= Chris POV =

Jenny and I went at it like rabbits. I don’t know how many times we did it; I lost count. I ordered delivery and sent a very exhausted Jenny to get the pizza in a robe that was just thick enough to cover everything, and then we did it again.

I had just about gotten all my frustration out of my system when I heard something I did not want to hear. Like obviously, Sarah had to come back from work at some point, right? Why in the world hadn’t I stopped earlier?

I jumped, scrambling to pull on some pants. Jenny sat up in surprise as I threw on a wifebeater and stumbled to the door, swinging it open just in time to see a tearful Sarah dragging her suitcase to the lift.

“Wait, where—” I started.

“It’s ok, I can see that I’m in your way,” Sarah said, wiping away tears as she pushed the lift button.

“No, I… where are you going to go?” I asked.

Sarah took a pause and then said as she wiped at her eyes, “My car? I went to get it and—”

I sprang forward and grabbed her suitcase. “You can’t live in your car. I mean, you can? But it’s not safe around here. We have a lot of car break-ins, and you could get hurt.”

“Yeah, but I can’t live here, clearly there is already someone else paying rent,” Sarah said wryly.

I paused. Paying rent?

“I know you tore up the agreement, but I sent you it over the text. Don’t worry, I’m sure someone else out there will accept my terms. It’s fine,” Sarah said and laughed nervously.

“Sarah… I tore it up because it is a dumb contract. Are you seriously willing to do the things that you wrote on that contract for a stranger?” I snapped, my grip on Sarah’s suitcase tightening as I tried to hold back my anger. Why couldn’t she see that she was putting herself in danger?

Sarah bit her lip and ran a hand through her hair, averting her eyes. She was staring holes into the suitcase in my hand, but I had no intention of letting it go and just watching her walk off, homeless and… into someone else’s arms?

“Actually, this was all a joke,” she sighed and reached out for her suitcase. “You see—”

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to me. “This is not a joke. You, being homeless, asking people to let you stay with them in exchange for sex, this is a huge red flag. I’m not going to let you just… sleep around with just anyone for lodging.”

Sarah suddenly smiled weakly and looked down at her feet. “What I meant to say was—”

“Just stop. Just wait.” I cut her off again and pushed her against the door of my apartment. I whipped out my phone and checked my messages. She sent me some goofy messed-up PDF with all sorts of strange edits to it; however, there was a part for an electronic signature. I quickly filled up my name and signed it off. I forwarded the finished document to Sarah.

“There, it’s done. You didn’t even know the correct address of my apartment, but consider this as done. Since you are so certain that the only way you can stay at another person’s house is through this weird contract, I’m going to make you regret ever asking me—or anyone else—to sign it,” I said, showing the signed contract to Sarah’s face.

Sarah gulped as she looked from the contract to me. “Regret?” she asked.

“Yes, regret. If you admit that this contract is a stupid idea, then I’ll stop holding you to it. That’s the only way out of this arrangement,” I said and dragged her suitcase and her back into the apartment.

Jenny wandered out of my bedroom, covering herself up with the robe.

“Umm, hi, I’m Jenny,” Jenny said with a little wave as she saw Sarah standing awkwardly in the doorway.

“Hi, I’m Sa—” Sarah started, but I grabbed Sarah by the elbow and dragged both her and her suitcase to her room.

“Unpack. We will talk in an hour. I have to send Jenny back home,” I told Sarah and shoved both the suitcase and my new “tenant” into her room and slammed the door behind her. I put my head on the door and just stayed there for a second. What the hell was I doing right now? Why was I so worked up? I needed to get a grip!

“Umm… Chris?” I heard Jenny say behind me.

“Right, sorry, umm, I think you better go. I’ll send you back,” I said and pushed myself off the guest room door.

Jenny looked from me to the door, then she smiled. “I think I’ll just call my ex. She’ll be here in no time. You… You need to sort this out. And also have a bath. We both have a… sheen,” Jenny said and grinned, then turned around and went to my room to get dressed.

I looked at myself. Wifebeater stained with sweat and black pants. A thin layer of sweat on my skin. This was not how I ever wanted to look in front of Sarah, and I touched her in this state!

I turned back to the door and knocked on it.

“Ummm… I’m gonna go have a shower. Let’s umm… Let’s talk over dinner. K?” I said through the door.

“Yup!” I heard a soft reply from the other side of the room.

I put my hand on the door and closed my eyes. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to act like my usual cheerful, happy-go-lucky Chris that I usually was in front of her, but for some reason, the thought that someone else—anyone else—was to see that contract of hers, no matter how silly it was, hurt me. I would rather play into her charade than know that someone else is, well, touching her and doing things to her, without love or care or concern about her feelings or what she wants… I just couldn’t stand it.