Chapters (31)
- The Long and Winding Road
- Table of Contents
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Prologue: Or, Where Bear Answers the Door
- PAST
- 1. Where Bear Makes the Wrong Assumption
- 2. Where Bear Finds Out
- 3. Where Bear Makes a Decision
- 4. Where Bear Learns the Art of Breathing
- 5. Where Bear Has Bro-Time with Creed
- PRESENT
- 6. Where Bear Attends the Most Awkward Homecoming Ever
- 7. Where Bear Tells Tyson Everything
- 8. Where Bear Makes a Promise
- 9. Where Bear Goes to Lamaze Class
- 10. Where Bear Gets Advice About His Sex Life
- 11. Where Bear and Otter Role-Play at a Hotel Bar
- 12. Where Bear Faces the Reality of Married Life
- 13. Where Bear Sees Everything Change
- FUTURE
- 14. The Long and Winding Road
- Epilogue: Or, Otter’s Perspective, As It Were
- Coda
- No. Absolutely not. No way.
- More from TJ Klune
- Readers love the Bear, Otter, and the Kid Chronicles by TJ Klune
- About the Author
- By TJ Klune
- Visit Dreamspinner Press
- Copyright
“Fine,” I say with a sigh. “We do make time for each other. I mean, the last time we had sex was… okay. Wait. I know this. Hold on. We did—do hand jobs count? Because I think they count. Since they count, it would have been… I know this. Um.”
“Right,” she says. “And while you’re vacillating, I’m just going to sit here and stare at you until you realize it’s been a while.”
That can’t be right, can it? Sure, we’d been busy preparing for the twins, and Izzie, and just life in general, but it can’t have been that long.
But for the life of me, I can’t even remember. All I can think about is being exhausted or nervous or both.
“Crap.”
“There it is,” Anna says.
“Well, Otter is getting old,” I say. “Maybe it’s harder for him to get it up. And please don’t tell him I said that. I don’t like sleeping on the couch.”
“Right,” Anna says with a snort. “Because Otter doesn’t end up on the couch with you halfway through the night.”
“He doesn’t like sleeping without me,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “Even when he’s mad at me.”
She shakes her head. “I know I don’t have to worry about the two of you. You guys are good. You always have been. But you can’t forget to take moments away from all of… this. Pretty soon, it’s not going to be just you and Otter anymore, Bear. You’ve got Izzie now, but then there are going to be two more entirely dependent upon you. You have to be sure to set aside time for each other, or it’s going to get rough. It will get rough.”
I’m starting to form an idea I’m not entirely comfortable with. “You and Creed?”
She sighs. “We had it good the first time. With JJ, we were so damn young that I think it was fear that kept us going. But with AJ, both during and after, I think we… drifted. A little. Away from who we used to be to each other. There was a little while when I didn’t think we were going to make it.”
“What?” I ask, incredulous. “Why am I just hearing about this now? Creed didn’t say anything!”
“I don’t know why he didn’t. He—”
“Why didn’t you?”
“You were going through your own thing. Last summer was a little rough, what with coming home and the Kid and deciding to start your own family. I thought you guys had enough to worry about.”
I reach out and put my hand on top of hers. “You know you can come to me with anything, right?”