Just then, the door opened, and Naomi stepped inside, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice soft and filled with fake innocence. “Is this my fault? Is that why you’re fighting?”
I rolled my eyes, my patience with her completely gone.
“I didn’t mean to cause trouble,” Naomi continued, her voice trembling as if she were on the verge of tears. “I just… I was so hurt when I found out Hannah cheated on you. You’re like a brother to me, Oliver. I couldn’t keep it to myself.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides, my anger boiling over. I stepped forward, my voice shaking with rage. “You’re the one cheating with him!” I shouted. “You’re the one ruining us!”
After I slapped Naomi, she started crying immediately, clutching her cheek like I’d done something unspeakable.
“How dare you?” Oliver yelled, stepping in front of her. He shoved me back with enough force to make me stumble.
“How dare you hurt Naomi! She just got out of the hospital!”
I straightened, glaring at him. “Of course, you’d defend her,” I said sharply. “That’s all you ever do. I’m done with this, Oliver. I’m done with you. If you want her so badly, go be with her. We’re over.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “You can’t break up with me. You can’t live without me.”
I let out a short, bitter laugh. “No, Oliver. You’re the one who can’t live without me. And I’ll prove it.”
I turned to leave, my bag in hand. As I reached the door, I heard him behind me, his voice calm and dismissive as he spoke to Naomi. “Don’t worry, she’ll get over it. She always does. Just like before. It’s just another one of her tantrums.”
His words hit me harder than anything else that night. For a moment, I froze, remembering all the times I’d been like that—angry at him, only to apologize later, even when he was at fault. I had always come back, always forgiven him.
At first, I thought Oliver loved me. I really did. He used to hold my hand in crowded rooms, kiss my forehead when I felt insecure, and tell me I was the most important person in his life. There were moments when I believed we were perfect—like the time he surprised me on my birthday with a picnic at the park or when he spent an entire day helping me study for my finals. I thought he cared, thought he wanted me in his life.