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

Ari had always wondered what his bedroom looked like, and it was sort of how she imagined it. Drawings littered the walls and a small sculpture rested on a nightstand. Ari thought about going back to the sofa in the entertainment room but, for some reason, it felt safer staying together.

She grabbed the blue pillow Tessa wasn’t using and crashed on the floor. She didn’t bother with her shoes either, just rolled over and, with a soft sigh, fell asleep.

When the sun peeked through Reed’s window, Ari realized Reed’s arm was wrapped protectively over her waist. His arm gave her a sense of security, like a blanket she wanted to cling to more than anything. She didn’t want to move, but her mind started processing the previous night’s events and dwelling on what she had to do that day. She squeezed his hand gently, not ready to let go of him yet.

Reed released a happy sigh at her touch and pulled her close to him. “Morning,” he mumbled into her hair.

“Only if it has to be,” Ari replied.

She glanced at the bed. Tessa slept heavily, her chest rising methodically and a slight wheezing sound escaping her lips. Ari’s eyes darted around Reed’s room, now that she could see better in the daylight. An over-organized, dusty feel permeated air. He hadn’t been there for months. The only mess was the bags they’d brought with them. His walls were painted in swirling teals, like he couldn’t decide whether to paint the sky or the ocean. It was beautiful, just like him.

Reed kept his hand around her waist and turned her to face him. “I could get used to this.”

“Me too.”

He didn’t give her time to be self-conscious of morning breath or anything else as he leaned forward and kissed her. His firm lips rested against hers, sending a small spark down to her toes. That spark soon led to a burn within her, stronger than she’d imagined. While his hand kept a firm grip on her hips, her fingers rested on the soft spot on his neck, wishing she could pull him closer.

He brushed her thick hair back, and his lips traveled to her neck and ear. “Remember Tessa,” he whispered into her neck.

Ari froze, mentally flying back to reality where Tessa slept mere feet away. With a disappointed sigh, she stared at his face. His sharp cheek bones led to soft and slightly swollen lips. Scruffy, dark facial hair sprinkled his cheeks, and she itched to kiss him again.

His smile pulled up to one side. “What’s the saying? ‘Think of the Queen’?”

She laughed into his chest, inhaling his scent and letting it envelope her. “Well, if anyone could be Queen, it’s Tessa.”

“True.” He turned on his back and kept one arm around Ari.

“I can’t leave this,” she said as her hand rested on his chest. “I don’t want to leave this.”

“Oh, come on. I’m sure there will be other boys to kiss.”

Ari hit his arm, but not hard. “It’s not funny.”

“You can make a program with me in it, and then you can visit me anytime.”

Ari wished he could see her eyes rolling. “Please,” she replied sarcastically then with a serious tone added. “I want you instead. Flesh and blood.”

“I know.” Reed’s voice tightened. “You’re off to do amazing things.”

“It won’t be the same without you. I really do—” Ari stopped herself before she could say those three words that surprised her as much as they would have surprised Reed. The L word had never escaped Ari’s lips before, and she usually made fun of love struck teenagers who lusted all over the popular kids. Yet if she was going to be honest with herself, she did love him. She’d loved him before she knew what love was. He was the happy, sweet Reed, and no matter what happened in the future, part of her heart would always love him.

But she worried he didn’t feel the same. She’d invited him to come with her, but she also knew how important his mom and his life was here—a life that she would no longer be a part of.

“What was that?” He turned towards her, his breath tickling her ear.

“Nothing. Just be glad we had one last night together.”

“Don’t talk like that.”

Before she could reply, a beep sounded in the kitchen. Startled, she sat up.

“It’s the coffee.” He reached for her.

The sound of the machine dripping echoed throughout the small apartment. The smell of coffee soon permeated the room, and like a magical alarm, Tessa began to stir.

Ari left the unspoken words floating stagnant in the air.

Tessa eyed the makeshift bed the two of them had made on the floor. “I’m glad I passed out last night.”

With a sly grin on his face, Reed ran a hand through his tousled hair. “Oh, this was from this morning.”

“Spare me.” Tessa flashed Ari a sarcastic grin.

Ari headed to the bathroom to clean up a bit. After the run in at the rest stop and sleeping in her clothes, not much was going to help. She ran a brush she’d found through her hair and braided it.

She returned to Reed’s room to find him digging through his dresser. Tessa had barely moved.

“Ready to break into a hospital?” Ari faked a smile, hoping if she kept pretending that maybe it would be easier. She hadn’t seen her father, talking or moving, for over six years, and the idea of going back into a virtual with him overwhelmed her.

Tessa pulled out a hair tie and shook her hair like a dog shaking off water. She sat up and tried to tame her hair down. “How about some coffee first?”

“Sounds good,” Ari agreed.

As they headed out of Reed’s bedroom, his mother came in the front door. She had on a gray uniform, dark hair wrapped up in a bun, and an inquisitive look on her face that quickly turned into a scowl. Tired eyes lined her face as she hung up her keys and