Page 47 of How Not to Date an Angel

“Mhm,” Julian hummed, eyes darting from the line of grocery carts to the squeaky wheels of one a lady pushed into the store, through another set of those automatic doors.

“We don’t need much. I can get a basket,” Rami informed him.

“Okay.”

“Want to talk about why you’re so tense right now? Maybe we can reason through it.”

Julian scoffed. “You really are a therapist.”

“Well, yes. That is my job.”

Rolling his eyes, Julian let himself focus on the fond irritation as they went through the second set of doors, and Rami collected a basket from their right.

“In Hell, every person gets their own personal setup, you know.”

“I’ve heard that,” Rami said.

“You’d be surprised how many people’s personal hells involve grocery stores.”

“Really?” Rami asked, eyes wide as they gazed around them with a new light in their eyes. “That’s very interesting.”

“Some of the ones I’ve seen were really… overwhelming,” he admitted, sticking close to Rami’s side as they led him down an aisle. It looked like a candy aisle, all chocolates and nuts and crackers.

“It can get quite crazy in some places. Have you heard of Black Friday?”

“Of course I have.” Nowthathad been a temptation that had gone down in history. It started with a group of CEOs, and turned into a nationwide event every year. Nothing more selfish than tricking masses of people into spending money they didn’t have on things they didn’t really need.

Rami’s answering hum was pinched. “Well, I’d like you to know there’s outstandinggoodhere, too. Humans can be terrible to one another, but also incredibly… kind.”

“Sure, Feathers,” Julian drawled.

Rami came to a stop in the middle of the aisle without warning, and Julian bumbled himself right into them.

“What—”

“Here we are,” Rami murmured, and plucked a bag of fancy-looking chocolates from the shelf.

“What’re those?” Julian asked nosily as he picked it from the basket to read the packaging.

“Very lovely chocolates. They’re my favorite, and this store is honestly dreadful at keeping them in stock. It must be our lucky day.”

Julian arched a brow atour,ignoring the hitch in his chest. Carefully, he placed the bag back in the basket, not very interested in their blood orange dark chocolates.

Another one had already taken its place, and then Rami was moving down the aisle with their treats.

A smile tugged at his lips and he trailed after them. They had to maneuver around pesky children pitching a fit at the end of said aisle, and Julian grimaced as he quickened his pace to match Rami’s.

The angel was wearing an amused smirk. “What are you smiling about?” Julian asked.

Rami glanced over at him. “Not a fan of kids, then?”

“They’re loud and messy, so, no.”

“Oh, you’re a tidy fellow?” Rami teased.

Julian narrowed his eyes as Rami snagged a box of crackers from the end cap. “Might be.”

These were their necessities?

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