You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 767

Those three words, “I can’t accept this,” made Jackson sit up a little straighter. Maybe it was just the old, dim streetlights, but he had to squint to really see the guy standing in front of him.

People said Mr. Lantz was above it all, but he’d taken things he should have refused. People said he was clueless, but he always seemed to know what was going on. So what did he mean by “I can’t accept this”? Was it a clean break, now that everything was done? Or was it a final goodbye, settling old scores before going their separate ways?

Jackson couldn’t even put his feelings into words. All he knew was that Mr. Lantz was a tough nut to crack. Why did he have to guess what another man was thinking? He wasn’t interested in him, not like that. He wasn’t gay. He didn’t care. People always have less patience for someone they’re not attracted to, and that was how Jackson felt about Brandon.

“Mr. Lantz, people build connections by spending time together, whether it’s business or just day-to-day stuff. You’ve got a promising future. You’ll have to come back to Riverdale someday, right?”

Who knew if Brandon’s transfer was a step up or a way to get rid of him? Things changed fast. There was no way to know if the boss who promoted him would still be around when he got back. No way to know if there’d still be a spot for him in Riverdale in two years. In this line of work, nothing was certain. The minute you stepped away, there were plenty of people waiting to take your place. The captain of the detective squad was a sweet gig, after all.

Brandon wasn’t stupid. He could hear the official tone in Jackson’s voice. Sometimes, he thought Jackson was wasted as a bodyguard. The guy handled everything for Patricia perfectly, no matter what it took. Whether it was by the book or totally off the record, Jackson always got things done. He wasn’t exactly a straight-laced guy and definitely had a bit of a rough edge to him, but his record was spotless. He never went looking for trouble.

“Just take it. My boss is really grateful to you, Mr. Lantz. She’d never hurt you. Besides, her wishes are the same as Mr. Martin’s. They both want you to do well.”

Brandon stared at the photo for a long time, lost in thought.

Later that night, Jackson finished up and headed back to Chelsea’s apartment. She had just gotten home too. Marian was carrying dinner out from the kitchen. When she noticed Jackson, she waved him over.

He washed up, sat at the table, and dug into his food. After a couple of bites, he glanced at Patricia and grinned. “If Mr. Padilla ever comes back and sees you living your best life with the three of us, he’s probably going to lose his mind.”