“It took little for him to convince you to go back to the room. Just a few drinks, I believe.”
“Whatever, asshole.” I shook 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 now.”
“I’d rather discuss it in class.”
He changed the subject. “How are you finding London?”
I watched as he picked up a fountain pen and dipped it in an inkwell. I was surprised to see him with such an old-fashioned piece of writing equipment.
“It’s fine.”
“Everything you hoped it would be?”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“Is the Victoria and Albert Museum as you expected it?”
“Huh?” I looked at him in confusion. How did he know I’d been waiting my whole life to go there? For some reason, it had been a lifelong dream for me to peruse the exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert and the British Museums, but I’d 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 said, 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 frowned.
“So have you been?” He ignored my question and I shook my head. “Then we must go this afternoon.”
“We have class.”
“We shall go after class.”
“That’s okay. I can go by myself.”
“No, you cannot appreciate and delight in your first experience by yourself.” His words were soft, light, and lyrical. His words made me think of losing my virginity and not going to a museum.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I smiled at him weakly.
“No, we shall 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 gave me the same odd little bow that his brother had given 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 really know is that Prince William just got married and had a baby.”
“I thought Americans were obsessed with all things royal?”
“Not me.” I shrugged. “I have a life.”
“Touché, Lola. Touché.”
“Did you just learn that word or something? You’re really using it a lot.”
“Did I just learn it?” He cocked back his head and laughed. He laughed so hard that his eyes were wet as he looked at me with his crinkly smile. “I like you, Lola. I think we will be friends. Ah!” He held his hand up. “Do not tell me again that we cannot be friends. I think I’d like to prove you wrong.”
“Why?” I asked him softly, my head swirling in confusion. It was hard to keep up with Xavier. I didn’t understand him or who he was, and because I didn’t understand him, I also didn’t understand how I felt.
“Because, dear Lola—” he leaned towards me “—there are things I want to show you, to teach you.”
“Oh?” I breathed slowly, waiting for his kiss.
“Yes.” I could feel his breath against my lips, and then he pulled back with sparkling eyes. “I think you should visit the National Gallery first.” He grinned at the perplexed look on my face. “If you want to see Impressionist art, you must visit the National Gallery and not the Victoria and Albert.”
“What?” I blinked at him.
“The Victoria and Albert is a fine museum but not the best museum.” He grinned to himself. “There are many things I have to teach you.”
“You can teach me all of that as my professor.” I stepped back, slightly embarrassed. I hoped he didn’t realize that I thought he was going to teach me about sex.
“But it would mean so much more if I were your friend.” He stared at me for a second and I looked down, not sure what to say. I didn’t understand why he cared about being my friend—especially after he had been such a jerk when we had slept together.