Finding My Prince Charming (Finding My Prince Charming #1)(16)
Author: J.S. Cooper

“What are you studying, Jason?” Anna asked him as if it were the most important question in the world.

“Art history.”

“Really?” I looked at him in shock. He didn’t look like the sort of guy who knew anything about art.

“Yeah. I want to own my own gallery when I grow up.”

“Wow, me too.” I looked at him consideringly. I had to stop judging people by their appearances. “I’m in the art history program as well.”

“That’s cool.”

“I’m in the literature program,” Anna sighed. “Though it seems like I may be in the minority.”

“No, there’s a cool dude in that program.” He pointed to a skinny guy who was sitting on a chair playing with his phone. “That dude. I forget his name—Mike or Paul or something. He’s in the lit program as well.”

Anna looked over at him. “Figures,” she muttered as she took in his nerdy appearance.

“I heard that they are going to make us all take a lit and art class this year, though.” He made a face. “They’re trying to expand the vision and learning experience of the program.”

“But what if we’re not interested in the other stuff?” I frowned, slightly upset at the news. I had come to learn about the great art pieces of Europe, not about books.

“They think it’s all connected. At least that’s what that professor said on Friday.” He shrugged. “He seemed like he was all about it. This way, art and books can infiltrate every part of our lives. They’ll be like the air we breathe. That’s what he said. Or maybe that’s what he hopes.” Jason shrugged. “Didn’t you hear him?”

“I kinda missed the actual talk.” My face flushed. Damn Anna and Max!

“Oh.” Jason grabbed another breadstick. “You didn’t miss much.”

“Yeah, just the fact that the whole program is changing.”

I turned away to look at the other people in the group. It looked like everyone had already formed their own cliques. There were a bunch of obviously rich girls. I could tell from their clothes that they didn’t shop at Target and Forever 21 like Anna and I did. There were some obviously nerdy girls, all wearing glasses and standing around, barely talking. Most of the guys were with the rich beautiful girls, aside from the nerdy lit guy, who was sitting down, and Sebastian, who was chatting with a very obviously drunk Henrietta.

“It’ll be cool, Lola. We’ll get to take classes together.” Anna smiled and then leaned towards me, whispering in my ear, “Now scat. You’re bringing down the mood.”

“Oh, now you don’t need me.” I rolled my eyes, and she laughed.

“Go find your Prince Charming.”

“I’m not looking for a Prince Charming,” I retorted and flushed as I thought of Xavier and how mad he had made me.

It had been a day since our night together, but I couldn’t stop thinking about our passionate lovemaking. I should hate him for the words he had said to me, but I’d always been a glutton for punishment. I wondered where he was at that very moment. Maybe he was on a date with a model or something. Only this time, he’d be whispering sweet nothings in her ear and telling her how beautiful she was. He wouldn’t be offering her money for her time.

“Ass,” I muttered to myself as I thought about him again.

“What?” Anna looked at me in confusion, and I shook my head.

“Nothing. I’m going to the bar to get a drink. Do you want anything?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I’m good.”

“Okay.” I walked away and wondered how long Anna was going to keep up her new no-drinking policy. I made my way to the bar and looked up at the list of beers and lagers they had available.

“What’s your poison?” a voice whispered in my ear, and I felt a warm hand on my back. I jumped and turned quickly to see who was being so familiar with me.

“Oh, hi, Sebastian.” I blushed as I looked into his handsome face. It really was unfair how beautiful he was, with his clear luminescent eyes and long lashes.

“I saw you come over for a drink. I figured I would come as well.”

“Oh, okay. That’s good.”

“I’m boring you, aren’t I?” He laughed heartily, and I wondered if he had issues since I had no idea what was so funny.

“Not really.” I smiled and turned back to look at the drink menu.

“Let me buy you a drink.”

“Oh, no, that’s okay.” I shook my head.

“But come on. I want to. What would you like?”

“I think I’ll have a Guinness.”

He looked at me in surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“I didn’t know girls liked Guinness. I thought you all preferred the fruity drinks.”

“The fruity drinks? Really?” I smiled at him, hiding my annoyance well. What was with these guys in Europe?

“You know, Sex on the Beach, Cosmopolitans, Long Island Teas or whatever they’re called.”

“I think that I’m going to ignore that you said that.” I laughed.

“I put my foot in my mouth, didn’t I?” He looked mad at himself. “I know that I have the propensity to be an ass because my brother is the king of jackasses.” And then he smiled to himself.

“Oh?”

“Well, he’s a prince, but yes, he’s a jackass.”

“He’s a prince of jackasses or he’s a prince?” I asked, confused.

“Well, he—”

“Lola, there you are.” Anna came running up to me. “Jason just asked me out on a date. Oh, my God, can you believe it? I have a date already. A real date!”

“Anna, I’m talking.” I was astounded by how rude she was being tonight.

“I’m sorry.” She looked at Sebastian and smiled at me. “He’s cute.”

“Anna!”

“Sorry, but I didn’t want you to miss out.” She made a face. “Not after that ass from last night.”

“Anna, I think we should leave now.” I grabbed her arm and squeezed hard.

“No. We just got here.”

“You’re acting crazy,” I hissed.

“But I need to get to know Jason better.”

“I thought he already asked you out on a date?”

“Well, not really. He asked me if I wanted to go and smoke pot with him.” She paused and made a face. “Okay, maybe he really asked me if I had any pot to smoke with him.”