Page 54 of How Not to Date an Angel

Then there wasthisversion of Julian, the one watching the television, the same one who probably sat in his own house—in Hell—andcooked,apparently. He probably watched the streaming services all the time. What didhelike to watch?

Why did it matter?Rami thought glumly. Julian was still a demon, no matter how invested he seemed to be in this gambling murder mystery. No matter how he devoured the snack platter until about halfway through the episode. He sank back contentedly into the couch with a sigh, full and pleased with what Rami had provided.

They chose to sit their wine aside at that moment, because it was becoming rather warm in the house. The alcohol, certainly.

“Have you ever?” Julian asked suddenly, and Rami lifted their head, turning to him.

“Have I ever what?”

“Gambled,” he said, waving his glass at the television.

“Ah, no. No, I haven’t,” they answered honestly, proudly. “I don’t do that kind of thing.” Rami ran a hand through their hair, adjusting their seat on the couch. Though they supposed they were gambling with every moment they spent in the demon’s presence.

“Do you wanna?” Julian asked, spinning to face them on the couch. He waggled his eyebrows.

Rami scoffed. “What? No! Of course not,” they said. “I’m an angel.”

Julian shot them a puzzled expression. “So? Come on,” Julian said, leaning closer on the couch. Rami resisted the urge to scoot away.

“Absolutely not. What good is gambling money, anyway? We don’t need it,” they argued. “I use magic for what funds I need, and no more.”

Julian was quiet for a moment longer, eying Rami far too close for comfort. “Who says we’re gambling with money?” he asked.

Rami sputtered as Julian stood, sauntering toward the kitchen and plucking up something from the counter. As he spun and returned, Rami sat up a little straighter.

“No,” Rami said, and held out a hand for the bag.

“Oh, come on, Feathers. Are you a sore loser? It’s just a bit of chocolate,” Julian taunted, and waved the bag just out of reach.

When Rami remained silent, Julian sighed and flopped down to the couch. “It’ll be fun. We don’t even have to play cards or anything. We can just…” A light came into his eyes and he stood, crossed to the kitchen, and grabbed Rami’s sweater before returning. He held it out pointedly.

Rami glared up at him. “What are you doing?”

“We,Feathers, are going on a walk.”

“Whateverfor?” they asked. It was already dark out, and on a weekend, it would be crowded.

“You said there’s a lot of good in humanity. Prove it,” he said, shrugging.

Rami pursed their lips. How dare he dangle this opportunity out in front of Rami like that?

Humans did have good in them, and Rami loved being right about something. This would be the perfect time to show off to Julian, who seemed rather cynical when it came to humanity. Though hedidspend the majority of his time in Hell, encountering only the worst humans.

Rami could change that.

“Oh, come on,” Julian encouraged. “You’d deny me this Earthly experience? More simple pleasures in life?”

Now theyknewthey were being manipulated, but in that moment, they couldn’t see what harm it would be. They were just helping the demon enjoy his time here.

They lifted their hand and curled it around the cardigan, and Julian released it into their care with a wicked smile.

“That’s it,” he murmured darkly, and Rami stood to hide the shiver dancing up their spine, slipping into the cardigan and adjusting it over their long sleeves.

“Fine. But only because I want to prove you wrong,” Rami said stiffly.

They took another sip of their wine, finishing the second glass before meeting Julian at the door.

“Ready, Feathers?” Julian teased. “Need to preen some more?”

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