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

you want to go out this weekend, like on a date?” He glanced up, his cheeks flushed.

Her lips curled up in a smile. She had never seen Reed nervous before. Her stomach did happy flips. “Sure. You could have just messaged me.”

He shook his head. “My mom gave me some rules about girls. I never bothered following them before, but they sounded like a good idea.”

“I’m interested in hearing about these rules.”

He glanced into her room where her computer was up and running. “Another time when you’re not busy.” He stepped towards her and planted a light kiss on her cheek. “I’ll see you soon.”

She stayed in the doorway watching him walk away. Her cheek tingled where his lips touched her skin, and her heart pooled in a puddle at her feet.

By the time the weekend came, even the mountains of homework couldn’t ruin her mood. Reed had asked Ari on a date, an official date. Their school sat on the edge of a small town with only a few restaurants and stores, but Ari didn’t care if he took her to a swamp. To spend time alone with Reed, outside of school, sounded amazing.

Ari changed into a pair of black pants and a green top. She was straightening her long black hair when Tessa walked in.

“Getting ready for your date, I see. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Tessa grinned.

“We’re going into town to eat or something.”

“Cool.” Tessa settled into her chair, drink in hand.

“What are you doing tonight?”

“You’re looking at it. I’ll maybe order some pizza and crush some guys online whose egos have been getting too big.” Tessa pushed back a stray of long hair and turned to her computer.

“Okay. I’m heading out then. Smash some egos for me.” Ari grabbed her bag. She was supposed to meet Reed downstairs.

Tessa put on her headset and the look of determination that often accompanied it. “Will do.”

By the time Ari made it down to the lobby, Reed was already there by the front door, watching the sky. With one hand in his pocket, he stared outside. The falling sun cast a gold glow to his hair and outlined his features. He looked ... beautiful. And not just in the “I want to kiss your face off” kind of way, but truly beautiful. She hated to disturb him.

As she approached, he turned to greet her. His face lit up in a smile. “Ready?”

Unable to help herself, she just stared.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” Ari took his hand, shaking herself out of her stupor. This was Reed who she had known forever. Get a hold of yourself, Ari. “This is a bit surreal. You and me, going on a date together.”

“I know what you mean.” He reached for her hand, and they left her dorm. “I feel like I should be asking your mother’s permission or something.”

“Don’t worry. I actually talked to her about it.”

“Really?”

“Yes, last night. She says she couldn’t think of a better boy she could trust me with. I’m glad that I never told her about Garrett.”

“Don’t remind me,” he growled. “When I saw you two together—”

Thankfully, security interrupted him. Several guards stood by the gate. Ari and Reed approached the officer at the gate and scanned their identity bracelets. Several others walked back and forth along the fence. The electric fence wasn’t enough? Extra guards have been stationed since the intruders.

“Curfew is at ten tonight. No exceptions,” said a tall, pale officer that Ari didn’t recognize.

“Really?” At the beginning of the year it was midnight on the weekends.

“The gates are closing early due to Monday’s incident. If you want to stay out later, you have to sign out an extended pass.” The officer’s pressed lips didn’t offer any room to debate.

“We’ll be back.” Reed pulled Ari along.

Ari was used to guards at her old school, but they were friendly and more relaxed. These men weren’t security guards but soldiers. “How often do things like Monday happen?”

“Not that often, but there are enough attempts that security is kept pretty tight. Some fanatics think the VR and the computer age are detrimental to evolution or something.”

“Some days I wonder that myself,” Ari replied. She had witnessed the ill effects of VR first hand.

“Come on.” Reed grasped her hand tighter. “We’re supposed to be having fun. Forget about the guards.”

Alone with Reed, it was easy for Ari to forget about everything else. He took her to a small restaurant with fresh food that tasted of home. She got lost in his eyes more than once, and he had to remind her to keep eating. Over hot salsa and spicy meat, they talked of home and even of the future. Reed was in his last year of school. After finals he would be assigned as an intern, anywhere in the country. He’d requested to stay in the Southwest, close to his mother and Ari.

“Want dessert?” He scanned the small screen that displayed the menu.

“I’m actually stuffed.” Ari hadn’t eaten that much in a while, but it was so worth it.

He paid on the screen and then turned back to Ari. “Okay, well I have another surprise for you.”

“Surprise?” She raised a brow as her lips pulled up in a smile.

“It’s nothing too exciting, but I thought you’d like it.” He reached for her hand as they left the restaurant.

As they walked by various outdoor restaurants, stores, and VR bars, she relished having Reed at her side. They held hands or lightly touched, both of them like magnets, constantly drawn back to each other. Ari wondered if this feeling of wanting to touch him or be next to him would ever fade.

At the next block, an older store sat squished in the corner. Large green letters flashed overhead that spelled “GAMING” and then underneath it read “BUY, SELL, TRADE.” Reed headed towards the store.

“This is it?” Ari worried for a moment that he was taking her to a VR, a popular date for most people. And while she could stomach a VR date,