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
His grin comes back. “Maybe we could role-play a threesome.”
“I dare you to say that when he gets here.”
He pales a little. “You know what? I think I’m going to go. Bear, it was nice seeing you again. Feel free to look me up if the whole marriage/fatherhood thing doesn’t work out for you.” With that, he slams the rest of his drink, winks at me, then turns and—
Walks straight into Otter.
It’s funny, really. Isaiah is about my height, so he’s short for a guy, but he’s wide too, maybe a little more than he’d been a decade before.
But he’s positively dwarfed by my husband, who does not look amused.
“I know you,” Otter growls.
“Eep,” Isaiah says.
I’m a little buzzed. It’s pretty great. I wonder if they’ll fight over me. I hope Otter wins.
Otter’s eyebrows draw together. “You’re that guy.”
“Yep,” Isaiah says. “That’s me. That guy. I’m also that guy who’s leaving, so if you could maybe move your mass a little to the left, I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Didn’t you once try and get in Bear’s pants?” Otter asks, crossing his big arms over his considerable chest. He’s wearing a suit I’ve never seen before, and it looks like it’s been perfectly cut for his frame, tight in all the right places. The suit is black, and he’s wearing a red dress shirt with a black silk tie. I’m going to fuck him until he’s cross-eyed.
“I like your shoulders,” I tell him, because I feel like he needs to know.
“Thank you,” Otter says without looking away from Isaiah. “I’m pretty proud of them.”
“You guys are so weird,” Isaiah breathes. “Mazel tov and all that.”
“What was your name?” Otter asks. “It seems to have slipped my mind.”
He’s lying, but he’s enjoying himself, especially since Isaiah doesn’t seem to be having fun, so I leave him to it. I signal the bartender for another glass of wine.
“I don’t know that my name is important.” Isaiah is starting to sweat. “Seeing as how I was just leaving. And probably not coming back. Ever.”
“Probably?” Otter asks, and I remind myself that erections in public are frowned upon.
“Oh, I didn’t mean that,” Isaiah says hastily. “I meant to say never. I’m never coming back.”
“I feel like your name is Ricky,” Otter says. “You look like a Ricky.”
“It’s Isaiah,” I say helpfully.
“That’s right,” Otter growls. “Isaiah. You were in Bear’s class. You came to the gay bar that one time.”
“He wasn’t wearing his ring!” Isaiah exclaims. “How was I to know you guys are kinky sumbitches! I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d known. You have to believe me. I’m serious!”