Build And Break novel Chapter 63

"Daniel?" Steven patted the bench beside him in invitation for the boy to join him. "Are you... are you glad I am your father?"

Steven didn't expect the boy to avert his attention from the game in an instant and sit beside him. He even more didn't expect the widely bright grin he received from Daniel.

"I am, Daddy."

Steven didn't need to ask further. The two words and facial expression of the boy were enough to be one bold assuring answer.

He ran his fingers through the boy's hair that had been ruffled by the light breeze, setting it back in a similar do as his own. Damn, that boy really was a mirror of his own self. "Did Mommy ever tell you that you look just like me?"

"Sometimes."

"And did Mommy tell you where I was before?" That was an excellent way he found to approach the sensitive subject.

"Yes, you were away working."

Of course that would be the best excuse Angela could have used. The best cover-up story. "Yes, I was. But you must know and you must always remember that I wish I could turn back time and not be away from you. Not even for a single day."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

Small arms suddenly wrapped around Steven's neck. And though it was coming from a young boy, it wasn't a light embrace. But Steven daren't complain. He rather had lifted the boy up to sitting into his lap.

"You know I love you, right?" Steven uttered in his softest voice when the boy release the latch on him.

Daniel nodded a big one. "And I love you, Steven."

"No more calling me Steven now. Call me Daddy. Now can you tell me how much you love me from number one to ten?" Steven wasn't aware that he had switched from being his usual arrogant confident self and into a form of a father who sweet talked to his son.

The boy spread his arms wide. "I love you just as much as all the numbers in the world."

"The numbers don't end, son. They're infinite."

Daniel thought about that, processed the new fact he just learnt. "Then I love you that much."

"I haven't seen you draw for a long time." Jimmy announced while he inspected the fresh art.

"I guess I got my muse back."

Jimmy noticed Angela opening and closing her hand to relieve her stiff muscles. He reached forward and took her hand in his both. With gentle pressure, he massaged his thumbs from her palm and up to her wrist. "Is it because of him?"

Angela didn't need to be told further details as to who Jimmy was referring to. She shrugged and shook her head at the same time. "I don't know."

"You miss him, don't you?" Jimmy watched her.

"I..." Angela didn't know what to say, didn't know how she felt.

"You do. You have that face."

"What face?"

"The one you always had when you looked at Daniel and remembered about Steven. Before he showed up back into your life, you thought about him constantly. You missed him every day. I know you did. We all know you did. Tony did too and maybe that's why he never made a step forward to make you completely his." His fingers stilled over hers and he looked away. "I know it's why I didn't."