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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

And I—I did. I remembered that. When I got sad. I remembered that we were together. And I tell you this because of how remarkable he was, even back then. I would not be here today without him. He is my brother, and I am so happy to be able to see him marry the love of his life. Dom, you’ve always been a part of us, but now you’re my brother too. Thank you, and I know you’ll have the happiest of endings.

And Ty—I… we’re together. I’ve never forgotten that, okay? We’re together. You and me. I love you, Kid.

Ugh. Now that I’ve cried in front of all of you people, a toast, if you could all raise your glasses. To the happy couple. May Dom and Tyson know joy for the rest of their days. The road ahead may be long and winding, but as long as you remember to love each other with your whole hearts, I know it’ll be a journey worth taking.

Epilogue: Or, Otter’s Perspective, As It Were

(So Long, My Old Friends)

Twelve Years Later

“YOU GUYS ready?” I call up the stairs.

When I get an affirmative from three separate voices, I walk into the kitchen. Bear’s on the phone, sounding a little frantic as he empties the dishwasher.

“Creed, I don’t care why JJ thinks eating pot brownies makes him smarter. He is not allowed to give Lily weed for her birthday, no matter what she says. He knows I—well. I didn’t say I didn’t want it for my birthday. No. I take that back. I am fifty years old. You are not going to peer pressure me into this. I will just get drunk off wine like a normal adult. We have a cop in this family. Do you know how embarrassing that would be to get arrested? Right. Again. How embarrassing it would be to get arrested again. That time wasn’t my fault. I would throw those lemon bars at that homophobic PTA mom again if I had to. She had it coming, and her lemon bars were dry. And I know pot is legal here, but do you really think Dom gives two shits about that?”

Sometimes, it’s better not to ask.

Other times, you have to bail your husband out of jail while his little brother’s husband grins at you smugly.

Life is strange sometimes.

Good, but strange.

“Creed, I’ll be over in a bit. I gotta say goodbye to Otter and the kids before I head out. Tell Anna that I—no, Creed. JJ is not allowed to date Izzie. She’s—she lives on the other side of the country. JJ lives in your basement. She’s not going to—oh my god, we’ll talk about this later. Goodbye, Creed.”

Bear hangs up the phone, glaring down at the silverware in his hand before he drops it into the open drawer.