Dreams Can Come True

16. Back home

The door of Bill's apartment squeaked softly as we entered, and the tension in the air was palpable. Bill strode determinedly into the living room, but his pace abruptly slowed when he saw Tom lying on the couch, only covered with a crumpled blanket. A girl lay close to him, her eyes wide with shock. She immediately pulled the blanket tighter around herself, her gaze fixed on Bill and me.
Tom, still surprised, stood up without thinking. I quickly placed my hand over my eyes, but couldn't help but sneak a glimpse. Bill was furious and shouted, "What's going on here?" Tom grabbed a pillow to cover his nudity and shouted back, "Weren't you supposed to sleep at Elise's?"
Bill, with fire in his eyes, reacted, "There's been a break-in at Elise's!" Tom looked shocked. "What?" he exclaimed. "Bill," I said, "maybe we should go to your bedroom for a moment." "Yeah, maybe," grumbled Bill. He took my hand and led me to his bedroom.

In the bedroom, I burst out laughing while Bill looked at me with a serious expression. His furrowed brow and pursed lips betrayed his concern about the unexpected situation. He sighed lightly and said, "Elise, do you think it's fun to catch your brother like this?"
I tried to contain my laughter, but the mischievous twinkle in my eyes gave away my amusement. "You have to admit it was kind of funny," I teased him, knowing that my comment might soften him up a bit.
Bill, still with a serious look, sat down on his bed and muttered, "Hmm." I sat down beside him and tried to lighten the mood. "He's allowed to have his fun too."
Slowly, a small smile appeared on Bill's face, a sign that he could see the humor in the situation. "Okay, I admit it," he said. "It was a funny sight."
A soft knock on the door caught our attention, and Tom appeared with a slight blush on his cheeks. His eyes quickly darted back and forth between Bill and me, as if he wasn't sure how to behave in this awkward situation. "Um, sorry," he stammered, keeping his eyes on the ground.
Bill, however, seemed to have little patience for the slight humor of the situation. "Did it really have to be on our new couch?" his voice tinged with irritation, while the frown on his forehead deepened.
"You have no idea," chuckled Tom, barely concealing his own amusement. But Bill didn't seem to find much humor in the situation. He looked at Tom intently, and I quickly decided to intervene to ease the uncomfortable atmosphere.
"We think David broke in," I addressed Tom. My voice sounded serious, and I looked him straight in the eyes. "Not think," Bill replied resolutely. "We're sure." Tom looked surprised, his laughter slowly fading. "What the hell," he began. "That guy is really messed up. Do you have any idea what he wants?"
I sighed deeply and glanced at Bill, who had furrowed his brow. "I think he just wants me," I said with a hint of bitterness, as Bill came closer and wrapped his arm around my waist. His presence felt like a protective embrace.
"I'll personally make sure he keeps his filthy hands off you," said Bill with determination in his voice. His eyes sparkled with anger, and I felt both scared and reassured by his determination. It was clear that he didn't want to take any risks when it came to my safety.
"We need to seriously think about what we're going to do now," suggested Tom, his voice infused with concern. "We can't just allow David to take over our lives." Bill nodded, his gaze intense. "I don't want you, Elise, to ever be afraid again. Whatever happens, I'll protect you."
"Police?" asked Tom, his concern evident. I shook my head as I looked at him. "No, not yet. I want to figure out what he's planning first." Tom looked at me seriously. "I'll do everything I can to protect you too," he promised sincerely. Bill nodded in agreement.
"Can we actually go back to the living room without finding naked women?" Bill asked with a mocking smile, and suddenly we all burst into laughter. Despite the difficult evening, I felt safe with these two brothers at that moment. "The coast is clear," laughed Tom, bringing a welcome note of lightness amidst all the worries.

Bill suggested getting some drinks, and we gathered in the kitchen. While Tom got the glasses, I caught a moment of concern in his eyes. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly, as if afraid to say the wrong thing.
I took a deep breath and smiled. "I'm okay, Tom. Really. We'll handle this together." He nodded, but I could see that he was still thinking about the threat from David.
Tom's phone rang, and he let out a sigh as he looked at the screen. "Bill," he muttered, and I heard a hint of frustration in his voice. "Mom's been calling me for the tenth time. She's asking why she can't reach you." The sound of the ringing phone filled the room, and I felt a knot in my stomach at the thought of Simone's worried motherly heart.
I looked at Bill, who also had concern on his face. His gaze met mine, and I could see that he had the same realization as I did: our departure from the parental home was far from ideal. Simone, the concerned mother, certainly deserved more than this.
A frown appeared on Bill's face, and he gently slapped his forehead, a sign of frustration. "Damn it," he muttered. "I still owe Mom an explanation." He looked at Tom and gestured to his phone. Tom handed him the device, and Bill hesitantly answered, "Hello, Mom," with a slight hesitation in his voice. He stood up and walked to the window, as if searching for the right words.