You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 869

“What do you want to drink, Mr. McKee?”

“Anything’s fine.”

Jackson grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and passed it over.

Hector took it, eyeing the takeout container on the dining table. “This is what you’re having for dinner?”

Jackson gave him a wary look. “Mr. McKee, you’re being awfully attentive. It’s starting to freak me out. Just to be clear, I’m straight.”

Hector rolled his eyes. “What are you even talking about? Do I look like I swing that way?”

Jackson just blinked, not bothering to reply.

Hector frowned, getting annoyed. Usually, Jackson never shut up. Why was he suddenly playing mute?

“When did you and Chelsea split up?”

“Right after lunch.”

“She say where she was headed?”

“She did.”

“And?”

“I forgot.”

Hector stared at him, completely at a loss.

Jackson studied him, looking genuinely puzzled. “Seriously, Mr. McKee, since when do you care so much about Chelsea? Are you two that close now?”

Hector sighed. “We’re friends. Am I not allowed to care?”

“Sure,” Jackson said with a shrug. “I never said you couldn’t. Why so touchy?”

Hector nearly choked from frustration. “Call her. Ask where she is.”

“Sure. That’ll be ten grand.”

Hector stared at him. “How much?”

Jackson didn’t even blink. “Ten thousand.”

“Why don’t you just go rob a bank?”

Jackson answered, completely straight-faced. “Robbing banks is illegal.”

“And shaking me down isn’t?”

Before she could even finish rolling her eyes, Jackson’s call came through.

The lab was silent, every little vibration echoing. Chelsea picked up her phone and slipped into the hallway. She hadn’t planned on answering, but five grand was five grand.

They got on the call, both pretending they cared. The whole thing lasted barely five sentences. Each one was worth over two thousand bucks.

“What’s up?”

“I’m in the middle of an experiment. No time to chat.”

“Not my problem. Hanging up.”

Jackson ended the call, looking over at Hector and giving a little shrug.

His face said it all. See? Nothing I can do.

Hector left empty-handed, and even worse, he left feeling totally humiliated.

She’d answer Jackson’s call, but not his? What did she take him for, just a hookup?

The next day, Oliver came back to Riverdale. He’d barely set foot in Cloud Peak, hadn’t even managed to get Patricia settled, when Chelsea showed up, a thermos in her hand.

“Made you some chicken soup. I finally get a day off and you’ve got me running around again.”