My Baby Daddy Isn’t Human

The restaurant sat right by the lake, the moonlight dancing on the water. The cobblestone walkway was lit by fairy lights, making the place look straight out of a fairytale. Raelynn stopped for a moment, her eyes widening as she took in the view.

Elion noticed her hesitation and glanced at her. "Is something wrong?"

Raelynn shook her head quickly, forcing a smile. "No, it's beautiful," she murmured, though her inner monologue betrayed her.

This can't be a date. Right? Right? But if this isn't a date… then what the hell is it?

As they stepped in, the inviting aroma of food and the soft fragrance of roses greeted them. Soft candlelight glowed against the polished cutlery, adding to the cozy atmosphere. A violinist played softly in the background, making the place feel almost magical.

Raelynn suddenly felt out of place amidst the luxury, her simple dress suddenly felt way too casual for the setting. She clasped her hands together, trying to steady her nerves, but her heart raced with every step. As calm as ever, Elion guided her to their table by the big window with a lake view. He pulled out her chair with effortless grace, gesturing for her to sit.

"Do you like it?" he asked as he settled into his own seat across from her.

Raelynn hesitated, her thoughts still in a frenzy. Was this a date? A gesture of politeness? Something else entirely? But then she noticed the faint crease on Elion's brow, as if he was concerned about her reaction.

She forced herself to answer. "I do," she said earnestly, offering him a small smile. "Everything is… perfect."

Elion's expression softened slightly, the corners of his lips curving upward in the barest hint of a smile. "Good," he said simply, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he picked up the menu.

Raelynn exhaled softly, trying to calm herself down. As they scanned the menus, a waiter approached, rattling off a list of specials in an accent so refined it made her head spin. Elion ordered effortlessly—a filet mignon paired with a red wine reduction, truffle risotto, and a side of roasted asparagus. Raelynn followed suit, ordering a similar dish but felt clumsy compared to how smoothly he ordered.

Once the waiter left, the quiet wasn't uncomfortable but felt like it was leading up to something. Raelynn broke it first.

She glanced around the empty restaurant, her brows knitting slightly. The calm atmosphere was nice, though pleasant, felt oddly exclusive. "By the way," she began, her voice curious, "why is it just us here? Where is everyone? Is this some new place that no one knows about yet?"

She tilted her head, scanning the elegant but deserted surroundings.

Elion's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "No," he said simply. "I rented the whole place for the night."

Raelynn blinked, her mouth opening slightly in disbelief. "What? Why?" she asked, her voice rising just a bit. "You rented the whole place? For what?"

Elion raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "What do you mean, 'what' and 'why?'" he countered smoothly. "I thought it was obvious. For some privacy."

"You could've just picked a quiet table, you know."

"Where's the fun in that?"

Just as she was about to reply, their food showed up, the waiter placing it with a little flair while the smell made her mouth water. Raelynn picked up her knife and fork, carefully cutting into her steak, but she barely managed to slice one piece when she noticed movement across the table.

As always, Elion had his steak neatly cut into bite-sized chunks in no time. Without a word, he slid his plate toward her, replacing it with hers.

Raelynn froze for a second, her fork hanging in the air as she stared. "You didn't have to do that."

Elion just shrugged, his face calm, but it was clear he meant every move. "It's no trouble," he replied, picking up his wine glass.

"Thank you," Raelynn said quietly, her cheeks warming. Inside, however, her thoughts were anything but calm. Why does he have to be so thoughtful?

They ate in relative silence for a while, though Raelynn's mind was far from still. She tried to focus on the delicious food, but her thoughts kept drifting to the man sitting across from her. Finally, she couldn't resist speaking up.

"Did you just secure a billion-dollar deal or something?"

Elion halted, his fork hanging just shy of reaching his lips. "What?"

Raelynn gestured vaguely around them. "This dinner. It feels like something worth celebrating."

For a brief moment, Elion didn't say anything. The lack of reaction on his face, paired with his stillness, made her second-guess herself.

"I told you," he began. "Not everything has to be about business."

Raelynn's cheeks flushed again, and she nodded quickly. "Right. Of course. Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"Relax," Elion cut in. "I wanted to spend time with the mother of my child. Is that so wrong?"

"Okay," she managed to say after a moment.

They returned to their meal, though the mood had subtly changed—not tense, just more serious. At one point, as Elion sipped his wine, Raelynn sighed softly.

"I miss wine," she admitted wistfully, her gaze flicking to his glass. "I can't wait until I can drink again."

Elion's lips twitched in amusement. "We'll drink together later."

She stared at him, feeling an odd pressure in her chest she couldn't explain. Later, she thought. Will there even be a later? After the baby is born, we'll go our separate ways… right?

That thought lingered in her mind, haunting her even as Elion reached across the table to hand her the water glass she'd been eyeing. His fingers brushed hers briefly, sending a spark of something unfamiliar through her. She tried to tell herself it was just the atmosphere—the romantic lighting, the wine, the music.

But deep down, she wasn't so sure.

The question that loomed in her mind refused to be silenced: Why does the idea of separating from him hurt so much?