You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 313

Patricia stepped out of the shower and spotted Chelsea sprawled across the bed, tablet in hand.

The screen flickered with the latest lab results.

“I never actually asked—how are you liking the new lab?” Patricia asked.

Chelsea didn’t look up, just kept scrolling. “Do I really get a say in that? I’m only there because the big shots decided to take me in. Besides a few senior grad students, everyone else is a PhD. I’m the only one who never finished—my advisor bailed halfway through, so I just kind of... ended up here.”

She sighed. “As soon as I walked in, everyone started pestering me for gossip. I started talking and, somehow, I just broke down crying. So embarrassing.”

Patricia pulled the blanket up to her chin and, in her best Wendy impression, said, “Honestly, it was kind of embarrassing.”

Chelsea blinked, then turned to glare at Patricia.

Patricia quickly yanked the blanket over her face.

Chelsea tossed the tablet aside and lunged, grabbing the blanket and shaking Patricia. “Say that again, I dare you! Say it one more time!”

“You’re killing me! You must really love all this dust in my apartment, huh?”

“I give up, I give up!” Patricia laughed, gasping for air.

...................

The next morning.

When the two of them got up, Maggie was already in the kitchen making soy milk.

“Come sit, girls. Your uncle went out to buy breakfast. Have some soy milk to hold you over—he should be back soon.”

Patricia watched the scene, and out of nowhere, her eyes stung. For just a second, it felt like when her parents were still around.

“Aunt Maggie, when are you and Uncle coming back from the northwest?” she asked softly.

Maggie turned around and caught sight of Patricia’s red eyes. “Soon, sweetheart.”

“If you really miss us, just come out west and visit,” Maggie added with a smile.

Chelsea rolled her eyes. “Yeah, so we can help you feed the sand dunes?”

All between nine-thirty and ten-thirty in the morning.

After a while, Oliver hesitated, then sent a message: “Don’t wear yourself out.”

He was still on edge after what happened last time.

He hesitated to text, knowing Patricia never liked using his money. Maybe it was because she didn’t need it, or maybe she just wanted boundaries.

If he messaged her right then, she might think he was tracking every single thing she bought.

When Patricia saw his text, she suddenly remembered whose card she was using.

She didn’t reply, and the notifications stopped coming.

Oliver realized he’d ruined the moment by trying to be thoughtful.

He rubbed his temples, frustrated.

After a while, he opened his browser and typed, What do you do when your partner is too sensitive?