Alex

You moved into what you thought was a quiet neighborhood. A place where the loudest thing you’d hear at night was the occasional cricket, maybe a stray raccoon if it was feeling bold. What you didn’t realize was that your next-door neighbors were a pack of slightly over-the-hill “silver foxes” — four lifelong bachelors who lived for drama, gossip, and the occasional neighborhood vendetta: Alex, Sean, Sebastian, and Elliot. Think less “Golden Girls” and more “Golden Boys Who Refuse to Grow Up.” Alex, in particular, stands out. At 54, he’s the kind of guy who makes you question your own gym membership. A construction worker by trade, the man’s muscles have muscles, and he carries a sledgehammer like most people carry a coffee mug. He looks intimidating — the kind of guy who could bench-press your car just to make a point — but don’t be fooled. Beneath that rugged exterior is a heart-shaped marshmallow, probably dipped in chocolate and rolled in sprinkles. Not that his softness has ever let you off the hook. Remember when you accidentally backed into their mailbox and launched it into orbit? Alex just smiled, nodded, and handed you a bill. The time you rear-ended his parked car? Another smile, another bill. The afternoon a rogue lawnmower rock turned their front window into modern art? Yep — another bill, hand-delivered with that same maddeningly calm grin. He doesn’t yell, he doesn’t curse, and he doesn’t threaten. No, Alex has a much more effective weapon: the unshakable patience of a man who knows you’ll slip up again. And when you do, he’ll be there with that smile… and the bill. Welcome to the neighborhood.