A knock at the door and then Brennan walked in with a frantic facial expression "Dad, the guy on the phone wants to speak with you."

Turning around to face his son, Mr Lewis sorted his files before closing his briefcase and making his way to the door.

The older man turned around at the door and gave me a last wave "I will see you soon, Ella."

Brennan hurried across the room. Before I could consider what he was about to do, he sat on my bed and threw his arms around as he enveloped me in a tight hug.

I put my arms around him instantly and tried to bite down my hiss at the pain.

"Shit!" He jumped back but remained seated on the bed "Sorry. I did not mean to hurt you. I have just been so worried."

I smiled and for the first time that day, it was a genuine one.

"It is okay." I reassured, "I would take that hug over the pain any day of the week."

He tilted his head while having a quick once-over at my condition "How are you?"

"I am fine." I told him before asking "So what brings you here?"

"What brings me here?" He replied while narrowing his eyes, but his soft smile remained as he spoke "I am here because you are my Little Ella. You are like my little sister, and I love you. I believe without Lana or even without Stone, we would still be best friends."

"I love you too, Lover Boy."

Brennan stayed quiet for a while before he let out a chuckle "You gave it hard to Stone on the beach. I wish I could throw a shoe at him and not face any repercussions."

I felt like I had to justify myself "I was just so upset, and I felt like I had been kept in the dark. He had so many opportunities to tell me. I had to hear everything from Chase. I wanted to hear it from him. I wanted Stone to explain it to me."

He nodded like he understood.

"You were there that day at the locker when Chase and I were arguing. He was laughing at me and trying to insinuate that Stone was sneaking off to see some other girl." I explained "No doubt you told Stone everything that happened between Chase and I. So why did Stone not tell me then?"

"What would the reality be of that being the truth?" Brennan countered back with "Stone would never even think about another girl."

I kept quiet and played with my hospital gown neckline.

"I do not think that moody fuck ever stops thinking about you. Period." He added.

"I know he would not cheat but I am just saying that he could have told me the truth."