Page 141 of How Not to Date an Angel

“Come on. He’s thewhole reason I’m here, after all,” Julian reminded them.

They squeezed his hand again and released a breath. “You’re right. I like him already.”

“And Maeve is a hoot,” Julian added. “I told you, she works—”

“For a sex toy company, yes,” Rami answered, chuckling. “I’m sure she has some excellent stories.”

“Oh, don’t get her started,” Julian drawled. Confident Rami wouldn’t flee back to the comfort of their home, Julian leaned away to open the car door. “Come on, then.”

“Alright, alright,” Rami whined a bit dramatically, but pushed open their own door and met Julian around the back of the square car.

“If you can handle Jesse and the crew from the gay bar, you can handle Galen and Maeve,” Julian told them, wrapping an arm around Rami’s shoulders.

“I know, you’re right. I’m just nervous,” Rami admitted, fingers tapping against Julian’s waist. “What is this place, anyway?”

“It’s an others-onlyrestaurant. So…” Julian let his horns free once they were through the threshold and Rami gazed up at him appreciatively.

It took no time at all to locate the couple in the back of the restaurant. Maeve was all cuddled up to Galen’s side in an adorable display of affection.

“Keep your pants on,” Julian told them as they neared.

Maeve’s head snapped up, Galen grinned, and Julian felt Rami tense under the scrutiny of his previous boss’s gaze.

“Galen, Maeve, this is Rami,” Julian introduced them. “Rami, this is Maeve and Galen.”

Maeve stood and wrapped Rami in a hug with no preamble. Theyoofedand hugged her back gingerly. “It’s lovely to meet you,” Rami said. “I’ve heard so much.”

“And I’m sure none of it was good,” Galen teased, offering his hand once they separated.

Rami shook it politely and Julian had a surreal out-of-body experience.

Here he was, six months free of Hell and enjoying every single minute with Rami, introducing them to hisfriends.

Something that never would have been possible without Galen.

So as they both took their seats, Julian said, “I’m so glad to see you guys again.”

“It's really nice to see you too, Julian,” Maeve said. “Galen’s excited, too; he’s been talking about it nonstop for the last few days.”

Galen’s cheeks colored as they all snickered.

“Despite how nervous I am, I’ve been very curious about you two. So thank you for the invite, I suppose,” Rami said.

“Of course, of course. I told Julian I wanted to meet the angel that stole his heart,” Galen said with a wink.

Julian groaned and covered his face. “Galen, please don’t embarrass me.”

“Please,” Galen retorted. “I’m going to embarrass the hell out of you. Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to meet someone?”

Beside him, Rami chuckled, and Julian pinched their thigh in a tease. Their smile softened as they glanced over. “Well, I, for one, want to thank you for what you did,” Rami said, turning to Galen. “I mean, without you sending Julian back, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

“Nothingto thank me for. Carl was an asshole, and I shouldn’t have let Julian go in the first place,” Galen said, lips curling unhappily.

“Kinda glad you did, though,” Julian interjected. “I mean, if I never went to work for Carl, I never would’ve met Rami.”

Rami bumped their shoulder into Julian as Galen said, “Well, fine, I guess. But I come bearing good news!”

“What’s that?” Julian asked.

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