By then my mother's surgery was already over.
Thank God she was all right.
It was only later that I found out Naomi had spent that whole time at the movies with Sebastian.
That was the first time I ever lost my temper with her.
She cried and swore up and down that nothing like that would ever happen again.
But later I learned the truth.
Her promises were only true for the single second they left her mouth.
In practice, nothing changed at all.
I gritted my teeth and dragged myself up off the ground.
Every step sent a stabbing pain through my knee.
I don't even know how I made it back.
By the time I finally limped home through the pouring rain, three hours had passed.
The living room was lit up bright.
Naomi was already back.
She was sitting on the couch in fresh, clean pajamas, smiling radiantly into her phone's camera.
“It gets cold at night, so remember to keep yourself covered when you sleep. You catch a chill so easily.”
Her voice was soft and coaxing as she repeated the reminder, fussing over him.
I didn't have to guess who was on the other end. It was her foster brother, Sebastian.
Only after she hung up did she turn around.
Her gaze traveled down from my still-dripping hair and stopped on my knee, which was still oozing blood.
Naomi frowned.
“Didn't I tell you to take an Uber home?”
“How did you get yourself into this state?”
“Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and go clean yourself off.”
“You've tracked dirt all over the rug by the door. That's Sebastian's favorite handmade wool rug.”
Her frown deepened, her eyes full of dismay and irritation.
In that moment, no rain outside could ever be as cold as my heart.
My girlfriend looked at the wound on my knee and felt nothing.
But over one rug I'd dirtied, she acted as if the sky were falling.
It wasn't until I'd taken a hot shower that the stiffness in my limbs began to ease.
Naomi was waiting outside the door with the first-aid kit.
Seeing my blank expression, she sighed, pulled me over, and sat me down on the couch.
“Raymond, aren't you being childish?”
“Getting jealous over a kid, and now you're pulling stunts to make yourself look pitiful?”
Her tone was scolding, half-fond.
I couldn't really blame her for thinking that way.
I used to believe Naomi treated Sebastian, a foster brother with no blood ties to her, better than she treated me, her actual boyfriend.
And it was true I'd been jealous of Sebastian more than once.
I'd done plenty of childish things, trying to get Naomi's attention.
But this time, it really wasn't that.
And the "kid" she kept talking about was twenty-four this year, a college graduate.
Still, I didn't say a word.
There was no point.
When someone cares about you, even a slight frown puts them on edge.
When someone doesn't, you could hang yourself and she'd just think you were on a swing.
“All right, I know today upset you. Don't be in a mood.”
“Here. A present for you.”
Naomi handed me a square velvet gift box, trying to win me over.
There was a small, smug curve to her lips, as if she was certain I'd love it.
I recognized the logo on it at a glance. It was from my favorite car brand.
My numb heart still gave an involuntary little jump.
Not long ago, I'd suggested we replace my car.
The one I drove was almost ten years old now, with a lot of worn-out parts.
At the time, Naomi had turned me down without a second thought.
“Why replace it? The car still runs, doesn't it?”
I was disappointed, but I never brought it up again.
