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 love you, Larry,” Geo said suddenly, choking back a sob. “This isn’t about sex, or hooking up tonight, or another notch in the bedpost, anything like that. You were—you are—the one that got away for me. The love of my life. What’s missing in my heart and soul.”


Larry felt his chest clench; his vision blurred with tears. His chin trembled. Was he seriously going to lose it? After all this time? I’ve been waiting so long to hear this,he thought, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. Even if I didn’t know it, I needed it. It hurt, but it felt so right


Geo continued. “And if you’re over me, if you’ve managed to move on, then fine.” He let go of Larry’s arm, releasing him. “Go on then, if you think you have to. That won’t change the way I feel about you. The way I’ll always feel. I’m old enough now to know I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”


Chapter 64