Oh hell no. This was exactly what had happened with those squatters a couple of years ago. A random couple with a drug problem who’d been living out of their car moved into one of my vacant rental houses. It had taken months to get them out. Total pain in the ass. I was not dealing with that bullshit again.
Good thing I had a key. I’d get them out before they got comfortable.
CHAPTER 7
Audrey
The carpet was soft.
I laid on my back, looking up at the living room ceiling, and trailed my arms across the floor, like I was making a carpet angel. The rental house was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. It was cute, cozy, clean, and although it was a hair outside my intended budget, the extra expense was worth it. It was already furnished, so I didn’t have to worry about getting new stuff. And there wasn’t a pampered Persian cat to be found.
Cute neighborhood, too. The house next door looked a bit sketchy but there was a big dumpster in the driveway, so maybe it was being torn down or remodeled or something.
My mom had pretended to be surprised that I’d found a place to live already, but I could tell she was relieved. The feeling was mutual. Even aside from the Max and Duchess situation, my relationship with her was always better if we didn’t see each other every day.
“I think we can make this work. What do you think, Max?”
He rolled onto his back, mimicking my posture, his front paws bent like he was playing dead. I gave him a scratch on the belly.
“Yep, this is perfect. Our own space. Sorry there aren’t any kitties to play with but it’s for the best.”
My application had gone through just fine. Annika had sent me a rental agreement and met me after work to give me the keys. The lease was for a year, which felt kind of daunting, but I’d known going in that most places would require twelve months. That would give me plenty of time to look for another job—again—preferably in another city. I’d make the best of this temporary stopover in the mountains, but that’s all it was—temporary.
After a week at my new job, I still felt like I had no idea what I was doing. They already had material for this week’s edition, and Sandra had helped me figure out some ideas for my journalistic debut. I didn’t particularly enjoy the feeling of flailing around at work while everyone there seemed to assume I knew what I was doing. But today was Friday and I was going to leave work at work for the time being. At least I wasn’t unemployed anymore.
“What do you think, should we unpack the rest of the car?” I asked. Max rolled to his side. “And by we, I mean me, since you need all your limbs for walking.”
With a big yawn, he stretched his legs in opposite directions.
“I think that means I should relax first. Maybe poke around the house a little more. That’s good advice.”
I got up and stretched my arms overhead. The living room had a couch and two armchairs around a coffee table. The kitchen was small but fully stocked and there was an eating nook with a view out the back. Down a short hallway were two bedrooms and a small bathroom. The larger bedroom had its own bathroom, which was nice.
I wandered into the bedroom where I’d left my suitcase. The king-sized bed was a bit large for the room but they’d made up for it by choosing narrow bedside tables and a tall dresser that fit in a nook next to the closet. The bathroom was a charming surprise. Tile floor, a nice sized vanity with two sinks, a walk-in shower, and the best part? A freestanding bathtub.
A hot bath sounded so good.
Sure, my car was still full of stuff and I had no groceries, but those sounded like future Audrey problems. I needed a break.
Max jumped up on the bed and curled himself into a dog-ball. Apparently doggie daycare had worn him out today. I turned on the water in the tub and got a towel out of the cupboard. I needed to remember to pick up some bath salts when I went shopping.
Steam rose from the tub as it filled. Temperature felt good. I went back to the bedroom and dug a claw clip out of my toiletries case so I could put up my hair—I didn’t want to have to mess with drying it—and put a pair of clean pajamas on the bed.
I left Max on the bed and shut the bathroom door behind me, in case he woke up and got curious. I didn’t want him thinking he needed a bath too and jumping in with me. It wouldn’t have been the first time.
It felt good to get out of my work clothes. I let my blouse and slacks drop to the floor, along with my bra and panties. I twisted my hair up and secured it with the claw clip. The water was still running but it was deep enough for me to get in comfortably. I checked the temperature one more time. It was just right.