Fast Forward by Juliet Madison Read Free Book Online Page A

to change back into and afterwards, led me back to the car. “So did you like it, do you reckon you’ll do it again one day?”
    “Me, um … don’t know. Sort of, maybe, I don’t know if I liked it. I mean at first it was horrific and then it was a relief … and now I feel all weird and jumpy and have heaps of energy.” The words were bungy jumping themselves out of my mouth before I could process what I was saying.
    “How about next year we go skydiving?” Ryan asked with a glint of anticipation in his eye.
    “Next year? Let’s just get through this day first!” I told him.
    The passenger door of the car rolled up and over the roof and I slid inside, my skin still buzzing from the experience. Oh wow. I hadn’t really noticed the details of the car before, as I’d been so anxious to get to the doctor and then Ryan had blindfolded me on the way to Ben’s Bungy Jumping so as to not spoil the surprise. Not only did the doors roll upwards, like an eyelid opening, but the seatbelt embraced me from behind, sleeve-like arms stretched out in front that I had to feed my arms through, while two clasps locked together in front of my chest and hips. Ryan used his e-pad to start the engine and the car spoke in a strong feminine voice.
    “Where would you like to go, Ryan?”
    Holy crap. How did I not notice that before? My mind must have been so overflowing with fear and confusion that I blocked out everything else around me.
    “City Point Shopping Centre,” Ryan told the car.
    “Route established. Estimated travel time: twenty-four minutes,” the car spoke again. “Calculating optimal parking spot … stay tuned for directions when your destination approaches …”
    My eyes darted all around the car. Holographic GPS map just under the windscreen, a small steering wheel that resembled an Xbox controller and a—what was that? I tugged on what looked like a straw and a smaller straw shot through the middle.
    “Oh yeah, good idea. I’d love some coffee,” Ryan said, sipping on the straw on the driver’s side. “Not that I need any more stimulation, but who cares!”
    The car had an inbuilt coffee machine? Pure brilliance! I sipped profusely, savouring the caffeine hit. Even though I felt like I’d already had fifteen of them, I was thirsty. And hungry. What was with my appetite? You’d think after the large breakfast I’d eaten I’d be set for the day. Or maybe I did throw up during the bungy jump and didn’t even realise it.
    “Go easy on the coffee, Mum. Save some room for your morning tea with Diora.”
    “Turn right,” Miss Car said and Ryan obliged.
    “Morning tea? With who?”
    “Yeah, I’m dropping you off so you can meet up with Diora.” He glanced at me briefly. “You do remember your first-born daughter, don’t you?”
    I stifled the scream that threatened to escape my lungs, figuring I’d acted like enough of a loony for one day. I had a daughter too? Just how many offspring did I bring into this world? No wonder my stomach was flabby as hell. Two kids. That’ll do it. But still, you’d think I would have had some liposuction somewhere along the way, or a tummy tuck at least.
    Wait. Diora. That was the name of my favourite doll I’d had as a young girl. I’d imagined calling my own daughter Diora one day, until I came to my senses and decided I probably wouldn’t want children after all.
    “Of course, I just forgot I was meeting her, that’s all,” I said to Ryan. Hopefully he bought it. Didn’t want to freak him out too much in one day by saying: actually, I don’t remember her at all, or you for that matter. You, my son, are a complete stranger as far as I’m concerned .
    “I think she has a more passive activity planned for you, it’ll give you a chance to calm your nerves after the bungy jump.”
    “Oh, good.” Although, it would take something pretty powerful to calm my nerves right now. “Um, where am I meeting her again?”
    “Dunno, she just told me to drop you off