Page 52 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

Laura took a deep breath in, the aroma of freshly cooked food reminding her that she hadn’t yet eaten. ‘Yum, they smell delicious.’

‘Help yourself. Just let me know what you think.’ Jackson held up a plate. ‘Goats’ cheese and onion chutney bites.’

‘Ooh well, you know what I’m going to be saying about those!’ Taking one, Laura let the tasty combination of flavours fill her mouth. ‘They are absolutely the most delicious thing I have ever, ever eaten.’

Jackson grinned. ‘I thought you’d like them. Goats’ cheese and onion chutney toasties were always your favourite growing up.’

‘You remember?’ She took another bite.

‘Of course I do. I was usually the one making them.’

Laura laughed. Of course he had been. Throughout the months before her exams, she’d hardly left her spot at the dining table, surrounding herself with textbooks, notebooks and revision cards. ‘Do you know something? I probably wouldn’t have eaten anything if you hadn’t made me those.’

‘I know and I couldn’t very well let Richie’s little sis starve, could I? All those hours of revision would have been wasted.’

‘Haha, they would have.’

‘Why don’t you go and join them at the darts board? Show them how it’s done?’ Jackson indicated the group of people playing darts at the far end of the pub.

‘Oh, I don’t think so. I can’t just go and barge in on their game.’ Laura shook her head before taking a mozzarella stick covered in breadcrumbs.

‘Sure, you can. They’re a good group. Catherine, the captain, and her partner, Dan, started the club from scratch last year. They’re decent people and really helped me feel at home here.’

‘I don’t know.’ Laura shook her head. She loved playing darts, but she hadn’t played in years. She’d probably forgotten how. ‘I’m really rusty.’

‘Catherine’s coming over to the bar now. Here’s your chance to talk to her.’ Jackson smiled as a woman joined them.

‘Hi, Jackson. Can we grab another round of drinks, please?’ Catherine glanced at Laura. ‘Hi, you must be Laura? From Pennycress Inn?’

‘Hi, yes, that’s right.’ Maybe Jackson was right, a game of darts would be a nice way to get to know more people.

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‘Yes!’ Raising her hands above her head, Laura jumped up and down. She was the first to get to zero! She hadn’t played darts for years and now she’d won the whole game!

‘Woohoo! We need you on the pub’s team.’ Dan laid his arm over her shoulder.

Laura grinned at him. She may have only met this small group an hour ago but already they were treating her as one of the locals.

‘Yes! You’re on fire, girl!’ Catherine held her hands out. ‘And Dan is right. We need you on our side.’

Giving Catherine a double high-five, Laura grinned. Joining the team would be great. She hadn’t had so much fun in ages, years even. ‘I’d gladly join you.’

‘Fantastic.’ Catherine gave a little dance before collecting the darts from the board. ‘Another game?’

‘I’ll grab another round if we’re playing again.’ Dan headed to the bar.

‘Ooh, here comes Jackson’s stalker.’ Terry, who Laura had learned also played in the pub’s darts team, stroked his beard.

‘Jackson has a stalker? Who?’ Laura frowned.

‘Evie Taunton. The same woman who spread the lies about you.’ Terry pointed across the pub.

Turning, Laura watched as Evie sauntered to the bar on her high heels. What did Terry mean by calling her Jackson’s stalker? Jackson had said they’d dated for a while and it was fairly obvious that she still harboured feelings for him despite them both supposedly ending the relationship amicably, but surely calling her a stalker was a little harsh?

‘Well, I don’t think she’ll be getting much of a reception tonight somehow.’ Catherine handed out the darts. ‘Not if the way you and Jackson have been acting together is anything to go by?’ The other woman looked at Laura over her glasses, a slow grin spreading across her face.

Feeling herself blush, Laura drank the dregs from her wine glass. After not touching a drop of alcohol in months, she felt decidedly tipsy.

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