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

Plus Geoff practically lived at their place every weekend. Though Doug didn’t say it, Larry suspected he didn’t like sharing his room—and his best friend—with someone else. Particularly someone so much more talented than he was himself.


The tension between Doug and Geoff grew. The few times they didpractice devolved into angry shouting matches, with Geoff throwing down the mic and heading in one direction, Doug storming off in another. Larry and Rob were left staring at each other, wondering if they should keep at it or give up. Really, what good was a band comprised of nothing but a drum set and keyboards? Even a-ha had had a singer and guitarist to go with their keyboard. Maybe Larry should go off after Geoff and leave Doug behind with Rob.


Chapter 61