"What do you mean?" I queried, acting clueless.

"What I mean is last night when you were in my arms telling me that you did not want me to let you go." He grumbled.

Even through the phone, I could feel the tension stirring inside him. I imagined his jaw ticking and his fist clenching.

Wrapping my free arm around myself, I lied through my teeth "I took more pills than I should have last night. I do not remember any of that. I went to bed after our conversation in the bedroom."

Stone chuckled humourlessly. It was stained. I could feel his anger through the phone.

He stated, "You are the worst liar."

My mouth twitched so I covered it with my hand before I took another deep breath.

"Where are you?" He asked sternly.

"I can't—" I tried to plead.

"Where are you?" He repeated and it sounded less like a request and more of a commandment.

The phone shook in my hand as I lowered it from my ear. I walked over and thrust the mobile into Brennan's chest before walking over to the stairs of the Armstrong's porch and sitting down.

Lana was quick to join me as she sat down and put her arm around my shoulder.

"What happened?" She asked gently.

I watched as Brennan paced the front yard while he talked into the phone as I answered "Last night, I let the truth slip out."

She tilted her head in confusion.

"All I could think about was about how much I missed him. I had a moment of weakness and I told him the truth." I told her.

"That you do not really want him to go?"

Nodding, I turned my attention back to Brennan as he made his way over to us.

"Stone is on his way." He informed us as he put his phone back into his pocket.

Lana shook her head at him "If Ella does not want to see him then you both need to respect that."

"Stone knows what you are doing." Brennan accused "You are trying to push him away until he finally gives up and leaves."

I did not deny it.

"Ella, You could kill him and he would still come back for more." He stated like it was a matter of fact "He is never going to give up. You can not take his only source of happiness away from him."

The bold statement left me speechless.

Brennan did not stop there because he added "He has only known you a matter of months but it feels like he has been in love with you all of his life."

I did not want to hear anymore so I stood up and announced "I need a glass of water."

I felt a lot more stronger physically. The walk from the porch l to the kitchen did not tire me out. However, I did feel emotionally exhausted and mentally drained.