Don't Drop the Ball [Completed]

Six

Bree's POV 

I scrolled through my social media and came upon a post from Fin. He is at the 49ers playoff game today. He posted a picture with a few of his baseball teammates. I clicked on their profiles and saw one of them has a wife and the other has a girlfriend. I bit my lip and continued to look through Fin's instagram. I paused over a couple action shots from his past season.

He does look good in a uniform.

Fin left a few days ago and I just realized we never exchanged numbers. I hit the follow button to Fin's account and then went back to check on my profile. It wasn't anything spectacular. I have about 300 followers from high school and college. Fin has over a million followers. He only follows about 200 people though. I logged out of instagram and tried to avoid stalking Fin on social media.

I need to finish this calligraphy design on the sign. I set my phone aside and picked up my paintbrush and dipped it in the dark green paint. Ever since Fin posted about the shop, we've been a steady stream of orders flying in and out of the shop. Nora has started to feel the toll of keeping up with them all. At first, she was thrilled since it helped her keep her mind off the loss of her father, but now she's realizing just how much she's putting into it.

She even mentioned hiring another person or two to take over the crafting, carving and engraving on some of the signs. I can still keep up with the calligraphy ones, as well as managing and marketing, but beyond that... I have no idea how to make wooden or metal signs.

After finishing the one sign, Nora made her way over to me from the back packing room. "Oh doesn't that one look wonderful." She gave me a bright smile and peered over the calligraphy I did. "You have some talent there, Bree."

"It's just some hobby I had that I guess it became my work...?" I let out a laugh with Nora and looked at the clock. "Okay, I should head upstairs and log into my class. We have to do our presentations today."

Nora nodded and wished me luck on the presentation as I set the sign in the drying area before heading upstairs.

⬤⬤⬤

I've spent the past couple days awkwardly observing Fin on social media. I wanted to ask Nora for his number but I chickened out way too many times. I didn't need to talk to him before I knew him, so why do I feel this intense need to be in contact with him?

I know how to be independent. When I was left behind by my parents I knew that I would never give my heart to anyone again. I've already done part of that though. Nora has become this steady presence in my life. I long to be someone she is proud of. To get that approval from her. My childhood and teenage years were bleak. I stayed in my lane, never disobeyed my parents and yet they still walked out on me. For half a year I tried to avoid talking about how they left me with no idea of where they are. The second half of my first year Winnie convinced me to search for them. We got nowhere. They were never a warm home type people. I had to pull my own weight.

For me to crave this connection with Fin has me worried. He plays major league baseball. He's going to be constantly traveling. Not to mention his home is a day's drive away from the shop and my apartment. It's a disaster waiting to happen. I'd always be waiting for the other shoe to fall.

However I couldn't help but eavesdrop on Nora's call with Fin. They were talking about how the 49ers lost and now that they are out of the playoffs what that means. Fin also had this promotional shoot to do while he was down there. Nora began talking about his upcoming season and what he thought of that. Before she could see me in the window reflection I went back to my work station.

I feel like a kid in middle school who has these giddy bubbles when I think about Fin and the few dates we have been on. He was such a gentle man. I don't want to say Nora raised him right, but she did give him the right care and childhood to help shape him into who he is today.