Page 9 of Waiting For Psamathe

"You were watching it when I first visited you here," she pointed out.

"I have an affinity for seals."

"Mmhmm."

I rolled my eyes. "It's nothing."

"I'll let you keep believing that for now," she said. "But maybe you could give us some input into our cocktails. We've got four we're serving tonight, all with non-alcoholic versions."

"Do you really want my input?"

"You know what people like to drink while they're at a beach resort," she pointed out. "I get stuck after Sex on the Beach."

"That's always popular," I responded.

"Only to those who have never tried it," she joked.

I let out a light laugh. "All right, what else have you got?"

"I was going to go with the classics, a Pina Colada, maybe a Tequila Sunrise, but something doesn't feel right about either."

"Good choices, but they're not what we get a lot of orders for," I said, gesturing her over to the bar and slipping behind it. "We're not a party island, people come here for the traditional taste of Greece."

"Mmm, I see your point."

I grabbed a bottle of tsipouro and added some of the spirit to a cocktail shaker before adding cinnamon syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon. I gave it a shake while Aphrodite watched me intently. I flipped over a champagne glass and emptied the shaker into it, topping it up with some sparkling rosé.

"Try this," I said, sliding it across the bar to her.

"What is it?"

"A Greek mimosa."

She picked up the glass and took a sip. "Oh yes, that tastes of home."

"It's very popular," I said.

"I can see why. We should do that one. What else would you suggest?" she asked.

"How do you think people will feel about ouzo?"

"I can think of a few gods who would love it," she responded.

"Then an ouzo lemonade should do the trick. I can make one up, if you want?"

She shook her head. "Unnecessary, I can imagine what that would taste like."

"And if you want an alternative to your Tequila Sunrise, then I'd suggest a Santorini Sunrise instead."

"Ah, perfect," she responded. "Though the Sex on the Beach stays, I can imagine a few gods who might be disappointed if it isn't on the menu."

"Of course." I stack the shaker I used into the glass dishwasher. "I'd also suggest olives along the bar."

"Absolutely. Are you really in Greece if there are no olives to nibble on?" she asked.

I gave her a surprisingly friendly smile.

"I do miss it here, I can see why you stay," Aphrodite said.

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