Winters are slow in Siren's Point.

For Nils Lee, that means solitude, tending his chickens, and minding his own. It means days of silence. For Oliver Martin, the season brings a different, unique set of challenges: home repairs and loneliness.

Neighbors and coworkers, Nils and Oliver are together more often than they are apart. It's not enough, though, and both of them wish for more. More time, more companionship, more intimacy. Unsure of how to ask for it, they simply move forward as they are, ignoring the attraction growing between them.

Oliver knows he can be a lot. His personality, his energy, his inability to talk or think in a straight line. All of it, too much for most people, and certainly too much for quiet, calm Nils.

Nils has spent his life choosing silence. A partner was never in his future. And, until Oliver moved in next door, he might have said that life was perfect for him. Now, he wishes the short distance between their houses didn't exist, and Oliver was always near enough for Nils to hear him singing.

When a massive winter storm hits Siren's Point, the choice about whether to close that last bit of space is made for them. With snow falling outside and a fire burning, Oliver and Nils find out there is more than one way to stay warm during winter.

Contains mature content. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.