The cold was the first thing Eric had to get used to. Even in early fall, Fairbanks had a bite to it that cut through his jacket like it was nothing. He had barely finished hauling the last of his boxes into his new place when he heard a knock at the door.

Eric wiped his hands on his jeans before opening it. Two men stood on his porch, both bundled up in jackets, scarves, and gloves—though one looked like he needed them a lot more than the other.

“Hey there, new neighbor,” the taller of the two greeted with a friendly grin. He had dark hair, a strong build, and a relaxed confidence about him. “Name’s Nelson. We live next door.” He gestured to the smaller guy beside him. “This is Max.”

Max was shorter—way shorter—and had blonde hair that peeked out from under a beanie. He had a boyish face and an easy smile. “Welcome to the neighborhood! Thought we’d introduce ourselves before the winter traps us all inside for six months.”