Page 56 of How Not to Date an Angel

Oblivious, they popped the chocolate between their lips and hummed happily as it melted across their tongue.

Julian didn’t realize he was staring until Rami’s gaze landed on him, and he cleared his throat. Then his attention landed on the string lights of a bar about a block away.

“Do you go to bars?” Julian asked.

Rami frowned. “No, not usually. I’m not opposed to a pub, but I tend to go for the food, not to linger around the bar.”

Sounds like something the angel would do.

“Well, I think tonight is as good a night as any, don’t you? Lots of people in there,” he said, pointing as they crossed the street after checking for cars.

Music spilled out the opened garage door wall of a small bar.

Rami did not do a good job hiding their grimace, and Julian studied the bar a bit more. What about it was making them dread it?

The patrons did look ratheryoung,standing on the patio, laughing with their martini glasses and beers. But to an angel and a demon,everyonewas young.

“We don’t have to stay long. Just one drink,” Julian promised.

“Fine, fine,” Rami conceded. “But like you said, just one.”

Julian led the way through the throng of young people all the way to the bar.

It was warm and a bit crowded, and Julian couldn’t help but notice the way Rami shuffled closer.

A sign reading “no outside food or drink” stared at him from above the bar, and Julian magicked a messenger bag over his shoulder, tucking away the chocolates to hide them.

It took a moment for Rami to notice the sign, but when they did, they tapped Julian’s shoulder and looked worried. Julian tried not to smile.

“Don’t worry,” Julian said as they sidled up to the bar. It was busy and the music was just loud enough that Julian had to lean close to speak. Their chests brushed, and Julian hoped the angel couldn’t hear the effect it had in his voice. “They’re safe in here,” he said, and patted the bag.

Rami squinted, and in the low lighting of the bar finally noticed the strap around Julian’s torso.

“Thank you,” Rami said, furrowed brow softening.

“Of course. Can’t let our prizes get ruined or stolen,” Julian told them.

Yeah, because that was the reason.

Just then the bartender moved to their corner of the bar, and before Rami could even properly greet the man, Julian was calling out drink names. When Julian turned back only to be greeted with Rami’s disapproval, the demon scoffed. “It’s a Saturday night, Feathers. He doesn’t have time for how-are-you’s.”

“Well, you never know! It’s kind,” Rami huffed. Julian leaned closer, turning his head so Rami could speak into his ear. This close, Julian could smell them, even in the crowded bar, and he couldn’t help but inhale a little deeper, that sweet cotton scent a little addicting.

“What?” Julian asked, turning back to them and pretending like he remembered what they were talking about. “Speak louder,” Julian told them.

Rami’s cheeks pinkened before they closed the distance between them to speak in Julian’s ear. Their breath was warm against his neck, and Julianalmostshivered. “Treating customer-facing service workers is very important in human culture,” they said, louder.

Selfless angel.Julian couldn’t resist teasing them. When Julian turned back to them, his grin was a little wicked. “Maybe to you, Feathers. Not to everyone.”

“Well, I don’t think it would hurt,” Rami returned.

It was getting hot inside the bar, but Julian didn’t know if that was from his own sweater, the crowd, or the proximity of the angel.

The bartender returned with their drinks momentarily, and Julian thanked him before dropping a hefty tip in the man’s jar.

To offer a little kindness and make himself seem trustworthy to the angel, that’s all. Definitely not to earn that little sparkle in Rami’s gaze when they met again.

Before Rami could even come up with something to say, he handed them their drink, and then took Rami’s elbow. Julian’s cheeks heated as he led them back through the crowd to one of the tables on the patio, accessible through the garage doors.

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