Page 28 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

Coming to a stop, Jackson looked over at her and grimaced. ‘Oh, she really does not. We both agreed it wasn’t working. Besides, she quickly got with someone else.’

‘And she’s still with this boyfriend?’ Both agreed? Laura would bet her last pound on the fact Evie hadn’t wanted the relationship to be over.

‘Well, no, they broke up about a month afterwards.’ Jackson shook his head. ‘But Evie does not have still have feelings for me.’

‘You just keep telling yourself that.’ Laura laughed. It felt good to be able to have a laugh with Jackson. Yes, for not the first time, she was actually glad she’d bought the inn right next to him. ‘Do you know something?’

‘I know a lot of things.’ Jackson pushed out his chest, his expression serious but his lips twitching. ‘But enlighten me.’

‘When I first opened the door of Pennycress to find you standing there with your welcome basket, I never in a millionyears thought I’d be saying this now, but I’m actually pretty pleased you’re here in Meadowfield.’

‘You are?’

‘Yep. I am. I mean, there’s still a little bit of me which is beyond annoyed I don’t get to have my completely fresh start.’ She held her thumb and forefinger millimetres apart. ‘But if someone had to be here, I’m glad it’s you.’

Jackson stopped and looked at her, his eyes illuminated by the light of the moon. ‘If it means anything, I’m pleased you’re here, too.’

Laura glanced down at the ground before meeting his gaze, his blue eyes holding hers, the world around them coming to a stop.

Blinking and breaking eye contact, Jackson pointed forward. ‘We’d best get home. Billy is dropping Eden off before school again tomorrow morning so I need to make sure I get up in time to cook her something nice for breakfast as well as get set for work.’

‘Right. Yes. Homeward bound.’ What had just happened between them? That look. That hadn’t been a friend’s look.

As they began walking again, Laura looked up at the moon. It was full and hanging low in the sky, its white glow lighting the street ahead of them with an unearthly radiance. It must have just been a friend’s look. This was Jackson. He was her brother’s best friend, a family friend, her friend. Nothing else. Just a… friend.

With his eyes fixed firmly on the path ahead of them, Jackson kicked at a stone, watching as it ricocheted off the low garden wall to their right and rolled to a stop perilously close to a blue Mercedes.

Laura looked across at him quickly before focusing ahead again. She needed to bring the conversation back to life, to feel normality again. She needed to suppress the feelings of lustwhich were growing in the pit of her stomach. If that was what they were. Which, of course they clearly weren’t. She couldn’t be feeling that way towards him, towards Jackson, could she?

Pushing all thoughts of how she felt about him from her mind, she laughed. ‘What are you cooking for breakfast then? You might as well tell me, so I don’t need to stand out in the front garden and sniff the air.’

‘Ooh, I was thinking French toast.’ Jackson plunged his hands in his pockets and grinned, seemingly glad of a chance to talk about what he loved most, cooking.

‘Fancy! You know, I’m still not quite sure what French toast actually is.’ She felt her shoulders relax. ‘I used to be convinced it was just a posh name for eggy bread.’

Dropping his jaw, Jackson gave a dramatic gasp. ‘I can’t believe you just said that! That needs to be rectified as soon as possible. One day I’ll make you some.’

As they came to a stop in front of Pennycress, Laura raised her eyebrows at him. ‘Is that a promise?’

‘Of course.’ Jackson ran his fingers through his hair.

‘Great.’ Laura glanced towards the gate as heat flooded across her neck towards her face. She needed to get inside. Tugging off her scarf, she turned and fumbled with the gate latch. ‘See you around.’

‘Yes, see you. And don’t worry about the weird reaction from that group of women. I’ll try to get the intel at work tomorrow.’ Jackson stepped forward and clicked up the latch with ease, his fingers brushing against hers on the cold iron gate.

‘Great. That would be great. Super great, thanks.’ What was this? A ‘squeeze as many “greats” into one conversation as she could’ competition? His fingers brushing against hers… had that been intentional? Of course it hadn’t. He was Richie’s best mate, a family friend, a friend. She repeated the mantra in her head as she walked down the garden path, the lavender stillbrushing against her ankles, the sweet earthy perfume filling the cold night air, but fewer strands of unruly ivy tangling around her trainers after all the gardening she’d been doing. Yes, think about the gardening, Laura. There was still so much to do. The flowerbeds needed to be replanted, the willow tree needed cutting, trimming, pruning, bulbs…

‘Laura?’ Jackson’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Slowly turning, she hoped the moon’s glow and the light from the streetlamp behind weren’t enough to show just how quite bright red her face was. Although she felt so hot that quite possibly her skin had taken on a glow of its own. She dug in her pockets, drawing out the purple plastic teddy keyring before gripping it in both hands. ‘Yes?’

‘Your scarf.’ Taking a few long strides down the garden path towards her, Jackson stood in front of her, the scarf draped across his hands. ‘It must have fallen.’

‘Oh, right. Thank you.’ She glanced down at her bunched hands; the teddy digging into her palms, suddenly a little unsure of what she might do if she were to reach out to take her scarf. Why was she feeling like this about him?

Standing there, a mere few inches away from her, Jackson tilted his head before reaching forward and gently laying the scarf around her neck, the two ends still in his grasp as he stood in front of her.

Laura looked into his eyes. His pupils were dilated, his irises deep and dark in the moonlight. She could almost feel the air between them tingle with electricity before Jackson dropped the ends of her scarf and stepped back quickly, the spell dissipating.

---