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

Whoever was on the other end of the line must have chastised him, because he instantly lowered his voice. “Sorry, sorry. I’m sorry. I’m Doug, with the band? Is he—? Oh. Can you—? Oh. Okay then. Tell him I called. Have him call me ASAP. As soon as he can. We need to practice today, so—oh, really? Well, if he can. Okay, thanks.”


Larry pulled the covers up over his mouth so Doug wouldn’t see his smirk. When Doug slammed down the phone, Larry kept his voice light and asked, “That his mom?”


“Fucking bitch.” Doug kicked at the leg of his desk, then howled because he wasn’t wearing shoes and had stubbed his toe. “Fucking ass! Who needs Rob anyway? What’s the hell he do, huh? Tell me that?”


Larry didn’t take the bait. “What’d she say?”


“He has to mow the goddamn lawn.” Doug threw himself down onto the tangle of sheets on his bed and glared at the ceiling. “Like that’s more important than practicing. Fucker’s still asleep, if you believe it. I mean, God. Daylight’s wasting!”


Chapter 41