“You had any good hits on that relationship app currently?” He is aware of I deleted it the minute Stef appeared twice at me, however Lukas doesn’t ever let the reality get in the best way of being a bellend. “You possibly can inform me when you’ve discovered somebody tall, darkish, and thrilling who’s dying to get your ginger engine revving. Or have you ever actually settled for Cornwall’s most boring farmer?”

There’s nothing boring about Stef. He’s the other, and naturally Lukas is aware of I believe that, a secret he swore he’d maintain ceaselessly. Now I’m glad he put in that app and advised Stef about it, or I wouldn’t be right here. That doesn’t imply Lukas isn’t a dick. It simply means I’m fortunate that he’s at all times in my nook, and that’s how I really feel even when he tempts me to push him down this steep hill we’ve climbed collectively.

“Christ is aware of why you ever had the hots for Stef. I imply I do know he’s enormous and furry, however he’s the worst-looking Luxton. Now you’ll by no means know if I may have been bi-curious in your copper-topped physique.”

I gag, however Lukas solely factors right down to the pasture by the headland the place two puppies ignore John’s brief, sharp coaching whistles to chase Jess, and I ponder in the event that they’re the change he seen. There isn’t the rest completely different under us. I solely see Stef mowing a path for the rehearsal later. Noah follows him on the quad bike till Stef stops and factors too, solely he doesn’t stretch his healed arm up in the direction of me and Lukas. He’s noticed one thing else that shoots in the direction of us.

A helicopter streaks throughout the water. It crests the cliffs, seagulls spiralling because it soars throughout tents prepared for an additional wedding ceremony. An actual one this time.

Christ, I hope all of it works out.

Not solely seagulls spiral as soon as the helicopter passes. My abdomen does too with what I’ve left to test off my record. Solely Noah cuts by that churning. He whoops once more, the sound sturdy and life-filled, proof of fine luck like having Lukas in my nook, till he resumes teasing.

“Inform me, what number of canine are you able to see down there with John?”

“Why?”

Lukas grins, and I maintain in a deep sigh. “Simply puzzled when you wanted a sight take a look at. It might clarify loads about a few of your enormous and furry decisions.”

These puppies now copy what Jess exhibits them, circling the quad bike, and I copy what I discovered after years of watching Stef in motion. I put Lukas in headlock, and I thank fuck I had the possibility to be taught the distinction when he dissolves with laughter. He additionally shortly sobers. “Come on. We’re virtually there.”

He takes the lead then, and I observe, choosing a path like he does between gorse bushes and timber the wind has stunted.

We maintain going, climbing even larger, nonetheless on Luxton land, however barely.

Rocks are the one harvest up right here. Lukas crouches subsequent to a pile. They’re all fist-sized, or possibly heart-size is a greater description for what somebody has stacked on the highest level of Kara-Tir. Lukas counts them whereas mentioning a low level.

“Thirty-six rocks.” He meets my eyes, and this isn’t the child whose enjoyable aspect first made me need to keep right here, or the brother with a gap in his coronary heart that Stef works onerous to not fear about today. It’s a doctor-to-be I see once more. The one who shored us each up in London. He’s nonetheless so stuffed with compassion. “You recognize who leaves these rocks right here, proper?”

I can guess. I can’t communicate although, which Lukas has to note, and it doesn’t matter that this pile of stones marks a Luxton loss, not mine, he acts as if I’m the one it stabs the sharpest. His voice softens. “Stef’s left a stone right here each single month since…” His head hangs, and I do know he’s seen plenty of damaged hearts whereas following his future this summer season, however it has to hit otherwise when it’s household.

He clears his throat. “I do know Stef sits proper right here the place I discovered Dad, then he leaves a stone behind to mark one other month with out him.”

Lukas picks up a rock, turning every tough edge over. In the present day daylight finds a seam of reddish mica, a flame locked contained in the granite.

“Or at the least he used to return up right here each month, Marc. There are the identical variety of stones right here because the final time I counted. That’s the large change I seen. He’s stopped measuring every month. He isn’t counting every day. Have you learnt when that occurred, or why? As a result of I believe I do.”

I can guess, however I nonetheless can’t communicate, so I solely nod.

Lukas units that stone down as extra of Noah’s whooping spirals all the best way up right here to us. It’s faint however laugh-filled as a result of Stef’s completed his mowing. Now he takes a activate the quad bike with Noah behind him, all three canine chasing. He drives quick. A lot quicker than I’d with a fragile passenger, however Noah isn’t fragile identical to Stef isn’t nonetheless marking the previous. He’s moved on, and I’m…

I’m making an attempt.

I nod once more, and it’s Lukas who lands a hand on my shoulder, however it may belong to any Luxton. “I like this alteration in Stef. Hold being his motive for it, yeah? Hold being it and don’t cease.”

Lukas doesn’t want to inform me to do this.

It’s the final field on my guidelines.

* * *

STEF

In fact the coast highway is clogged with camper vans when it’s time to get Noah’s take a look at outcomes. I’m tempted to beep the horn and rev the engine, solely a fast look to my left exhibits a fist round a seat belt together with a set of bleached-white knuckles.

I can’t lie—my coronary heart clenches to see worry on this Land Rover. Marc’s coronary heart should clench too at seeing it on his brother, however he by no means avoids addressing robust stuff with Noah. He throws himself at it headfirst, like I virtually went over the identical cliff we now crawl previous.

“Stef gained’t drive wherever near the sting. You don’t want to fret.”

Supply: www.seynovel.com