My Baby Daddy Isn't Human-Chapter 42: Long Story

Raelynn leaned back on the couch, her head tilted as she listened to Sloane recount yet another story from her and Elion's childhood.

"And then," Sloane said, her lips curving into a mischievous grin, "Elion decided it would be a good idea to sneak into the stables and ride one of the horses bareback—at midnight."

Raelynn blinked in surprise, her lips twitching. "Bareback? At midnight? What was he thinking?"

Sloane let out a deep, hearty laugh that seemed to light up the room. "Oh, he wasn't. The horse threw him within seconds. He landed right in a pile of manure."

Raelynn burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. "No way. Elion? That mighty Elion? In manure?"

"Absolutely," Sloane confirmed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You should've seen his face. He was so mortified he didn't come out of his room for two days."

Raelynn giggled, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't imagine him like that. Little Elion must have been something else."

"Oh, you have no idea," Sloane said, leaning forward with a knowing grin. "He may look like he has everything under control now, but as a kid? A complete handful."

Raelynn smiled, the thought of a younger, more mischievous Elion making her heart feel lighter. Before she could ask for more stories, the distant sound of a car engine interrupted their conversation.

Sloane straightened, her brow arching. "Expecting someone?"

Raelynn frowned, shaking her head. "No."

Both women turned toward the front of the house. The sound of tires crunching on gravel grew louder until the car came to a stop. Raelynn's heart skipped a beat as the door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped out.

Her breath caught in her throat. "Zara?"

She gasped, immediately standing up. Zara, her best friend, was marching toward the door, looked both tired and thankfull all at once. Raelynn didn't waste a second. She bolted out of the sitting room, practically running to meet her.

"Raelynn!" Zara called, her voice trembling slightly.

"Oh my god!" Raelynn exclaimed, throwing her arms around Zara the moment she reached her.

They held on like they never wanted to let go. "How could you?" Zara scolded, her voice muffled against Raelynn's shoulder. "How could you not tell me anything? I thought you'd been kidnapped!"

Raelynn pulled back just enough to look at Zara, guilt written all over her face. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. Everything's been so chaotic, and I haven't even used my phone these past few days."

"Not an excuse," Zara shot back, though her tone was softened by the relief in her eyes. "I've been losing my mind! I couldn't reach you, and your apartment was empty."

"I know," Raelynn said, her voice soft. "I should've called you. I just…" She trailed off, unsure how to explain everything.

Zara huffed but couldn't hold onto her frustration. Instead, she squeezed Raelynn's hands tightly. "You're okay. That's all that matters."

A soft cough caught their attention, and the two women turned to see Sloane leaning casually against the doorframe, watching the scene with a curious expression.

"And this is…?" Zara asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the tall, confident woman.

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Sloane stepped forward with a friendly smile. "Sloane. I'm a friend of Elion's—and Raelynn's, I suppose."

Zara gave her a questioning look before finally taking her hand with a slight nod. "Zara. Raelynn's friend."

"Nice to meet you," she said. She glanced at Raelynn. "I'll leave you two to catch up. Looks like you've got a lot to talk about."

Raelynn nodded, giving Sloane a grateful smile. "Thanks, Sloane."

With a small wave, Sloane turned and disappeared down the hall, leaving the two women alone. Zara immediately turned back to Raelynn, her gaze sharp.

"Alright, spill," Zara demanded, crossing her arms. "What's going on? Why are you here, of all places? And don't even think about brushing me off."

Raelynn sighed, taking Zara's hand and leading her to a nearby couch. They sat down, the plush cushions sinking under their weight. Zara glanced around, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the luxurious surroundings.

"Elion Vaelorian sure knows how to live," Zara muttered, her tone half in awe, half in disbelief.

Raelynn gave a small smile, but it quickly faded as Zara turned to her with a pointed look.

"Do you know how worried I was?" Zara began, her voice rising slightly. "I couldn't find you at your apartment. You weren't answering your phone. I thought something terrible had happened to you!"

Raelynn looked down, fiddling with the hem of her cardigan. "I know. I'm sorry, Zara. I didn't mean to ignore you. It's just… a long story."

"Then tell me the long story," Zara insisted, her frustration giving way to genuine concern. "You can't just disappear on me like that, Raelynn. I need to know you're okay."

Raelynn hesitated, then nodded. "You're right. I owe you an explanation. But first… what if we go out and talk? It's been ages since we've hung out."

Zara blinked in surprise, then smiled. "You know what? That actually sounds perfect."

Raelynn's face lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "Okay, wait here for a minute. I'll grab my things."

She stood up and hurried upstairs to her room. Once inside, she grabbed a pen and paper from the desk and began writing a note.

Gone out with Zara. Will be back soon, she wrote, keeping it short but clear. Folding the paper neatly, she tucked it into her bag alongside her phone.

Taking a deep breath, she glanced around the room to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything, then headed back downstairs. Zara was waiting at the table, her foot tapping impatiently against the floor.

"Ready?" Zara asked as Raelynn approached.

"Ready," Raelynn confirmed, slipping the note onto the table where it would be easily seen.

She had no idea that after they left, a gust of wind blew the paper to the ground, leaving it hidden.