My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

Raelynn drummed her fingers on her thigh as she stared out the window, watching the city pass by. Sunlight streamed over the streets, and the sidewalks buzzed with life as seen through the tinted glass. Leaning back in her seat, she absentmindedly toyed with the loose string on her ripped jeans while her mind drifted to Elion.

His indifferent response when she told him she'd be visiting the library still lingered in her mind. Usually, she brushed off his aloofness, but today, it felt different—something about his tone or maybe the way he barely glanced at her.

She shook her head, exhaling a soft laugh. "Why am I even thinking about this?" she murmured under her breath. "It's just Elion. He's always like that." Yet, no matter how much she tried to dismiss it, the thought nagged at her.

When the car slowed down, Mr. Collins glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "We're here, Miss Raelynn," he announced.

"Thank you, Mr. Collins," she said with a smile, gathering her bag.

Stepping out of the car, she found herself in front of the city library. Its classy exterior combined shiny stonework and towering glass panels, framed by carefully groomed bushes on each side. She took a moment to admire the structure, and she couldn't help but smile, remembering how she used to pass by without noticing it.

She climbed the stairs and nudged the glass doors open, met by the faint hum of life inside the library.

The place felt calm, almost like stepping into a sanctuary. The shelves rose to the ceiling, their colorful books adding splashes of life to the quiet room. Only the quiet flipping of pages and the rare, muted whisper broke the peaceful silence.

Raelynn tiptoed forward, careful not to make too much noise in the silent space. She glanced around, looking for a familiar face.

"Raelynn," a warm voice called from her left.

Raelynn turned and caught Axel walking toward her, a smile spreading across his face. He wore a dark sweater that complemented his lean frame, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The way his glasses were tilted on his nose making him look a little messy but charming.

"Hey," she greeted, her smile widening. "This place is beautiful."

"I'm really happy you like it," he said, a note of excitement coloring his tone.

Raelynn tilted her head, her eyes lingering on the glasses.

"I didn't know you wore glasses," she said, a hint of curiosity in her voice. She recalled the night of the party and their lunch after—no glasses in sight.

Axel gave his glasses a quick flick, his smile turning slightly shy. "Oh, these? Just for reading. I don't always wear them. Come on, I'll show you around."

Raelynn followed him, her curiosity growing as he led her through the rows of shelves. The library seemed to stretch endlessly, each corner revealing more treasures.

"So, what exactly do you do here?" she asked, glancing at the books surrounding them.

"A bit of everything," Axel replied, stopping at a circular desk tucked into a cozy nook. "Reshelving, cataloging, helping people find what they need. But my favorite part is curating special collections."

He picked up a leather-bound book from the desk and held it out to her. "This, for example, is part of a rare collection on ancient myths. It's incredible how much effort goes into preserving works like this."

Raelynn ran her fingers over the embossed gold lettering on the cover, marveling at the intricate design. "It's beautiful," she said softly.

Axel smiled, clearly pleased by her reaction. "Want to see more?"

"Absolutely."

He led her to a glass-enclosed room near the back of the library. Inside were several displays of old manuscripts, artifacts, and curated collections, each accompanied by detailed descriptions. Axel's enthusiasm was infectious as he explained the history and significance of each item.

Raelynn listened intently, her eyes occasionally darting to his animated expressions. She noticed how his face lit up when he spoke about something he loved, the way his hands moved as if painting the stories in the air.

"You're really passionate about this, aren't you?" she remarked.

"Guilty as charged," Axel admitted with a sheepish grin. "But it's hard not to be when you're surrounded by so much history and knowledge every day."

After some time, Axel checked his watch and sighed. "I should probably get back to work," he said. "But feel free to look around. If you need anything, I'll be at the front desk."

"Thanks, Axel," she said warmly.

As he walked away, Raelynn wandered through the shelves, her fingers lightly brushing against the spines of the books. She loved the feeling of being surrounded by so much knowledge and creativity—definitely not her usual scene.

Eventually, she found herself in the fiction section, drawn to a display of novels with intriguing covers. She picked up one and flipped through the first few pages, quickly becoming engrossed.

"I see you've found something interesting," Axel's voice came from behind her, startling her.

She turned, clutching the book to her chest. "You scared me!" she said, laughing softly.

"Sorry," he said, though his grin suggested he wasn't entirely apologetic. "Planning to borrow that one?"

"I think so," she replied, glancing down at the book again.

"Good choice," Axel said, stepping closer. "That author's work is brilliant—great characters, great storytelling."

As she shifted the book to her other hand, her fingers brushed against his, sending a small jolt through her. She glanced up, her cheeks warming, but Axel didn't seem to notice. Or if he did, he didn't let it show.

"Let me check it out for you," he offered, taking the book from her.

As Axel reached for the book, it slipped from his grip and tumbled to the floor. "Oops," he muttered, crouching down just as Raelynn did the same. Their hands brushed against each other, his warm touch lingering on hers for a moment too long.

Raelynn glanced up, her breath catching as their eyes locked. Axel's usual easy smile faltered, replaced by something softer, more uncertain.

Her heart raced, and she quickly pulled her hand away, breaking the moment. "I-I'll just find another book," she stammered, straightening and walking away hurriedly, leaving Axel staring after her with his own awkward smile tugging at his lips.