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
Ty rolled his eyes. “Give it a bit. You guys will be back to embarrassing me with your disgusting displays of affection in no time. The elderly should not get caught making out in the pantry.”
“I was trying to make the grocery list,” I said. “Don’t you blame that one on me.”
Otter shrugged. “And you can’t blame me either. You know how I get when he makes lists.”
I grinned at him. “I’m so glad I married you.”
“Yeah,” Otter said, reaching under the table and squeezing my knee. “Me too.”
“See!” the Kid exclaimed. “You’re doing it again! That wasn’t even a minute. This is terrible. Everything about this is terrible.”
“Wanna go make out in the pantry?” Otter asked me.
“Yes. Yes, please. All of that.”
“Ugh,” the Kid said. “No one should ever have to see their older brother’s horny face. You’re going to make me more damaged than I already am.”
And the good mood went right out the window.
The Kid winced. “Shit. I didn’t mean it that way. Both of you need to stop looking at me like that.”
“You’re not damaged,” I said sternly.
“And you know we don’t like hearing that come from you,” Otter said. “You’ve come a long way in a short amount of time. It’s something to be proud of, Kid.”
“I know that. But—it’s. Argh. You don’t understand.”
“Then explain it,” I told him. “We can’t understand unless you tell us.”
“I resented you,” he blurted, then looked immediately horrified. And even though I knew I had to let him finish, it still hurt to hear. “Not like—god. Okay. I need you to listen to me, okay? Like, without interrupting me. It’ll be easier that way.”
“I never interrupt you.”
“Sometimes,” Otter said, patting my hand.
“Not when it’s important.”
“Sometimes,” he said again. “You’re just… forceful.”
“That was a euphemism, wasn’t it.”
“A little. It’s endearing. Mostly.”
“Fine,” I said. “I won’t interrupt.”
The Kid stared at me for a moment like he didn’t believe me. Then, “I want to go back to Seafare.”
And that wasn’t something I expected. And there wasn’t going to be a problem with me interrupting, because I couldn’t think of a single goddamn word to say.