My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 80: Good Time

Raelynn sat across from Axel at a small wooden table tucked into the corner, a half-eaten enchiladas on her plate. Her fingers brushed the wet glass as she brought the iced tea to her lips.

Axel, wearing a navy blue sweater and jeans, leaned back slightly in his chair, his own plate empty save for a few crumbs. His relaxed posture and friendly smile made the conversation flow naturally, as though they had known each other for years instead of just a handful of encounters.

"You know," Raelynn said with a small laugh, setting her glass down, "this place is so much nicer than I expected. I don't usually come to restaurant like this."

Axel grinned and nodded. "Same here. I just stumbled upon it one day when I needed a quiet spot to read. It's kind of a hidden gem."

"Do you come here often?" she asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Not as often as I'd like," he admitted, brushing a hand through his light brown hair. "I get busy, you know, with work and everything. But when I do come, I try to enjoy it."

Raelynn tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "What do you do, by the way? I realized I never asked."

Axel's face brightened slightly as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "I'm a librarian at the city library."

"Really?" Raelynn's eyes widened with genuine interest. "That sounds... peaceful, actually."

"It is," Axel replied with a chuckle. "Though it's not just shelving books and shushing people like the stereotypes suggest. There's a lot of organizing, helping people find resources, planning events. It keeps me on my toes."

"That does sound interesting," Raelynn said, nodding. "I imagine you meet all kinds of people there."

"Absolutely," Axel agreed. "And actually, one of the reasons I was at the Weston party was because Arthur Weston is one of the big investors in the library. He's been really supportive of some of our newer programs."

"That's kind of him," Raelynn murmured, twirling her straw in the glass without thinking.

"Yeah, he invited us as a gesture of goodwill, and I went as a representative." Axel shrugged lightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Didn't expect it to be such a grand event, though. It's not really my usual scene."

Raelynn chuckled softly. "You seemed pretty comfortable there. I wouldn't have guessed."

Axel laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks, I guess? How about you? What brought you to the party?"

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"Oh," Raelynn said, trying to sound casual as she reached for another sip of her drink, "I came with a friend."

"Right," Axel said with a knowing nod. "The man from the other day?"

Raelynn hesitated briefly, her lips twitching into a polite smile. "Yeah, that's him."

Axel's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he cleared his throat and asked, "So, what do you do for a living, Raelynn?"

Her smile faltered for a split second before she quickly composed herself. "Well, I, um... I used to work at a restaurant," she admitted.

"Used to?" Axel raised an eyebrow, his tone light but curious. "What happened?"

Raelynn sighed, leaning back in her chair. "The place downsized, and honestly, my performance wasn't exactly stellar. I think they used it as an excuse to let me go."

"That's tough," Axel said sympathetically. "Sorry to hear that."

Raelynn shrugged, offering a faint smile. "It happens. No big deal."

A thought seemed to strike her, and she added, "Oh, by the way, you know that guy who harassed me at the bakery the other day? He was actually my manager."

Axel's eyes widened in disbelief. "No way."

"Yep," Raelynn said with a wry chuckle. "Not exactly the nicest person I've ever worked for."

"He didn't look like a nice person," Axel said bluntly, his expression firm.

"You can say it," Raelynn replied with a grin. "He's a jerk anyway."

Axel laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Fair enough."

As they kept talking, Axel's brow furrowed slightly in thought. "You know," he said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, "if you're looking for something new, I might be able to help. I have a few connections here and there. Maybe I can find something for you."

Raelynn blinked, surprised by the offer. "Really? That's so sweet of you." Her smile softened, though a small part of her felt guilty knowing she didn't truly need the help.

"It's no trouble," Axel said with an easy shrug. "I'd be happy to."

"Thank you," Raelynn said sincerely.

They wrapped up lunch, laughing and trading funny stories, losing track of time. When the server brought the bill, Raelynn quickly reached for it. "I've got this," she said, pulling her wallet from her bag.

Axel held up a hand. "No, let me—"

"It's fine," Raelynn insisted with a grin. "My treat this time."

Axel paused, then gave in with a faint grin. "Alright, but next time, it's on me."

"Deal," Raelynn said as she handed her card to the server.

After settling the bill, they walked out into the fresh afternoon breeze. Raelynn glanced at her phone and let out a small laugh. "Wow, look at the time. I didn't realize how long we'd been talking."

"It was lovely," Axel said, his smile warm. "I'm glad we got to spend some time together."

"Me too," Raelynn said, her cheeks tinged with a faint pink.

Axel hesitated for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Hey, um... would it be okay if I got your number? I mean, if you're comfortable with that."

"Of course," Raelynn said, smiling brightly as she handed him her phone. "Here, just type it in."

Axel took the phone, his fingers moving quickly over the screen. When he handed it back, she dialed his number.

"There," she said, holding up the phone briefly before slipping it back into her bag. "Now you have mine."

Axel grinned. "Perfect. I'll save it as 'The Pretty.'"

Raelynn's face flushed a deeper shade of pink as she laughed lightly. "You're funny."

"Maybe," Axel said with a playful shrug. "But it's true."

They shared a smile, the moment lingering for a beat longer before Raelynn stepped back slightly. "Thanks for today, Axel. It was really nice."

"Anytime," he replied sincerely. "Take care, Raelynn."

"You too," she said with a small wave before turning to head down the street, her heart feeling a little lighter than it had in a while.