Page 109 of How Not to Date an Angel

I can do this.

“Alright, Feathers. I want you to promise me you’ll let me finish before you respond.”

Rami’s smile slipped just the smallest bit. “It is serious, then. I can do that.”

Julian sucked in a deep breath. “I—

Just then, there was a knock at the back door. But not a normal, polite knock. It was quick and frantic, panicked.

Both of their heads snapped around, eying the door as if the lock would start turning all by itself.

Rami shared a startled glance with him, and then rushed to the door, slipping from Julian’s arms before he could say anything at all.

Julian

Julian swallowed his words and finally turned toward the door just as Rami pulled it open.

“Melissa? Oh, god,” Rami said, and then he was gently directing a woman into their home, shutting the door softly.

Julian’s stomach soured as he saw the bruise on her cheek.

“I’m fine, I’m fine; please don’t fret,” she said, waving a hand. “I just—sorry, this is so inappropriate.”

“Nonsense,” Rami said. “Here, would you like to go into the office?”

“Oh, no, you have company, too!” she said, catching Julian’s eye. “I should leave,” she rambled, and attempted to turn toward the door.

“No,” Julian called out. “Please stay. I’ll get you some water.”

And ice,he thought.

For that bruise.

Rami led the woman into their office, and sat her down on that yellow couch.

Julian filled a glass of water, wrapped a gel ice pack in a towel, and grabbed a blanket on his way into the office. He didn’t cross the threshold, and Rami’s expression melted into one of…

Well, the only way Julian could describe it would be something akin to adoration.

It made his chest tight, and his breath squeezed out of him slowly as Rami collected the items.

“Let me know if she needs anything,” Julian said softly. “I’ll leave you to it.”

“Actually, will you call the police?” they whispered. “Tell them we have a domestic violence victim here and she’d like to make an official report.”

His ribs clutched his heart. Julian swallowed and nodded.

Rami stopped Julian from turning with a squeeze of his shoulder. Then they leaned in and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”

Rami turned away and made their way back to Melissa, who was seated on the couch, staring out the windows. It was too dark to see out.

Julian gave them privacy, shutting one of the doors, and cupped his cheek as he walked away.

His chest was full, like there was something in there too big to contain.

Now wasn’t the time to get all lost in his stupid emotions. Fuck.

Julian made the call, and the operator assured him that a unit would be there soon.

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