Page 79 of Catching My Dreams

“It’s a delusional disorder where someone believes, without any evidence, that a person loves them,” the detective continued. “He believes Ella wants to be with him, and he’s probably convinced himself that the only reason she didn’t return his affections in July was because he hurt someone she cares about.”

“That sounds about right,” Ella said quietly.

The man sent her a sympathetic look. “He probably thinks you’re a bit angry at him but you’ll come around now that he’s apologized.”

“He said everyone was turning me against him,” she explained, sparing a quick glance at Noah.

The detective hummed thoughtfully. “That would fit with the erotomania. He doesn’t believe that you would come to resent him of your own volition. It’s the people around you that have made you angry with him.”

Ella pressed her lips together. What he was saying only made her fears more rational.

“I’m worried he’ll go after Noah,” she told the detective, unable to look at the man beside her and meet his eyes. “Brett seemed convinced that he’s the reason we’re not together.”

Perez looked between the two of them, his eyebrows pinched together. “I wouldn’t put it past him.” His gaze settled on Noah. “Have you noticed anything unusual in the last few weeks? Any unfamiliar cars parked outside your house?”

“No,” Noah replied, but he and Ella both knew that Brett didn’t need to sit in a car outside his house to spy on him.

“Keep an eye out,” the detective said. “If you see anything suspicious, call the police. Better safe than sorry.”

Noah nodded. “Okay.”

“The same goes for you,” he said to Ella. “He’s progressed well past the stalking stage, and we already know he’s dangerous.”

The man had no idea.

“Sir,” a female police officer said from the doorway. She’d been the one who’d given Ella sugar water to combat shock and the one who’d taken photographs of the faint red bruise on her cheek. “There’s an Asher, Riley, and Chris here. Said they’re friends of Miss Montgomery.”

Ella frowned.

“I texted them,” Noah said quietly, for only her to hear. “I didn’t realize they’d all come straight here.”

“Oh.” She blinked in surprise. She wasn’t shocked that Asher had come running, but the other two weren’t exactly a given.

“I think we’re done here anyway,” Detective Perez said, snapping his notepad closed and standing up from Ella’s blue reading chair. “We’ll need to take photographs of the bathroom and bedroom and collect any evidence. Do you have somewhere else you can stay tonight?”

“I don’t kno—.”

“She can stay with me at my dad’s house,” Noah interjected.

Ella turned to him with a frown. “I can’t ask your family to do that,” she argued.

“My dad insisted,” he replied with a sheepish shrug and a nod to the phone in his hand. “Apparently, Riley was with him when she got my message.”

Ella’s lips parted to tell him she’d make another plan, but then she remembered her empty bank account. She couldn’t stay at a hotel. She couldn’t even afford to buy a coffee.

“Great,” Perez said as though the matter was already settled. “Stay safe, and call me if you think of anything else.”

“Thank you,” Ella said, standing up with Archie still happily lounging in the cradle of her arms. “Can I grab some clothes from my room?”

“You can borrow some things from Riley,” Noah suggested when the detective hesitated. “You’re about the same size.”

Ella would need to buy a toothbrush at the very least, but she supposed it could have been worse. It wasn’t as though she would have wanted to sleep in her house that night anyway.

“We need Archie’s food and lead,” Ella said before she and Noah could reach the front door.

“I’ll grab some things for you,” the female officer offered. “You two should go say hi to your friends. They looked seconds from storming in here to see you.”

“Thank you,” Noah replied. “That would be great.” He placed a hand on Ella’s back and opened the front door.

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