Free The Immortal by Christopher Pike

macho kick, heard the engine roar to life, and was on my way to explore new parts of Mykonos.
    Of course, I first headed straight to Paradise Beach to see if Tom was working. I was fortunate on two accounts. He was at the bar and he was on his break. He didn't seem surprised to see me, although his greeting was warm. I noticed he had on new sandals.
    "How's your head today?" I asked, sitting on the stool beside him. I had on my naughtiest bathing suit under my shorts and blouse, a blue bikini that could
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    have been stuffed into a contact lens case. Tom nodded toward the glass of milk he was drinking.
    "It gets better as the day goes on. As long as I don't think about it. How are you?"
    "Splendid. Wild time last night," I offered.
    He smiled, always the gentleman. "I had fun."
    "Want to do it again tonight?"
    He hesitated. "Does Helen?"
    "Does Pascal?"
    He laughed. "Are you trying to put the two of them together?"
    I was bold. "It's better than tearing you and Helen apart."
    He shrugged. "She's just a friend. Nothing happened between us last summer."
    "Does she know that?" I shook myself. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't put you on the spot. But you see, the situation's awkward for me. I want to see you tonight, if I can, but I don't want to upset my friend, or you."
    He came to my aid, poor bleeding soul that I was. "I would like to see you tonight as well, Josie. I understand the problems here. But if it is of any help, I think Pascal likes Helen. He wanted her to go with him in his truck last night."
    "I don't think Helen cares much for that le camion. "
    "How about Pascal?" he asked.
    "I'm afraid she's got her heart set on an English mate." I paused, thinking—or, rather, plotting. All right, so I was acting horribly bitchy. What was I
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    supposed to do? I liked Tom and he liked me. Why should I deprive myself just because it might hurt Helen? I asked myself.
    There were good answers to both those questions.
    Do nothing—because Helen was my friend and deserved my loyalty.
    It was hard to make such commitments with Tom sitting only a foot away. He looked so delicious. I felt like Judas.
    "Why don't the two of you run into us at the same restaurant at the same time as last night," I suggested.
    "We can act like we never met this afternoon. Then we'll just take it from there."
    "Why don't you just tell Helen you want to see me and leave it at that? You'll hurt her more with deception."
    "Why don't you tell her?" I asked hopefully.
    He shook his head. "If we 'just take it from there,' where will we go? We'll have a repeat of last night."
    "Helen won't vomit on you again, I promise."
    He grinned. "All right, but Helen isn't stupid. At some point in the night we'll have to go our separate ways, and she'll be upset."
    "Tell Pascal to sweep her off her feet. Have him drag her away."
    "I'll see what can be done." Tom checked his watch and stood up. "I have to get back to work. Don't swim out so far this time. I don't have the strength to rescue you today."
    I touched his arm before he left. "I was in trouble 74
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    yesterday, and you may have saved my life. I didn't properly thank you for that."
    He was humble. "I'm sure, had the situation been reversed, you would have done the same for me."
    I held his eye a moment. I didn't know why, but his words chilled me to the bone. "That's true, Tom," I said softly.
    I went snorkeling, but following his advice, I stayed close to shore. The water felt good on my skin after the baking on Delos. I was thinking about going back to the sacred island the next day. It had a hold on me already—some kind of magnetic pull.
    After a good long swim, I lay on the beach and took off my top and waited for all the men to faint. But mine were just another couple of perky breasts, and Paradise was filled with them. I wondered, as I lay there, if Tom could see me. Back home my figure had been the envy of many. But here I was just part of the scenery.
    I didn't see