Just as Ethan is wrapping up, Riley arrives with full makeup in a cute, but entirely inappropriate, sleeveless shift dress.
“Good of you to join us, Riley. In future, please be on time. One of your fellow students may be able to fill you in on the plans for the next couple of days. And please check the briefing document about appropriate clothing.”
Without another word, he’s up and out of his chair, Ashraf following him out the door onto the street.
“What’s wrong with my dress?” Riley whispers to me.
“You can’t show your arms. Or your legs.”
“But we’re in the hotel.”
I shrug. I'm not going to be her keeper for the whole trip, so she might as well get used to it now.
“We thought you might like to go to the Citadel this afternoon?” Jeremy suggests.
“What? We’re not going to rest? We’ve flown all the way fromAustralia.” Riley groans as if Jeremy had no idea where we’d come from. “There’s a pool. We could relax out there and have cocktails.”
She’s got to be kidding.
“I’d love to see the Citadel.” I bounce out of my seat. I’m not spending my first day in Egypt at a hotel swimming pool. Jetlag will have to wait.
In the end, Bart, or maybe it’s Edward, offers to stay behind and keep Riley company.
“Yalla habibis,” calls a grinning Jeremy as he leads Garret, Simon, and me out to the taxi organised by reception.
Thank God I brought a spare camera battery with me because by the time we get back to the hotel, the sun is setting, and I’ve taken so many pictures it’s clear I’m going to need one.
The Citadel was breathtaking. Outside, there’s an uninterrupted view across the entirety of smoggy, noisy Cairo. Inside, there’s peace and beauty and silence in the smooth white and tan marbles, the gold detailing, the glowing lamps, the smell of the incense.
But the sights in the narrow, twisting streets were no less fascinating. Here we are in a major city, and there are donkeys carting loads of hay and fruit and vegetables. The streets are crowded with stalls selling everything from fake watches to delicious-smelling street food to spices to alabaster statues. Cairo is bursting with energy, and it’s contagious.
I have half an hour—this feels like it’s going to be a thing—to get changed for dinner.
Riley is passed out on her bed. Her face is flushed; whether it’s from too much sun or too many cocktails, I can’t tell. I get out my laptop to upload the pictures I took today. While it’s doing its thing, I have a quick shower to wash off the dust. With the photos uploaded, I put a couple on social media for Nan as promised, and try and rouse Riley, but she elects to stay in the room. Her loss.
Throwing on a flowy maxi dress I’m back in reception with two minutes to spare, as the extraordinary sound of the late afternoon call to prayer reverberates across the city.
I’m in heaven.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ethan
I’d say I’m going to hell if I wasn’t already there.
Keeping my mind on the tasks at hand today hasn’t been easy. This morning at the airport, the anticipation of seeing Sadie again had my heart racing. This afternoon, I was constantly wondering what she was up to.
Her excitement at being in Egypt was rolling off her in waves, making her eyes sparkle and her cheeks pink. You’d have to be blind not to notice the looks she got from the Cambridge boys. And she’s spending all afternoon with them. Good-looking. Intelligent. Funny. Without baggage. Even I couldn’t blame her if she saw some potential in one of them.
When she walks into the foyer, ready for dinner, I nearly swallow my tongue. She’s completely covered. Her dress is thoroughly appropriate and respectful for a Muslim country. She’s even wearing a fine, brightly coloured scarf draped across her head and over one shoulder. But the lack of skin on displaydoes absolutely nothing to reduce how captivating she is. And again, I’m not the only one who has noticed.
Good. Maybe she’ll start something up with one of the guys on the dig. Then she’ll really be off limits, and I can put this obsession behind me.
Fuck that noise. If one of them touches her. Looks at her sideways. They’ll find themselves mummified and buried along with the pharaohs.
Which I’m aware is unfair and unreasonable and irrational, but when it comes to Sadie, all those descriptors apply to how I feel.
“Where are we going?” Sadie asks as we climb onto the bus.
