Page 142 of How Not to Date an Angel

“Carl’s been sacked,” Galen announced, looking very proud of himself.

Julian laid his hand on Rami’s thigh to share the excitement. “What happened?”

“Replaced him with someone else who doesn’t beat up their employees for assignments,” he grumbled, gaze flashing to Julian’s horn.

He tried not to feel self-conscious about it, what with Galen’s horns all perfectly curled and blending into his hair.

Then Rami’s hand covered his own atop their thigh and squeezed softly. The horn, at first, had been a reminder of what had happened, how he’d fucked up. But after months of affection lavished on him by Rami, Julian couldn’t help but feelthankfulevery time he saw the damned thing in the mirror.

Thankful for Rami, thankful for meeting them, andyes,even thankful for the temptation.

Because if Julian hadn’t accepted that position, if his horn hadn’t been broken, if he hadn’t been sent to Rami, they never would’ve crossed paths.

Now, his horn was forevermore a reminder of how they met, and how’d they be spending the rest of their livestogether.Julian would never feel the sting of loneliness again, and neither would Rami.

Rami, his angel, beamed. “You’re right, that is excellent news,” they said. “Fuck Carl.”

Maeve snickered and elbowed Galen. “I didn’t know angels cursed.”

“We do all kinds of things,” Rami said, relaxing further into their seat.

Julian hoped their nerves were finally dissipating. “Damn right, they do,” Julian said, waggling his eyebrows.

Rami groaned, shaking their head despite the amused grin on their face, and Galen chuckled.

The waitress returned with their wine, and Julian watched Rami’s fingers curl around the stem.

“You look happy,” Galen announced suddenly, shrugging. “So I guess I don’t have to offer you a job to escape.”

Julian glanced over at Rami and squeezed their thigh before they could get any ideas.

“Nah. I like it here,” he said.

“Well, let’s toast to that, then,” Maeve said, lifting her glass.

“To what?” Galen asked.

“To love, of course,” she said, as if it was obvious.

And it was. Galen and Maeve had something pure, and now Julian didn’t have to spend his days wondering what it was like.

Because he knew.

“To love,” Rami agreed, and lifted their glass.

Julian joined in with a smile.

“Okay, well, it’s not my fault the story turned so scandalous,” Rami hissed through their laughter as they debriefed over dessert in the kitchen.

“I don’t know what you expected, bringing up the sex shop like that. I told you Maeve had stories!”

Their giggles died down as they sobered, and Julian nudged his hip into Rami, who nudged back.

“I had fun,” Rami admitted. “They were just as lovely as you said.”

“Glad you think so. Would you do dinner with them again?”

“In a heartbeat,” Rami agreed, and sat his fork down to thumb at Julian’s lip. “I do not, however, appreciate Galen having a back-up plan to whisk you off to Hell again.”

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