Don't Drop the Ball [Completed]

Three

Finnlay's POV

I checked my social media platforms and sighed at the blankness of it all. It's usually just the same stuff each and every day. I closed out of my phone and stretched on the couch. I woke up early and went for a jog around town. Saw some old townies that wanted to say hi and I paused my run to talk to them.

I couldn't stop thinking about Bree. It's been a few days since I've been into the store. I've been busy at the house making sure everything was all set for the funeral that is happening tomorrow. I am itching to see her again. To have a conversation with her. I hope that she is working today.

I jumped up from my position on the couch and grabbed a set of keys to dad's old beater truck. I hopped in and made my way to the store. I parked on the side street parking and made my way to the door. I let out a smirk when I saw her behind the counter pulling slips from a machine.

"HOLY!" I heard my mom call out. She came in from the back in a little panic and watched as Bree kept collecting slips and trying to organize them. She looked over Bree's shoulder at a few of the slips and brushed her hair away from her face. Bree bit her lips as she shifted through them all.

"Hey mom. Bree." I gave her a smile when she looked my way, but her concentration was full on the slips.

"Hi Fin... FINNLAY!" My mom jumped around the counter and to me. "Did you do something online and share my store?" Bree looked over at us and her eyebrows rose in understanding.

"It's generally called social media, Nora." Nora gave her a grateful smile before looking back to me.

"Did you?"

"Yes. Of course I am supporting you mom."

Bree bit her lip and I watched as it slowly released from her teeth. Her lips are looking a little lonely. "I think that's why there is an influx." I scrunched my brows at what Bree said and I looked to my mom.

"What does that mean?"

"I think your post or whatever it is may have started to drown us. We have no way of making these shipments happen before Christmas! Yesterday we had fifteen. Today we have a hundred and thirty five."

I raised my eyebrows higher at that one and let out a sigh. "Oh mom, I'm sorry. I can help or find a way to cut off online ordering." A beep sounded and Bree pursed her lips together taking the slip that came out of the printer.

"Hundred thirty six." She whispered. My mom looked over at her a bit panicked and Bree gave her a calming smile. "I'll shut off online ordering for now. We'll catch up and I'll multitask with a few to make sure we can do our best to get them out."

"We only have seventeen days!" My mom whispered and panicked.

"It's okay. We got this. I believe in us." Bree said while shutting off the machine and heading to the office area where the computer is.

"Mom, I can help." I said feeling a bit useless standing here knowing I caused the caos. ON top of everything, the funeral is tomorrow so she won't be here working. At least, I'm going to make sure she isn't. I want her to feel the grief of losing her dad. It's a hurtful experience and I want to be there for her.

"Oh Fin, you don't have to-"

"Mom I'm going to. Starting in two days, I'll be here and you can tell me whatever it is you need and I'll do it." The slight mention of tomorrow got my mom teary eyed.

"Okay... yeah okay."

Bree came back just as my mom walked to the back to continue on working on a steal sign. "She's hanging in there." Bree spoke out as she laid the new orders on a table to organize. I walked over to the table and shifted through a few slips. I was silent as I took in her comment. Was she not doing as okay as she seems? She's held it together around me. "How are you doing?" I peeked over to her to see her brown eyes already trained on me. It was calming to look over and see her already focused on me.

I shrugged and looked back up to my mom. "I'm more worried about her at this moment. I know I can't understand her position fully, but I have lost a dad. Gramps was my second dad. I want to make sure she's okay." I caught eyes with Bree again and she nodded thoughtfully.

"I'll let you know if she needs extra care. I've been watching her myself. She's been great since I've been here. I wouldn't want her to throw herself into her work and not fully feel the emotions that come with this." I nodded and I helped her silently work on the slips.

When they were all done I helped her file them into the planner for the store. Jeez. They do have a lot to complete and the guilt immediately hit me. My mom owns a small business. What if Bree wasn't here to help her?

"We'll get them done," Bree said, flashing me a smile over her shoulder. I felt my breath pause as I got her gorgeous smile.

"I'm thankful you're here. Helping her." I scratched the back of my neck. "I know I had good intentions sharing, but I also forgot it is the holidays, and she's one person... who is going through a loss right now." Bree nodded and stood up, squeezing past me and moving to grab her blue water bottle on the side table.

"I'm thankful she put out an ad for someone. I was getting a little panicked back in May when I realized I couldn't go back and live on campus." I felt my face twitch in response to her snippet of life. I want to know more about her.

Hell, I don't even have her number yet.

"Would you like to go out for lunch, or dinner... or coffee?" I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for her reply. She turned around as she was heading back to the workshop and raised an eyebrow at me.

"That's quite the change of topics isn't it?" I let out a chuckle at her comment and shrugged.

"Maybe. Would you like to?"

She was about to reply when my mom came squeezing by with a list.

"Fin, honey, please go get these supplies and get as much as you can, okay? We have a big list to get through in little time." I took the list from my mom and gave her a kiss on the side of the head.

"Of course mom." As he retreated I made my way to the door but pointed to Bree. "I'll be waiting for an answer."