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Back The Long and Winding Road
Chapters (31)
  1. The Long and Winding Road
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Dedication
  4. Epigraph
  5. Prologue: Or, Where Bear Answers the Door
  6. PAST
  7. 1. Where Bear Makes the Wrong Assumption
  8. 2. Where Bear Finds Out
  9. 3. Where Bear Makes a Decision
  10. 4. Where Bear Learns the Art of Breathing
  11. 5. Where Bear Has Bro-Time with Creed
  12. PRESENT
  13. 6. Where Bear Attends the Most Awkward Homecoming Ever
  14. 7. Where Bear Tells Tyson Everything
  15. 8. Where Bear Makes a Promise
  16. 9. Where Bear Goes to Lamaze Class
  17. 10. Where Bear Gets Advice About His Sex Life
  18. 11. Where Bear and Otter Role-Play at a Hotel Bar
  19. 12. Where Bear Faces the Reality of Married Life
  20. 13. Where Bear Sees Everything Change
  21. FUTURE
  22. 14. The Long and Winding Road
  23. Epilogue: Or, Otter’s Perspective, As It Were
  24. Coda
  25. No. Absolutely not. No way.
  26. More from TJ Klune
  27. Readers love the Bear, Otter, and the Kid Chronicles by TJ Klune
  28. About the Author
  29. By TJ Klune
  30. Visit Dreamspinner Press
  31. Copyright
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He’s up and over the back of the couch, landing on top of me. I complain, telling him he’s too heavy. He laughs against my throat, both of us knowing I’m full of shit. And when he raises himself to rest on his elbows, thumbs tracing over my eyebrows, I tell him I love him because he deserves to hear it as much as possible.

He grins crookedly. “I know. And it’s the best thing you’ve ever given me.”

And maybe we made out on the couch after that, because I couldn’t not. I dare anyone to not try and mack on his face after hearing him say such things.

Impossible. Trust me on that.

8. Where Bear Makes a Promise

JULIE MCKENNA had died five days before Izzie showed up on our doorstep. It was a Sunday, and she’d been at the restaurant where she’d worked as a waitress. Maybe it was the years of smoke and booze, or maybe it was just her time. She’d been carrying a tray of food, and it’d crashed to the floor when she collapsed.

A massive cardiac event, we’re told when we track her to the hospital where she’d been taken. She was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. There was nothing that could have been done. The woman is apologetic over the phone, and even though I want to tell her it’s nothing, I’ve already identified myself as her son. It wouldn’t be right. She’s just doing her job.

Izzie had been out for the summer already when she’d gotten the call at home. She’d been by herself. It was Mom’s boss who’d told her. He’d said he was sorry, he was very sorry. Because of course he was. He was calling to tell a little girl her mother was dead. He’d asked if there was someone else he could call, someone who could come and pick her up. Someone who could stay with her.

He didn’t know that there wasn’t anyone else. Not in Idaho, at least.

No, she’d told him. He didn’t need to do that. She’d take care of it.

And she had. The moment she’d gotten off the phone, she’d gone into the kitchen and found the tin that Julie kept a few spare twenties in. She’d loaded her backpack as full as she could while still being able to zip it closed. She’d locked the door to the house and walked three miles to the bus station. She’d said her mom was in the bathroom and that she was buying the ticket for her. She’d bought a ticket to Redmond, Oregon, as far as the money could get her. Then she’d boarded the bus, sitting at the back, clutching her backpack so no one would steal it. She’d brought five granola bars, three apples, and two water bottles.