Page 61 of How Not to Date an Angel

There, on the couch and buried under a heavy blanket pulled up to his chin, was Julian. The television was frozen on theare you still watching?screen.

He’d fallen asleep watching television.

Rami didn’t know why that made their chest ache.

Rami trailed a little closer, steps quiet and careful.

Julian didn’t stir.

Like this, asleep and still, he looked… soft. Innocent.

His head was crooked to accommodate the length of his horns, and up close, Rami could tell the short one was smoothing out beautifully.

Their heart clenched at the reminder of what he’d been through.

Rami struggled to merge their own bitterness toward demons with the image of the man in front of them.

It was like trying to force the same ends of two magnets together: it just didn’t fit.

Rami watched him for a moment longer, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the ease of the lines around his eyes.

Eyes that were… open?

Rami stumbled back with a shout.

“Watching me sleep, Feathers?” Julian croaked out, voice raspy from sleep.

Heat rushed to Rami’s face and they steadied themself on the arm of the couch.

“Not on purpose,” they admitted. “Actually, I think I’m having a revelation.”

Julian began to sit up. “Well, that’s never good. What are you—“

“I’m sorry,” Rami blurted.

Julian paused, arms bent to push himself to a seated position, and then continued until he slumped against the back of the couch, staring up at them. “What for?”

He rubbed sleep from his eyes and Rami felt their chest cave in.

“I’ve treated you unfairly, I think is the case.”

“I’m listening,” Julian said, leaning back against the couch. He pulled the blanket closer, and Rami had no choice but to see it as a protection barrier.

“I want to offer some context for my… thoughts, if you’d be open to that,” Rami said.

Julian squinted, suspicion in the line of his lips, but eventually, he nodded.

“Go ahead,” he said, and patted the couch next to him.

Rami sat after only a moment's hesitation. Then, under Julian’s curious gaze, Rami drew in a deep breath. “As much as I preach to my clients about communicating their feelings, I am beginning to learn it’s not so easy, is it?” They chuckled, but Julian did not return the sentiment.

Clearing their throat, Rami began. “I’ve been here for… alongtime,” Rami said. “On Earth, around humans.”

“You’re old as dirt, yes, I know,” Julian drawled.

A smile twitched at Rami’s lips. That’s more like the demon they’ve come to know.

“And as I’m sure you’re aware, there’s a lot of…badin this world.”

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