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

Still, Crystal didn’t know the extent of his relationship with Geo, and she wasn’t about to find out now. Hugging her to him, Larry gave Geo a stern look—his best “angry dad” face if there ever was one—and in a low, even voice that left little room for doubt, said, “I’m here with my daughter, Geoff. I ask you to respect that.”


Geo sort of shrugged, but Larry knew the answer displeased him. What did you expect?Larry wanted to ask. After all this time, after the way things ended. You seriously think I’m here to patch things up between us? Shouldn’t you be the one to make the first move?


He couldn’t ask any of those things, not with the audience they had, Crystal and Marnie and who knew who else listening in. Instead, he forced a smile and kept his voice light. “Now, I think maybe Crys would like a picture with you, if that’s alright?”


Chapter 51