You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 364

The weather in Springfield was perfect, but Patricia was sweating through her cardigan, running up and down the stairs as she got things done around the house.

By the time she finally finished, it was almost two in the afternoon. Grandma always took her afternoon nap, so Patricia and Chelsea made sure not to disturb her.

Patricia tugged at her sticky clothes and glanced at Chelsea. “I’m going to go take a shower.”

She headed upstairs and noticed her phone screen lighting up with notifications. Oliver had sent her a bunch of messages.

The first unread one was from 11:30. “Did you have lunch yet?”

Then at noon: “Did you forget your phone?”

12:30: “Pattie? Why aren’t you picking up?”

1:30: “Babe?”

And just a minute ago: “Why are you so cold to me since you got home?”

Patricia’s stomach dropped. She didn’t even bother texting—she just hit record and sent him a quick voice message, hoping it would clear things up.

Barely two minutes later, Oliver was calling her on video.

“What were you so busy with?” he asked, eyeing the wet bangs sticking to her forehead.

Patricia explained, “I was putting up New Year’s decorations, so I didn’t have my phone on me. Don’t overthink it, okay?”

She added, “Since I got home, I’ve been with Grandma. We’ve been decorating and getting the house ready, and my uncle’s coming over this afternoon, so we’ll probably start prepping for dinner soon. I won’t really have my phone with me.”

“I’m not ignoring you, I promise.”

“Stop worrying so much, will you?”

Her rapid-fire explanation made Oliver, who was slouched back in his chair, actually laugh.

He couldn’t help it. Hearing her talk like that, so eager to reassure him, made him feel a little less drunk.

He’d had a lot to drink today. Every year, it was the same—if he wasn’t married, his family would tease him. This year, he was getting teased for not bringing his wife home.

“So you care about how I feel, huh?” he teased.

“Of course I do!” she shot back.

Patricia shot back, “Don’t be gross.”

“I’m going to shower.”

“Go ahead, but don’t hang up.”

Patricia shook her head. He really must have had too much to drink. Did he want her to keep the video on while she showered, like some kind of live broadcast?

She glanced at the screen and saw Oliver propped up on one arm, looking tired with his phone in his hand.

“I’ll text Sara and ask her to bring you some hangover meds, okay?”

“I already took some. Don’t worry about me,” he said. He sounded exhausted, but he answered every one of her questions.

“Are you sure?” Patricia still sounded worried. He didn’t look great.

“Really,” Oliver said, his voice low as he let out a long sigh. “Pattie, I really miss you.”

“Do you miss me?”