Page 60 of His Secret Gift

“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 ofSatellitesoon 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.

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