Hard Wired Trilogy DeAnna Pearce (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

instead she focused on her job and worked harder than ever with Niomi. Even though they covered the basics of several different skins, they always came back to Kari. Kari was to be Ari’s first job. A job that approached faster than Ari realized.

She had memorized Kari’s work contacts, her favorite drinks—yes even in VR people met for drinks—and everything else she could. Finally, on a Saturday morning, Niomi informed Ari that she was ready. Monday, they would skip their morning exercises and go into VLEX.

Even though Ari was ready—she knew more about Kari than even her closest acquaintances—there was something unsettling about the mission. Feigning to be someone else, constantly lying for hours on end, worried her. It felt like there was some invisible line she was about to cross, and once crossed, it would change her forever.

That Saturday evening, Reed and Ari went on another date. They realized early on that the small island only provided so much entertainment. Of course, there was a plethora of VR stimulations to experience, but they both decided they liked to spend time in person. Besides going out to eat, there were only a handful of outdoor activities available to the employees and residents of the island.

“Did you decide where we’re going?” Ari asked when he picked her up in a car. The car door hissed shut behind her. She shook out her hair, wet from the light rain.

“I did.” His smile curled up, distracting her.

“Are you going to share?”

“You’ll see.” He focused on the road, despite not actually driving the car at all. He was recently shaved, his short dirty blond hair styled to perfection. He wore a button-up shirt and shorts, his attire giving away nothing as to their date.

She tugged at the edge of her blue sundress, hoping she was adequately dressed. “You know I hate surprises?”

He cocked an eyebrow in her direction. “Really?”

“Really.” She stared at him, raindrops lightly hitting the car window.

He leaned towards her, lightly kissing her. He pulled back a fraction of an inch, their lips almost touching. “How about that surprise?”

“Brat.” She leaned forward, meeting his lips with a fervor.

By the time the car announced they arrived at their destination, they both were a little out of breath.

“I told you, you like surprises,” he pulled back, lips slightly swollen.

“Maybe I just like your surprises.” Heat flushed her face, the warmth feeling good.

“I’ll take it.”

They exited the car, and Ari got her first good look around. They were deep in the jungle, only a light mist from the rain hit them. Tall trees rose all around, green covering everything in sight. A few other cars and scooters littered the dirt parking lot. A small path lead into the forest. Through the foliage, she spied a brown staircase leading up and around a tree.

Her stomach flipped a bit, with nerves or maybe excitement. “Are we going up there?”

“After our adventure on the rooftop, I thought you were fine with heights.”

“I am.”

He reached for her hand. “Good.”

The brown staircase was built out of metal but shaped to look like weathered wood. As they rose higher on the automated steps, the rain sprinkled on them, making Ari’s wavy hair curl even more.

“Sorry about the rain.” Reed stood behind her. “I’d already made the reservations.”

“Don’t worry about it.” The rain was unpredictable and constant on the island, unlike the desert she was raised in. The warm and humid weather made the rain a welcome relief.

At the top, a couple workers stood ready to escort them into a small cart which must have been made from the same see-through material that was used on the Wave. The cart perched on top of a thin track. Reed placed his hand on the scanner for them to accept his reservation. Inside the cart, the clear plastic-type material surrounded them, giving them a 360-degree view of the jungle.

Anticipation bubbled inside of her as she turned to Reed. “I like this kind of surprise too.”

“Good.”

The attendant stepped back and pressed a button. “Enjoy.”

With a whoosh, they slipped into the jungle, held up only by the wire. At first, only quiet permeated the jungle, but as the cart crawled along, the wildlife came alive around them. Small monkeys jumped from tree to tree, speaking in their high-pitched voices.

“Look.” Reed pointed to a snake wrapped around a branch.

“Amazing.” She didn’t want to miss a thing.

They continued pointing out all the different animals or plants for the next thirty minutes as the cart rose and fell under the canopy of trees. When the car slowed to a stop, she didn’t think it could get any better, but it did. They climbed out onto a deck around a large tree. A network of platforms and bridges connected a mass of trees. It resembled a tree house beyond her wildest dreams.

They were directed to another tree, which held a table, two chairs, and a candlelit dinner. She laughed as they took their seats. “I didn’t even know this existed. Where is the book that tells you about all this stuff?”

“It’s on the directory.” He picked up his napkin.

“I need to look at that directory again.” She spread the napkin on her lap, looking at all the sparkling lights that surrounded them. “I’m surprised it’s not busier. This place is beyond anything I’ve seen before.”

“Well, it’s not as packed at the VRs, but VisionTech wanted a few things outside for people to do. Want to order?” He motioned to the screen in front of them.

She pulled her attention back to the menu on their table. “Yes, food.”

They ordered dinner, both hamburgers, hers with grilled pineapple, his with cheese and onions. An attendant quickly delivered their meal, and they dug in. The mixture of flavors flooded her taste buds. She never got tired of how good the food tasted.

“Do you ever think how odd it is that we’re eating a cow on an island in the middle of the jungle?”

“I’m usually too busy enjoying the food to think of where it