Page 7 of Dragged Home for Christmas

“Mike? I know that face. What’s on your mind?”

He gestured to the apartment. “The lease is almost up on this place. So… who says we have to renew it?”

It was Ashley’s turn to blink. “Huh?”

Mike sighed. “It seems I have a house in Provincetown. I own it outright. So why pay rent here when we could live there?”

Boston hadn’t worked out for him. Maybe Provincetown would.

“You’re suggesting we move there? Permanently?”

“Why not? What have we got to lose?”

“But what about jobs? What about taxes on the place? What happens if—?”

“We’re going nowhere here. Time to try something different. We can find jobs if necessary, and as for the taxes? Well, we’ll figure that out. But we can’t stay here anymore. We’re wasting our time and our potential. We’re already at rock-bottom. In the words of a song, the only way is up. And maybe the start of that journey is in Provincetown.”

“P-town, sweetie. If you’re gonna live there, call it P-town. Much shorter, less of a mouthful.” Ashley’s eyes sparkled. “Well,you’regoing to fit right in. I’m keeping my fingers crossed thatallthe men living there aren’t gay.”

“Then you’ll do it?”

She chuckled. “You just said it. What have we got to lose? That’s if you’re sure you want me as a roommate.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “Duh. Okay, so I have no idea how big this place is, but I’m pretty sure there’ll be room enough for someone your size. Even if it’s a closet under the stairs.”

“Hey, I’m notthatsmall.” She straightened. “So I repeat… when do we leave?”

“As soon as I can get my hands on a U-Haul.”

Ashley pushed the sleeves of her sweater up her forearms. “Then we’d better start packing. I’ll go to the U-Haul on Beacon Street. That’s where I got my packingboxes from when I moved in here.” She glanced at her surroundings. “It’s been good, but it’s time for a change.”

Mike felt the same way. Cape Cod wasn’tthatfar from Boston: he’d still be close enough to visit his parents.

Except I haven’t visited them much this last year.

He knew why, of course. The previous Christmas had pushed a wedge between him and his dad. They weren’t estranged, nothingthatserious, but relations had definitely cooled.

Maybe a change of scenery will improve the situation. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, isn’t that what they say?

He couldn’t wait to see what Uncle Nick had left him.

Then he remembered. The bequest came with extras, namely, squatters.

Not for long.

Mike had a new home, and they’d better get the hell out of it.

Chapter 4

Thursday, October 31

Mike peered through the windshield and shivered. “I’m starting to get a bad feeling about this.”

Beside him, Ashley snorted. “It’s just a bit of rain, that’s all.”

“That’s all?Lookat it out there. The only thing we’re missing is the flying cow.”

Ashley chuckled. “Loved that movie.”

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