Nicole hung up the cap and gown that shimmered with a fresh royal blue to signify the primary color of Woodbridge University, a local college in Virginia where she'd spent the last four years studying her ass off to get a degree in criminal justice. She was twenty-three years old and after spending the last few years in a little off-campus apartment with some friends, Nicole was feeling both aggravated and nostalgic upon returning to her parents' house in the suburbs. They got along just fine, though the freedoms that had gone along with renting out her own place were now reeled in a bit tighter.

She was an adult and on the verge of possibly getting her dream job and kick-starting life after college, though she knew any night she preferred to be out on the town her mother's text would surely come in at midnight asking when she would be home. Nicole wasn't completely unappreciative. She knew her parents meant well and that they wouldn't completely hold her back. Still, she dreamed of the day soon when she would be able to move out and possibly buy a place of her own.

Maybe a little condo by the water, she imagined in her daydreams. Still, she had taken her father's advice in moving back home to save some money until that magical day occurred and some high-and-mighty supervisor shook her hand with the phrase, "We'd like to welcome you to our staff."

Soon, Nicole reminded herself. She glanced around her old bedroom and sighed. The nostalgic memories of the old days - high school and before- entered her mind in rapid-fire style and she couldn't help but smile. She remembered the sleepovers with her best friends in that room; getting ready for prom; sneaking in her old high school boyfriend once or twice...

Those were good days too, she knew.

Nicole smiled to herself and sat down on the edge of her bed. It all felt odd. Her former sanctuary felt slightly foreign and she couldn't wholly pinpoint why. Sure, some time had passed but it wasn't that long.

She removed her phone from her pocket and began to shoot her friend Holly a text to see what she was up for the night. Spending just a few, lonely minutes in her old bedroom was already making her feel depressed and so she prayed that some friends would be around to go grab a drink with or maybe a bite to eat.

Nicole let out another sigh and wandered over to the window, flinging it open to let some air in as the late May air grew more humid as the day progressed.

Next door she spotted a man standing behind a grill as smoke filtered up above him in a faint, little cloud as he flipped what she assumed was a burger with a pair of metal tongs.

"Hey, honey."

Nicole jumped at her mother's voice and then snickered at her own jumpiness. "Hey." She pressed her eyebrows together and motioned out the window as her mother entered the room. "Who's that?"

"Oh, I guess it never came up in conversation," her mother said with a shrug, "That's our new neighbor... moved in back in January."

Nicole glanced back out the window and her mother followed her stare.

"I think he's married," her mother teased with a giggle from behind, "And a bit too old for you."

She whipped around and made a face. "I'm not... I'm not checking him out. I'm just asking why there's a stranger in the Wilsons' backyard." Nicole smirked and raised her eyebrows, "Maybe if my mother told me things I wouldn't have to play detective."

"Isn't that what you got your degree in criminal justice for?"

Nicole chuckled, knowing her mother could most certain outwit her in a verbal battle. "And I'm 23 years old. No one's too old for me anymore."

"Well, in that case I hear they just built a nice, new nursing home down the road with plenty of widowed men." She tapped her daughter on the back, "I can drive you there if you'd like."

"No thanks."

The two of them shared a laugh and her mother continued, "Will you be joining your father and I for dinner tonight? We were thinking of doing the Chili's and then heading to a play at the little theater downtown. The kids are putting on Grease."

Nicole smiled and felt her phone vibrate in her hands. She cleared her throat. "It's Holly."

"So, I guess the answer is going to be no," her mother suspected.

"Hmm... um..." She glanced down at her friend's message stating she was working until close at another restaurant in town. Nicole scrunched her nose in disappointment but replied to her mother, "Yeah, I think we're going to grab some appetizers and a few beers."

"Not too many."

"Of course not." Nicole rolled her eyes but smiled again and exchanged a hug with her mother. "I'll be around for awhile so we'll catch up."

"Alright." Her mother kissed her cheek, "Keep in touch."

"Okay," she agreed and then cleared her throat when she turned to go. "Mom, what's his name?"

"Huh?"

"The neighbor," Nicole went on, "I should probably introduce myself since I'm going to be a resident of 45 Harding Drive again."

"Negan," her mother replied, "His name is Negan."

...

Nicole wandered out to the back steps, sweeping her hair into a ponytail as her parents took off for the evening. She had waited for them to go before she popped open a beer - a habit she'd had on most Friday nights over the course of the last four years. Still, she felt a little funny drinking in front of them even though she was closing in on her mid-twenties.

The ice cold beverage tasted better than normal because of the incoming heat. She sighed and leaned her elbows back on the top step of the set of four that led from the back door into the oversized backyard.

As much as Nicole had wanted to have a night out with friends she felt completely content and relaxed on her own. It gave her time to think; to decompress; to become familiar again with her old surroundings.

For a moment she took it all in, sitting there silently as the sun completely lowered itself behind a row of trees that extended for miles beyond the edge of the back yard.

"Karen?" a deep, scratchy voice made Nicole jump for the second time that night. She put a hand on her chest and glanced off to the side when she realized a man had called out her mother's name.

The neighbor, she thought.

Nicole cleared her throat and rose to her feet, leaving the beer on the top step. "No... Nicole." She took a few steps in his direction though he met her just a few feet beyond the steps.

"Nicole?" His features became clear when he stepped into a small, back light beside the door. The man smiled wider revealing a set of perfectly white teeth and dimples making themselves known from beneath a trim beard. "Tim and Karen's daughter?"

She looked down sheepishly and smiled before lifting her eyes to meet his stare. "Yeah."

His eyes shifted to the beer and his grin widened even more before he extended a hand. "I'm Negan... your neighbor."

"Nice to meet you." Nicole gave a closed-mouth smile and took in his appearance, consciously telling herself not to stare. From beneath a white t-shirt she could see the tail of tattoos on either arm.

Negan cleared his throat. "I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine," she assured him and then cleared her throat, "Do you want a beer or something?"

He chuckled and gave a wink, "No thanks. I was actually just coming over to see if I could borrow some butter."

Nicole felt like an electric current had struck her body when he winked at her. "Oh, well..." She glanced over her shoulder at the back door and then back to Negan.

"You don't have to," he assured her, unable to keep the grin from his face. "You don't fuckin' know me yet so-"

"No," she laughed from his choice of words, "No, it's fine."

"Are you sure?" Negan's deep voice cut through her like a knife and he kept his eyes firmly locked on hers.

Nicole nodded, unable to look away for a moment and then waved him with her inside.

"Don't forget your brew here, doll." He reached down at scooped up the beer as she flung the back door open.

She smiled again, "Thanks."

Negan winked and followed her in, before glancing around at the modest but modern kitchen. "You, uh... you even old enough to drink this shit?" He motioned to the can.

Nicole rolled her eyes, "I can show you my ID if that makes you feel any better." She flung open the refrigerator, "I know my parents are going to treat me like I'm in high school again."

"Well... they're just trying to protect you," Negan informed her, toying with the beer can now. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-three." She glanced over her shoulder at him, somewhat pleased to catch him staring - or so she thought.

Negan put the can down and switched his gaze to anywhere but Nicole.

"Here." Nicole removed a stick of butter and crossed the room to hand it to him. When the butter landed in his hand she decided to be bold and didn't immediately let it go, "How old are you?"

He chuckled before holding a wicked smirk and again held her captive with his playfully intense eyes. "How old do you think I am doll?"

She stared back, somewhat used to gaining control over the guys she had dated or been interested in in the past. This time she felt a bit outmatched and part of it was her instant attraction to him. When Negan took one step in her direction, Nicole swallowed hard and shrugged to give a random answer.

"Thirty-two?"

Negan laughed a little louder, putting a hand on his stomach. He ran the other hand through his slicked back hair and pointed at her. "You're so full of shit."

Nicole smiled at him, "I was thinking more of thirty-eight, thirty-nine."

He sucked his teeth and gave her one look up-and-down before smiled wide again. When he didn't say anything in response Nicole flat out asked, "Am I right?"

"Forty-one," Negan finally informed her after a long pause.

"Over the hill then?"

He snickered and then motioned to the fridge, "Ya know... I will have that beer if you don't mind."

Nicole smiled and laughed for a moment before making her way to fetch one for him. When she placed a bottle of Bud Lite in his hand he used the counter to pop the top rather than twist it. When the dented bottle cap fell to the floor and danced in circles for a moment she glanced back up to find him continuing to stare as he took a long swig from the bottle.

Negan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Your dad going to notice that a few of these are missing?"

"They're mine," Nicole informed him, "And I'm not-"

"A kid, I know..." Negan rolled his eyes now and the two of them shared a laugh, "Believe me when you're my age you'll love that someone will accuse you of being younger."

"I'm sure I will."

He reached down and scooped up the cap from the ground and then held it out in his palm. When she went to reach for it he closed his hand and decided to continue to tease her.

"I'll take it," Negan offered, "Don't want you to get caught drinking these things when your parents come home." He took another sip and Nicole rolled her eyes.

"You know, I could've guessed you were fifty."

He sighed after removing the bottle from his lips. "Smart mouth on you," Negan flashed his index finger at her with the hand that held the bottle, "I like it."

Nicole looked down and laughed again, feeling her cheeks grow hot from his remark.

"Anyway, I should be getting back." Negan continued to smile, almost triumphantly at her and winked again. "It was nice meeting you, Nicole."

"It was nice meeting you too... Negan."

He held her gaze for an extra second, forcing him to smirk a final time before heading out the back door.

"Thanks for the beer honey," he said casually, "I'll see ya around."