door and I was grateful for the interruption.
    “I’ve got it!” T.J. was off in a flash. I could tell from his cheerful greeting that our guest wasn’t Connor.
    “I come bearing freshly baked pie,” Tyler said, proudly holding up the baked good.
    “You baked?” I raised a skeptical eyebrow.
    Tyler pretended to be offended. “Why is that so surprising? Are you implying that I can’t do something as simple as bake an apple pie from scratch?”
    “You’re forgetting that I know you.”
    “Fair enough.” He set the pie on the counter. “Glenn’s wife may have helped.”
    “By helped , do you mean that she baked it for you?”
    Tyler grinned and nodded.
    “How do you manage to charm everyone?” I shook my head, disbelieving. “I can’t even get T.J. to clean his room and you got my neighbor, whom you just met, to bake you a pie.”
    “It’s my sparkling personality,” he said.
    “No, it’s that ridiculous smile of yours.” I handed him a platter of steaks. “Make yourself useful and get busy on the grill.”
    T.J. jumped up and down. “I’ll help! Let’s go.”
    I watched him grab Tyler’s hand- something I had pictured a million times in my head- and it took my breath away.
    “Slow down, speedster.” Tyler let himself be dragged out the back door.
    While I finished chopping the vegetables, I listened to them joke and laugh. It felt so natural, the house felt so complete, that I was surprised to hear the front door open.
    “Emma?”
    “In the kitchen.” I dropped the knife with a clatter. How had I forgotten that Connor was coming?
    He smiled broadly when he entered the room and I felt even worse. “Hey, pretty lady.”
    “Connor.” I tried to return his smile. “I’m glad you could make it for dinner.”
    “Of course. I’ve never turned down a dinner invitation from a beautiful woman.” Connor crossed the room in three long strides. “I’ve missed you.”
    “I’ve missed you, too,” I said, trying to sound like I meant it. The truth was, I’d been so distracted by Tyler, I hadn’t had much of a chance to miss Connor. “You look good.”
    He did. He looked very good, in fact. His blond hair was freshly cut and his blue button down fit him perfectly.
    “You look amazing.” He reached for me, long arms circling my waist. “Where’s T.J.?”
    “Outside.”
    Connor leaned in for a kiss and I began to remember how attracted I was to him. My body responded reflexively, though my heart wasn’t sold.
    “Does he have a friend out there?” Connor asked, pulling back at the sound of loud laughter.
    “Hm?” For just a second, I had forgotten about Tyler. I had managed to forget that my current boyfriend was about to meet my ex-boyfriend, and the father of my child.
    “Hey, Em, I need a clean plate for the steaks.” Tyler appeared in the doorway, catching us in our embrace. “Oh.”
    Connor’s face tensed considerably and he looked at me in confusion.
    “Well. This is going to be fun,” I said, mostly to myself. “Connor, Tyler is joining us for dinner. Tyler, this is Connor.”
    The two men stared at each