Book 1 || Finding Prince Charming || Harry Styles

Chapter 38

Her view.

"Narcissus," I say quietly.
"What?" He frowns and looks slightly off-kilter at my change of topic.
"Narcissus," I say again. "It's a painting by Caravaggio, done in 1597. It illustrates the Greek myth of Narcissus."
"What's the myth?" His eyes stare into mine with a challenge.
"Narcissus was a man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water." I pause and give him a pointed look. "I think it's a fitting painting for a narcissist."
"Is that your favourite painting?"
"No. No, it's not. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was yours."
"I see." He gives me a wide smile and chuckles. "I suppose you bring up this painting to tell me that I am the only one who's been dwelling on our night together. Because I'm the best lover you've ever had."
"Yes, you are dwelling on it," I mumble as my face flushes. "And you're not the bets lover I've ever had."
"I don't believe you. You can't have forgotten how you cried out my name as our bodies exploded in passion together."
"It's like I said, Harry, you're a narcissist."
"Liam will be here in a few hours. Perhaps you'd like to spend some quality time with him instead?" He sits back angrily.
"Who?"
"Tell me you haven't forgotten the man you seduced at the museum already."
"Oh, Liam." I sigh. "I didn't seduce him at all. You know he was trying to hook up with Anna. Why do you keep trying to make it seem like I was the one who was going to hook up with him?"
"It took a little for him to convince you to go back to the room. Just a few drinks, I believe."
"Whatever, asshole." I shake my head. "I'm not going to talk about this anymore. You know I only went to accompany Anna. I only had one drink that night."
"Fine. What painting have you chosen to discuss in class today?"
"You'll hear about it in class."
"No, I'd like to hear it now."
"I'd rather discuss it in class."
He changes the subject. "How are you finding London?"

I watch as he picks up a fountain pen and dips it in an inkwell. I'm surprised to see him with such an old-fashioned piece of writing equipment.
"It's fine."
"Everything you hoped it would be?"
"Yeah." I nod.
"Is the Victoria and Albert Museum as you expected it?"
"Huh?" I look at him in confusion. How did he know I've been waiting my whole life to go there? For some reason, it's been a lifelong dream for me to peruse the exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert and the British Museums, but I never really told anyone that. Just Anna and my journal.

"You wrote about it in your application essay. You said it was a lifelong dream of yours to walk through the museums in Europe and that you were dying to see the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the--"
"Okay, okay. I remember," I say, cutting him off. "I didn't know you read the essays."
"Of course. I read the essays of all the students who were interested in being my assistant."
"But I thought I was the only one." I frown.
"So have you been?" He ignores my question and I shake my head. "Then we must go this afternoon."
"We have class."
"We should go after class."
"That's okay. I can go by myself."
"No, you can't appreciate and delight in your first experience by yourself." His words are soft, light, and lyrical. His words make me think of losing my virginity and not going to a museum.
"I'm sure I'll be fine." I smile at him weakly.
"No, we should go together. I happen to know the curator. I can show you some paintings that you wouldn't get to see if you went by yourself."
"I don't want to take up your time."
"You won't be. It will be my pleasure." He gives me the same odd little bow that his brother gave me the other night. "Did you know that many of the royal families in Europe are connected through Queen Victoria?"
"No, I don't really follow the Royal Family much. All I know is that Prince William just got married and had a baby."
"I thought Americans were obsessed with all things royal?"
"Not me." I shrug. "I have a life."
"Touché, Cassidy. Touché."
"Did you just learn that word or something? You're really using it a lot."
"Did I just learn it?" He throws his head back and laughs.