Behind Closed Doors: The Arrangement

Deciding to move in together with Kerri was easy, but surviving a lay off during a competitive economy has proven much more difficult for Tyler, and as a result they are now struggling to pay their rent. Tyler swallows his pride and asks his landlord, David, for leniency. To Tyler’s surprise, David agrees to give them time to work out their financial issues. But when Tyler finds evidence that someone was listening to him and Kerri having sex, he questions David’s motives for granting them an extension. Is he letting them live rent free in exchange for listening to them making love? And, worse, can Tyler live with that arrangement?

Approximate length: 11,500 words (a short story)