Page 63 of After You Returned

But I will miss this island. There’s no way I can work at the VA hospital and still live on Smuggler’s Hideaway. Not with all the traffic. Especially in the summer when tourists descend on the island.

This is my home. My family is here. My friends.Miles.

No. Nope. No way. I am not making any decisions based on a man – no matter how sexy said man is. I will decide whether to accept this job based on all kinds of factors – excluding my hormones.

What am I going to do? Accept my dream job or stay on the island? I drop my face in my hands.

I do the one thing I always do when I need to think. I grab my phone and keys and go in search of Pinkie.

I ride my bike out of the town of Smuggler’s Cove. Maybe I’ll ride to Rogue’s Landing or to Pirate’s Perch on the other side of the island. Maybe I’ll ride up toMermaid Mystical Gardens.Maybe I’ll—

I hit my brakes and barely manage to screech to a halt before colliding with the gray lump in the middle of the road.

“Sammy!” I scold once I’ve managed to park my bike on the side of the road.

My hands are still shaking when I sit down next to the seal. “You’re not supposed to be sleeping on the road. What if I was a car? I would have hit you.”

He barks.

“I was paying attention.”

He honks.

“I was!”

He grunts.

“Ugh! You’re one to talk. You’re barring the whole road. You can’t complain about my driving skills when you’re creating chaos.”

He grunts.

“It’s still chaos even if I’m the only person affected.”

Sammy glances away – the disapproval clear in his eyes. Don’t ask me how a seal can appear disappointed. But know – this one can.

“What do you think, Sammy?” I prop myself against a tree and settle in for a gab with the one man on the island who won’t talk back. “Should I stay or should I go?”

Sammy meets my gaze before shuffling a bit closer. Phew. He’s nearly on the shoulder. He should be safe from any cars now.

“I have a great job offer. It’s at a VA hospital. I love working with veterans. They are one motivated bunch. Plus, my boss is totally cool. Wicked smart. Always informed about the latest developments in therapy. It would be a great learning experience.”

He barks.

“Huh. It does sound as if I’ve already made up my mind.”

A car screeches to a halt. I frown when Miles steps out. “What are you doing here?”

He wiggles his phone at me. “I saw you on the Sammy app.”

Sammy the seal has his own app. He’s a celebrity. People visit the island to go ‘Sammy spotting’. You can mark sightings of Sammy in the app. Anyone who manages ten sightings in one weekend, gets free drinks atFive Fathoms Brewing.

“Saw me?”

“The Sammy app includes video now.”

“I knew I should have voted against the mayor’s idea of putting up cameras all over town.”

“It’s for our safety.”