Page 5 of Waiting For Psamathe

"Morning," I responded cheerily, leaning back in my seat.

"I have a massive favour to ask you," she said.

I chuckled. "Let's guess, you want me to switch shifts with you tomorrow so you don't have to take the early one?"

"Would you?" She asked sweetly.

"Sure."

"You're the best."

I shrugged. "I like the early shift."

"Eurgh, I have no idea why. I hate waking up at five."

"I like the view." Particularly because it meant I could wave to Sama. I wasn't sure what it was about the ritual that made the day better, but I preferred the days when we got to say good morning with a wave. She always looked so at peace whenshe was standing there watching the waves, and despite the fact she'd seen things I could only read about.

"Well, I'm not complaining," Aimee said. "Are you okay to put it in the system?"

I nodded. "I'm still logged on." I pulled up the schedule and made the change right then and there.

"Thanks, you're the best." She smiled and headed back into one of the sick bays to check on the seals there.

The automatic doors at the front of the sanctuary building slid open and I sucked in a breath at the familiar figure making her way inside. Even though she said she was coming over today, I was still taken aback by her appearance. I always was.

Her long dark brown hair flowed down to her waist, not seeming tangled despite the sea air, and her olive skin radiated the easy beauty she had about her. She was breathtaking.

And unbelievably off-limits. Everyone on the island knew better than to mess with the gods, especially Greek ones.

And yet there was a part of me that wanted to.

I cleared my throat. "Hi."

"Hey," she said, her voice light and airy. "Do you have a minute?"

"I'm all yours," I responded. "Did you want to see how Po-lo is doing?" Using her favourite seal to get more time with her might be a sneaky move, but it always worked.

Her whole face lit up. "Yes. Though I came because of what we were talking about last night."

I nodded and got to my feet, gesturing for her to follow me. I stuck my head around the sick bay door. "Aimee, can you watch the reception desk for a bit?" I called.

"Be right there!"

I turned back to Sama and led her down the corridor to the rehabilitation pool where the seal with a torn flipper was learning to swim with his new disability.

"Hey, Po-lo," she said.

As if he heard her, the seal clumsily poked his head out of the water.

Sama leaned over the edge, a carefree smile on her face as she leaned over to stroke his head. I'd never known anyone else to be as good with seals as this. They were almost as at ease with her as they were with me, and they considered me one of them thanks to my shifting ability.

"How is he doing?" she asked.

"Well. He's not ready to be released, but he's stronger than he was."

"I'm glad." She ruffled the seal's head and stepped back. "You do good work here."

"I like to think so."

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