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

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Geoff whispered.


Hating himself, Larry whispered back the only response he could think of. “I don’t know why not. But I’m sure Doug would be happy to take your place if you want to ask him.”


Geoff’s eyes hardened. “I ain’t asking him shit. If he can do it, so can I.”


“You’re better anyway,” Larry said.


“Damn straight.” With that, Geoff left to test the mic. 9


Though Larry didn’t understand much of the legalese in the document Geo’s assistant had sent over, he didn’t contact an attorney before signing it. Just to get backstage passes? That seemed stupid. It wasn’t as if he had anything to counteroffer or anything. The way he saw it, either he signed the form and got the passes, or he deleted the file from his computer and went to the concert but didn’t get backstage. There was no third option.


Chapter 25