Back in college, Larry Carson played drums in a friend’s band and fell in love with the lead singer, Geoffrey Mason. But all that’s in the past. Larry’s now thirty-five, divorced, and father to a precocious thirteen-year-old daughter. One day, when Larry picks Crystal up from school, a song comes on the radio by a new rockstar climbing the charts. Larry recognizes Geoff’s voice immediately, though Crystal calls him Geo and claims he’s the hottest new singer on the scene. Just hearing him brings back a flood of memories, reopening wounds Larry thought long healed. The more he listens to Geo’s music, the more Larry falls in love with his former boyfriend all over again. Partly to prove to his daughter that he used to know Geo back in the day, and partly to reconnect with his old friend, Larry buys tickets to an upcoming concert and manages to score backstage passes. But there was a reason Larry and Geoff lost touch -- and stayed out of touch for so long. Will Geo even want to see Larry again after all this time? Or will the magic of their old familiar song bring about a harmonious duet?

Old Familiar Song

Larry looked around—the street was empty. No one was watching. Jesus, it was only a maxi pad. Millions of women used them every day. How could asking her about her period be embarrassing?


So much for a nice evening together, he thought, tucking the pad back into her bag before he hefted it over his shoulder. He closed the hatch and followed his daughter to the short set of stairs around the side of the house which led down to the basement door. There he found Crystal huddled in the doorframe, arms crossed around her stomach, head down, eyes rimmed red with tears.


Unlocking the door, Larry started, “Honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”


“Don’t even!” She pushed past him inside, stomping across the hardwood floor to the bedroom she called her own when she stayed with him.


Chapter 8