Page 96 of Steel

She went to walk off, but I pulled her back and into my chest. Her breathing hitched as I stared down at her.

“I’m . . .” I paused, trying to find the words. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She smiled softly as she palmed my face. “I’m glad I’m here too.”

Standing on her toes, she placed the sweetest kiss to my cheek. I almost turned my head so her lips landed on mine, but I held back. That might have been too much for me. I released her and walked into the kitchen, praying to God that I wasn’t making a mistake in potentially opening my heart to her again.

My heart was doingsomersaults in my chest.

This was different than any other time I’d been in this man’s presence. It wasn’t just us sharing family time for our daughter. Something in the air was different. There wasn’t any tension. Regret didn’t linger in the air. We were just here, in this moment together, and it felt . . . nice, . . .right, . . . complete? If KJ was here, we would have felt like a real little family.

As it got closer to his bedtime, Kerrion paused the movie so he could FaceTime KJ to say goodnight. His grandmother answered on the third ring.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Ms. Anita. Where’s my boy?”

“About to go down for the night.”

“Let me see him.”

She angled the phone so we could see KJ. His little eyes were heavy, but the moment he saw his father, he perked up.

“Hey, Fat Man. Daddy misses you.”

KJ grinned. “DaDa!” he sang.

Kerrion matched his grin. “Yeah, you know your daddy. Say hey to your sister and Ms. Neha.”

“Hey, KJ!” Nayelli said, waving at him. “I miss you, bubby. I hope you’re having a good time with your grandma.”

“Hi, cutie pie!” I said, smiling. “Don’t you look adorable in those PJs?”

“Has he been good?” I asked Ms. Anita.

“He’s been an angel. I took him to visit some family today. He was eating up the attention. He’s such a sweet baby, Kerrion.”

I chuckled. “Everybody says that until they are with him long enough. Fat Man, let me find out you only terrorize daddy.”

As if he understood, KJ laughed. He was such an adorable little boy.

“Daddy, we need a movie night with KJ too,” Nayelli said.

“Movie nights with KJ consist of countless hours withMs. Rachel, baby girl. I can’t handle another second of that lady.”

“I’m sure we can find something he would sit and watch,” I said. “Just make sure it’s something colorful.”

“I’ll let you pick the movie then,” he informed me.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get us together.”

Ms. Anita gave an awkward smile. “Well, you all seem to be having a good time. I really should get him to bed. We have church in the morning.”

Kerrion wore a look I couldn’t really read.

“Yeah, . . . it is his bedtime. “Good night, Fat Man. Daddy loves you.”

“Good night, bubby,” Nayelli said, blowing him a kiss.