Page 43 of How Not to Date an Angel

Julian followed Rami’s quickened pace to the glass, and watched their hands flutter around in excitement before they shoved them in their pockets.

“These are sea otters,” the angel said, practically vibrating in place.

As Julian watched through the glass, he saw an otter swimming on his back, paws rubbing against each other as he floated. Another one dove up through the water and grabbed his tail, swimming backwards and dragging the other with him.

Beside him, Rami barely bit down on an excited noise that could only be described as asqueak.

Julian swallowed a laugh and elbowed the angel as both otters dove under and came up holding hands and play-fighting. “Okay, that was pretty cute.”

“So that’s Sylvia Plath,” Rami said, pointing to the one who’d done the dragging. “And the one she’s playing with is Jane Austen.”

Julian narrowed his gaze, turning to watch the angel. “They have names?”

Pure, unhinged glee was lighting up their eyes; there were practically stars in them. “Yes. Each of them is named after a literary celebrity, of sorts.”

“And you know them all?”

“Of course.”

Julian’s lips twitched as Rami pointed through the glass and gasped. “Look!”

He shifted his attention to the chunky brown figures of the otters. Something shifted in his chest as he watched one sliding on the rocky surface and down a slide, chasing a ball the whole time.

“They play with toys?” Julian asked. They were kept like pets.

“I know!” Rami hissed. “It’s so cute. That one’s Harper Lee.”

“You come here often, then?” Julian asked, biting his cheek against the threatening smile.

“This is my favorite attraction, so I do tend to linger when I visit.Andthere’s a live stream of the otters online, you can watch it at any time—“ They paused suddenly, turning to Julian with an arched brow. Their cheeks were pink. “Are you laughing at me again?”

Julian lifted both hands in innocence. “Not at all.” In fact, he didn’t quite know how to name the feeling in his chest.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t at the angel’sexpense.

He split his attention between the otters, one of them now rolling like a log in the middle of the exhibit, and the angel watching them. Joy radiated out of them, as bright and as pure as their pale eyes.

“Is he grooming?” Julian asked as one floated near, on his back. He was nuzzling at his fur.

Around them, adults and kids alike began giggling, and Julian tilted his head as he finally realized what was happening.

Rami’s smile fell. “Oh my god,” he whispered, turning around. “Give him some privacy!” they said, waving a hand in Julian’s face, blocking the sight of the otter.

A human near them was snickering. “I mean, if I could reach my own, I probably would, too.”

Rami’s nose wrinkled, and Julian couldn’t help but laugh. The otter floated on, putting on an obnoxious display of grooming, much to the embarrassment of the kids and parents around them, most of whom quickly fled the scene.

Julian thought the angel would be next, but they were soexcited,and they clearly adored these sea critters.

Julian couldn’t find it in himself to urge them to move on. “They’re still pretty damned cute. Despite that one’s interest in exhibitionism,” he teased.

Rami shot Julian a glare that only faded by the time the next otter floated by. Rami eventually relaxed next to him, and Julian was content to watch them for a while. He let Rami introduce him to each of the otters, listening intently as Rami spilled some of thetea,ashe called it. About the otters' complicated social structure, and the spats that had broken out recently, usually over toys or Sylvia Plath.

Their shoulders and arms kept brushing, and each touch was a bit of a marvel, the angel’s warmth a surprisingly welcomecomfort.

Their eyes fuckingglowedas they rambled, and Julian couldn’t bring himself to interrupt.

Eventually, he didn’t have to. Rami seemed to come back to themself all at once, and only then did Julian realize they’d probably been standing there for more than an hour.

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