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

From the kitchen, she chirped brightly, “Hey, Dad! Over here! Marnie brought in breakfast from Panera.”


Pushing past Geo, Larry saw his daughter seated at the dining table, Geo’s PA beside her. A box of bagels was open in front of them, tubs of cream cheese nearby, with cups of coffee and orange juice to drink. When Crystal caught him looking, she grinned around a mouthful of bagel and waved. “Saved you a cinnamon one,” she said, pointing to a bagel sitting by itself on a napkin. “I know they’re your favorite.”


“Hey, honey.” Larry eyed Marnie warily as he skirted the table, but she ignored him. When he reached Crystal, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry we didn’t leave last night. It got kind of late—”


Larry threw her a glare. “And I didn’t want to wake you. Did you sleep okay?”


Chapter 72