You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 367

Nina stared at her phone, the call cutting off leaving her with nothing but silence.

She pulled her car over, yanked at the high collar of her sweater, and switched off the heater. The warm air inside just made her feel even more agitated.

It was all too much. Everything was unfolding exactly how Patricia said it would.

Was Patricia really pulling the strings, or was this just how people were? Nina couldn’t tell, but either way, she hated it.

She called Patricia.

At that moment, Atticus stepped out into the yard for a cigarette. He and his niece had been chatting, nothing too deep.

Patricia’s phone rang. Atticus wandered off toward Grandma’s vegetable garden, smoke curling in the cold air as he walked between rows of winter greens.

Patricia picked up, and Nina’s voice came through, sharp and direct. “Did you set all this up?”

Patricia didn’t even hesitate. “Do you really need to ask me that, Nina? Aren’t you tired of pretending?”

“Then why is everything always under your control?”

“I just get people, Nina. It’s New Year’s, I’ve got better things to do than meddle in your family drama. Maybe you should ask yourself if things aren’t just turning out the way I expected.”

“Nina, to Joseph, you’re just a pawn. Sending you to Theo was just another one of his moves.”

Patricia hung up, snorted, and muttered, “Idiot.”

Atticus wandered back. “Who are you calling an idiot?”

Patricia shrugged. “Just some girl you know. Ben’s daughter.” She gave him the rundown.

Atticus listened, frowning. “A father treating his daughter like that? Her parents have to know what’s happening.”

Patricia sighed. “It’s a shame. She’s just too green to see it yet.”

That night, the Parsons’ place was bright and lively. The whole family was together, chatting and laughing.

Upstairs, Patricia plugged her phone in to charge and left it on her nightstand. Before she headed back down, she texted Oliver to let him know her phone was charging.

It wasn’t until almost midnight that she finally went back up.

She’d just finished her shower and flopped onto her bed, scrolling through a bunch of unread messages. She was about to reply when Maggie walked in, Chelsea trailing close behind as usual.

The three of them sprawled out on the bed, talking about everything and nothing, late into the night.

She ran a hand through her hair, knelt down, and picked one up, reading the handwritten wishes on the front.

She sighed in relief. At least the Parsons family was still together. Things could be worse.

By eight thirty, she’d just finished getting ready when her phone started blaring from the nightstand.

Seeing Oliver’s name, her heart skipped a beat.

Crap. She’d forgotten to text him back last night.

“Morning,” she said, picking up.

“Morning.” Oliver’s voice was distant, a little cold.

“Were you busy last night?” he asked.

“Not really. We were just talking and I forgot to message you back,” she admitted.

He was quiet for a moment. “So you had time to talk to everyone else but not me, huh?”