Chapter 19
Culture Shock – Kayla
T hat may have been the most confusing few minutes of my life.
First, he gave me an incredibly thoughtful gift, then he caressed and kissed me, and before I knew it, the sweet moment ended, and he just walked away after things started getting a little hot and heavy between us.
As I process everything that just happened, I can still feel the delicious stinging his beard left behind on my face.
I look in the window and see that it’s a little red.
People will have questions, I resolve. So, I just stand there while I wait for it to go away.
But the feeling of his tongue dancing around with mine is also fresh, and the memory of it makes a warm feeling spread between my legs.
Jesus. Jack Shelley has to be one of the most complicated men I’ve ever met. But I still want him so bad.
My head feels like it’s spinning.
He didn’t respond to my letter, but he pulled this stunt—what kind of message am I supposed to be interpreting here?
Before long, Callie swishes the curtains over. “Kay? What the hell are you doing back here.”
I put my finger over my mouth and pull her in before closing the fabric barriers again.
“What’s going on?”
I hold up the bowl.
“What? But you didn’t—”
“Jack,” I mouth. I’m so thankful to have her along with me on this ride because it helped to at least be able to tell her about my experiences with him. If I had to keep them all to myself, I fear I might explode.
Her mouth widens, and her hands go up to cover it. “You’re kidding.”
I shake my head. “He just pulled me back here, gave it to me, and then kissed me.”
“Again?” She pulls her bangs back. “I can’t keep up with you two.”
“Honestly, same.”
“Then what happened? I saw him sit back down by Captain Bryant.” She crosses her arms and leans against a cart.
My lips roll in on themselves before I explain, “He just left.”
“Seriously?”
I shrug my shoulders.
“What’s his end game?”
“I wish I knew.”
She takes her arm and wraps it around my shoulders. “Let’s get back out there.”
“Thanks.” I put his gift back in the bag and try my best to conceal it as we walk back to our seats.
“What’s that?” Gwen asks.
“Nothing,” Callie answers for me. In response, Gwen gives her a funny look.
“How far away are we from Marrakesh?” I jump in and ask.
“An hour or so yet.”
To pass the time, I decide to put my headphones in, open Spotify, press shuffle and then play on my Dave Matthews Band playlist, rest my head back on the seat, and close my eyes.
The beautiful guitar strumming of Satellite soon starts. Ah, perfect.
But just to be sure that Gwen or someone else doesn’t rummage through my stuff as I sleep, I put the bag between my legs and cover it up with my coat over my lap.
Before I know it, Callie is shaking me awake.
“Kayla, we’re almost there.”
I’m a bit startled, and I wipe a little bit of drool off my chin.
“I can’t believe I slept that long.”
She’s collecting her stuff. “Yeah, you were out like a light.”
As I look out of the window, I note that it’s flatter than Safi but still just as beautiful.
When the train stops, we take our turn getting off and then gather into a cluster. Then, Captain Bryant stands up on an apple box.
“Listen up. We’ve rented out rooms in a hotel named Izza. You’ll have to share two to a room—”
Immediately, I lock eyes with Callie, and she nods at me.
Thank god. I’d hate to room with someone I didn’t know.
“After checking in, you’ll have the discretion to do whatever you want. Just please, travel together and keep an eye out for one another.”
We then divide ourselves into groups of four before hailing our own cabs.
“Izza hotel, please,” I ask the bald man behind the wheel or ours.
He nods.
“Great. Thank you.”
On the way, I take full advantage to take in the cites. There’s greenery all around and donkeys carting food and clothing.
The traffic, however, is a bit frantic.
Our driver consistently honks as we sit idly.
So, to say that all of this is a bit of a culture shock would be an understatement.
“I wonder if this is common?” I whisper to Callie.
“From what I was reading it is.”
Jeez. I can’t imagine dealing with the chaos and stress every day. I get nervous enough driving around Aurora sometimes.
“Do you see how a lot of the buildings are red?” the driver asks us.
After looking around, I confirm that that’s true.
“That’s why we’re called the red city.”
“Oh, really?” I didn’t know that.
“The beaten clay used to build the structures during the residency of the Almohad Empire is what gives everything it’s color.”
Almohad. I make sure to take note of that. I want to learn as much as I can while I’m here.
“Wow. That’s really interesting.”
When we get to the hotel, everyone, except Callie, takes turns razzing me.
“What?”
“Oh, wow. That’s so interesting,” Gwen mimics me.
“It was!”
Once again, Callie puts her arm around my shoulders. “Don’t listen to them. They’re just seasoned travelers, so they don’t appreciate little things like that anymore.”
Despite her words, a still feel a pit in my stomach. I didn’t mean to sound na?ve.
Upon checking in, we’re told that we’re going to stay in the Brion room.
Before walking away, I hear Jack talk about he, Captain Bryant, and Jenkins, the engineer, will be staying in the apartment on site.
“Oh, my god!” I exclaim when we locate and open our door.
It’s absolutely gorgeous, with plenty of draped curtains, engraved keyhole arches, and an overall sense of tranquility.
After setting down my luggage and plopping down onto the bed, I roll over on my side and watch as my friend more carefully puts her belongings away in drawers.
“I’ve never done that.”
“Really? I can’t stand living out of a suitcase.”
“Huh. Maybe I’ll get like that after traveling more.”
She nods.
But when she’s done, she joins me and wrings her hands together and squeals. “So, you’re going out with us tonight, right?”
I’m scared, but I also know I need to take full advantage while I’m in Morocco.
“Yes.”
“Oh, good! It’s going to be so much fun.” When she stands, she reaches out for my hand. “I think Denver said he was in the Allen room. Let’s go find it and get the itinerary.”
I stare in awe as we walk around the luxurious hotel.
“I can’t believe this is my life,” I admit to her.
She giggles.
“Believe it, baby.”
When we find his door, we knock on it.
“Hey guys! Come on in!”
“Where’s your roommate?” I ask after failing to see another person or luggage that isn’t his.
He holds his arms out. “Advantage of being a bosun. I get the room all to myself.”
“Too bad Maria isn’t here to share it with you,” Callie jokes.
He sticks his tongue out at her.
His digs are a little smaller than ours, but there’s an exquisite headboard made of highly intricate dark wood and blue fabric plus two pretty glass/flower light fixtures at either side of the bed.
The small bottle of brown liquor that he’s drinking signifies that he hasn’t wasted any time getting into the minibar.
“Can I have some of that?” Callie asks.
He hands it over, and she takes a swig—careful not to put her mouth on it.
“Woo! Kayla?” She offers it to me, but I put my hand up to block it.
“No thanks. I mean, not—not yet.”
She sucks air through her teeth. “Fair enough. So, what’s the plan for tonight?”
He tips it up into the air again before answering, “Well, the club doesn’t open until 11:30.”
“What?” That’s insane.
They exchange looks.
“Things work a little differently here, kid,” Denver says with a smile. Although, I don’t appreciate him calling me “kid.”
“Yeah, they open late and close around five or six in the morning.”
“You’re kidding me. How can anyone stay up that late?” If I go out in Indiana, I’m usually home and in bed by around 10:30.
Denver slugs me on the shoulder. “You’ll find a way. Trust me.”
“Okay.” I’m now more terrified than ever.