Page 74 of How Not to Date an Angel

And Rami felt totally normal about this information.

Rami moved ahead as they rounded the corner to their home so Julian couldn’t see their face as they said, “No. There was never anyone who would’ve been a suitable partner.”

Julian paused at that. “Really? So you haven’t—with anyone?”

Rami shrugged, fiddling with a flap on the white box. “I try not to get close to humans, what with their fleeting life spans and all. So I’ve never really had the chance to, I suppose.”

“That sounds… lonely,” Julian finally settled on, and pushed the gate open for Rami.

He even locked it back.

Rami swallowed as they thought of Julian’s statement. “It can be, I suppose,” Rami said, and unlocked the front door, letting themself in. Julian followed close behind, and as they shut the door behind them, the walls felt large and oppressive, looming.

Julian was staring at them when they turned to take the box to the kitchen.

“What is it?” Rami asked.

“You’ve never befriended a human? Ever? In all the years you’ve been here?”

A pang of hurt lanced through Rami’s chest. “I wouldn’t say that,” they said softly.

Julian’s expression cracked, and in those golden eyes Rami found genuine sympathy. “I see.”

Rami cleared their throat, and placed the box on the kitchen island silently. They untucked the flaps and the scent of fresh baked goods wafted into the air.

“I can’t help myself sometimes,” Rami told him. “I find myself drawn to them – humans. The goodness and light they can exude. And sometimes the darkness, too. I just wanted to help,” they recalled, frowning down at the pastries. “But time is a mortal’s greatest enemy, and unfortunately, they are destined to lose.”

“Do you want to tell me about them?” Julian asked. He was closer now, pulling open a cabinet to remove two plates.

Rami tapped their fingers against the countertop. They hadn’t talked to anyone about this kind of thing… ever.

Julian was the first to ask.

Rami stared at him, eying the now visible horns. The smooth, short length of the broken horn haunted Rami. It made them want to take care of Julian.

But what reason did Julian have to stick around?

“Why are you still here?” Rami asked suddenly.

Julian sat the plates down gently, tilting his head and gazing at Rami. “What do you mean?”

“You’re healed. So why are you still here?” Rami realized he could’ve left by now, to do whatever it was that demons did.

And yet Julian hadn’t left.

And no one had come knocking on Rami’s door to look for Julian, either.

“What can I say? Annoying you has been the most fun I’ve had in a while,” he said, and there was a soft note to his voice, a casualness in the way he shrugged.

And. Well, that was alright, wasn’t it?

Rami smiled.

Rami

Rami hummed as they placed pastries on two different plates.

“It took a while for it to kick in—the realization that they’d die every time,” they began. “I don’t want to tell you what year it was; that’ll give away my age,” Rami drawled.

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