Page 60 of How Not to Date an Angel

Rami narrowed their gaze. If he was feeling so much better, he didn’t evenneedto sleep in Rami’s bed.

So, technically… technically, the demon was basically healed. Sure, he probably couldn’t stretch for the top shelf in Rami’s cabinet, but he was well enough to stand on his own two feet. And it wasn’t Rami’s business what trouble he got into once he left.

At this rate, Rami could honestly throw Julian out the very next morning and no one would blame them for it.

But what if the demon got into a predicament, and got hurt again, or even… what if he did something stupid and exposed them all?

If demons were accidentally exposed, it would only make sense that angels would be exposed, too. Two sides of the same coin, or something like that.

With a sigh, they rolled over, staring at the ceiling instead of the empty side of the bed.

Something was all tangled up inside them, and Rami needed to unravel it.

It was hypocritical of them to accuse Julian of pouting instead of talking when Rami was doing the very same thing.

Below, on the lower level where the demon was no doubt avoiding Rami altogether, it was silent. Not even the television was droning.

The demon wasn’t evensnooping. Rami would know if he was; he’d be making noise.

So. Rami needed to take advantage of this time they had to themselves, and figure out what thisfeelingwas in their chest.

Rami puffed out a breath, closed their eyes, and imagined kicking the demon out come morning. Never seeing the demon again.

They shuffled in the bed, so uncomfortable with even the suggestion that they couldn’t lie still. The make-believe scenario bothered them more than it should.

They blinked their eyes open at the ceiling.

Maybe it was time to admit to themself that they didn’t want the demon to leave.

They maybe even liked having him around, no matter how annoying he was.

Am I really that lonely?Rami thought.

Maybe they were.

Or maybe the demon wasn’t as bad as they were so intent to believe.

Guess you don’t think very highly of me, do you?Julian had asked.

It dawned on Rami, then, laying in the bed alone. They’d hurt Julian’s feelings.

Of course.

Sure, Julian was a demon. But. He also respected Rami’s boundaries, like with the office. He was kind, even if he didn’t want to admit it, protecting their chocolates, heating their coffee.

Rami’s frown deepened. Oh no. Did they…likethe demon?

They huffed. At the very least, they no longer…actively dislikedthe demon.

What did that even mean?

Rami sighed. “I guess I could start with an apology.”

That was ultimately what pulled Rami out of bed, wrapping themself in a cozy robe and sliding into their slippers.

They crept down the stairs, suspicious of the silence and yet hesitant anyway.

They paused as soon as they reached the bottom landing.

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