Page 45 of How Not to Date an Angel

Rami smiled down at the stingray beneath their hand. “No, it doesn’t.”

And how odd for a demon to be the one asking that question. Demons, evil-doers.

Julian didn’t seem so evil just then, fingers lightly shaking as he swanned them over the water, testing the temperature.

“Cold,” he muttered.

Rami’s face was beginning to hurt from their smile. “Look, here’s one,” they said, and Julian lifted his hand from the water.

Julian hovered… waiting… waiting… until the stingray swam away, and Julian pulled his hand up, too, shaking it out by his side.

“Okay, wait. I can’t. I can’t do it. What if they’re slimy?”

Rami chuckled. “They can be, yes. But it’s not gross.”

“It is gross, though, is the thing,” Julian said, lips twitching.

Rami didn’t let themself second-guess their actions as another stingray neared.

They placed their right hand on the back of Julian’s, curling their fingers through the demon’s and pulling his hand closer, hovering over the water.

“Here he comes, watch,” Rami instructed, so intent on giving Julian the Earthly aquarium experience, they failed to notice how close they were.

The stingray slid beneath Julian’s fingers, and Rami directed their hands lower, flicking through the water and over the back of the stingray.

Rami pulled their hand up as the stingray swam on.

“See? That wasn’t so bad,” they said, grinning as they turned to face Julian—

Who was only inches away. Their sides were pressed together, and Rami realized their opposite hand was resting on the demon’s back. They were touching from hand to bicep to hips.

Rami’s mouth was suddenly dry as their gaze dropped to Julian’s lips, and then they realized what was occurring.

Hiding the frantic emotion that buzzed through them, they cleared their throat and stepped away. “So, you can say you touched a stingray now.”

“That I can,” Julian murmured. He was avoiding Rami’s gaze, too.

Maybe in their mutual awkwardness they could just forget it ever happened.

Julian was the first to recover, while Rami was reliving the press of the demon’s warmth against their side.

“So… what’s next, Feathers?”

Rami pursed their lips at that, admitting to themself and themself only that the moniker didn’t bother them quite as much as they let on.

“Well, the aquarium does close soon,” they hinted. “Hungry?”

Julian averted his attention, cleared his throat. “Always. What did you have in mind?”

“I’m not sure. How do you feel about a trip to the supermarket?” Rami asked. Maybe they could find something the demon enjoyed as well, instead of just hoping he would be happy with whatever Rami decided to have.

“I don’t think I have any feelings about supermarkets,” Julian answered.

“Well, I need to pick up a few things. I suppose you could accompany me.”

“How gracious of you,” Julian drawled.

Rolling their eyes, Rami led Julian out of the aquarium and to the car outside, ready to fend off any jokes about their choice of electric chariot. But surprisingly, Julian remained quiet, though he did attempt the radio once more, only to find another commercial playing.

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