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
“I have powerful sperm,” I announce to no one in particular. “Super sperm. I am so damn fertile. Why did I never know that about myself?”
“Okay,” Megan says slowly. “Let’s move this inside. I wasn’t kidding about the boob sweat.” And with that, she shoves her way between us, both of us recoiling with a hiss as we accidentally brush against her stomach. “Oh boy. This is going to be hysterical. I wish I hadn’t left my phone in the car so I could record this.”
Otter shuts the door, and we both trail after her as she starts prodding and poking at everything she can get her hands on.
I try to remember my manners. “Can I take your coat?” I ask.
“She’s not wearing a coat,” Otter whispers fiercely. “It’s summer.”
“Well, I don’t know what else to say! It was either that or offer her salmon, because I read it’s good for pregnant women, but we don’t have any salmon. And whose fault is that, hmm? Oh, I don’t know, maybe yours? You were just at the store yesterday. You couldn’t have picked some up to prepare for situations just like this?”
“I didn’t know I was supposed to buy salmon! You made the damn shopping list for this party, not me! And who the hell prepares for situations like this? Name one other person you know who has gotten a phone call that their unborn child has magically turned into two unborn children.”
“Jesus, Otter, it’s not magical. It’s science. Even I know that.”
“It was a figure of speech!”
“Magical babies is a figure of speech? That doesn’t even make sense. Who do you think you are? Me? Because I would have gotten the salmon!”
“Oh, that’s okay,” Megan says easily. “The smell of fish is not doing anything for me right now. Believe me, you don’t want to see projectile vomiting. It’s… disgustingly athletic. And I’m mostly past the morning sickness, so I’d like to keep it that way. I wouldn’t say no to some yogurt right now. Maybe some walnuts, if you have them. And what party are you having? I like balloons. You guys have a lot of balloons.” She squints adorably up at the banner stretched out across the living room. “Welcome Home, Tyson! Oh! That’s right. He’s coming home today. Oh shoot. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just thought—”
I hadn’t even seen Otter disappear, but suddenly he’s standing next to me with a handful of walnuts and a container of Greek yogurt. “Here,” he says dumbly, thrusting them out at her.
She cocks her head at him. “Thank you.” She holds out her hand and doesn’t even flinch when he drops the walnuts onto it, some of them sticking to Otter’s palm. She takes the yogurt from him with her other hand and frowns down at it. “No spoon?”