Chapter 17

Finn

" G ood morning," I whispered in Alex's ear. He groaned and his eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning," He yawned. "I don't want to get out of bed."

"You're the boss of you." I pecked him on the cheek. "Stay in bed all day if you want."

Alex pulled the blankets over his head. "Five more minutes," he mumbled.

I forced myself to get up, and I padded into my kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee. While filling the coffeemaker with water, I noticed the keys I still hadn't given Alex yet laying on the counter. A week ago, Alex had given me the keys to his house, saying he didn't want me to wait outside for him whenever he was running late. I'd stood there, staring at the hand that held the keys, and it took all my willpower not to jump up and down and giggle like a love-struck teenager. Now I was giving him a set of keys to my place, and for some reason, I felt nervous.

"It's not like I'm proposing marriage or something," I mumbled to myself. Alex stayed here in my apartment far more than I stayed at his place out in the country. It was closer, and more convenient for both our jobs, but I couldn't shake the feeling that giving him keys to my place was a bigger step than I realized. As the coffee brewed, I heard Alex padding into the kitchen behind me.

"Morning," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning," I replied, trying to sound casual as I turned to face him. "I have something for you." I held out the set of keys.

Alex's eyes widened in surprise as he took them from my hand. "What's this?"

"It's a set of keys to my place," I said, feeling a rush of nerves. "You're here so often, it just makes sense."

A slow smile spread across his face as he looked down at the keys in his palm. "Thank you," he breathed, his gaze meeting mine. "I appreciate it. Does this mean we're going steady now?" Alex winked, and I laughed.

"It means you can sleep in a little later, since you don't always have to drive in to town. Plus," I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, "I want to be with you, handsome. Coffee's ready."

Alex opened the cabinet in front of him and pulled out two mugs, and I poured the coffee. Both of us drank our coffee black. "Do you want breakfast?"

Alex sipped his coffee, then placed the mug on the counter. "I'd love breakfast, but I have to run. There's a management meeting at the office this morning, and it's being catered. I'll eat a bagel or something when I get there."

"Okay." I kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "Oh, remember, we have to be at Cary Street Gallery in Shockoe Slip by seven for Ryan's gallery opening."

"I'll meet you at the brewery after work, and we'll go from there."

I practically skipped into the brewery, riding the high I felt after giving Alex the key's to my place. The bright rays of the sun streamed through the windows, filling me with a sense of joy as I entered to see my staff bustling about, preparing for the busy lunch hour. Making my way behind the bar, I noticed Jude restocking glasses.

"Hey there, Finn," he greeted me with a smile as he set down a tray of pint glasses. "You're looking awfully cheerful today."

"I am," I replied with a grin. "It's going to be a great day."

Jude raised an eyebrow at me and motioned towards my neck. "Well, it looks like someone had a great night." My hand flew to my neck where Alex had left his mark with a hickey. He did it all the time.

I laughed and shook my head. "Shit, what is it with Alex giving me hickeys? I'd swear he's trying to mark me as his."

As if on cue, Ryan came over to join us. He looked nervous and fidgety.

"Hey guys," he said with a small smile.

"What's wrong?" Jude asked immediately.

Ryan let out a sigh and ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know. I'm just nervous about tonight." Tonight was Ryan's first gallery opening ever since he started taking art more seriously.

I saw anxiety written all over his face and knew exactly how he felt. When I first opened the brewery, I was so nervous I could barely speak.

"Don't worry," I said reassuringly as I clapped him on the back. "Your prints are amazing and everyone is going to love them."

Ryan smiled gratefully at me before heading back to the kitchen.

"He'll be fine," Jude said confidently as he watched Ryan walk away. "It's like yanking off a band-aid. Once he gets the first showing of his work out of the way, the next one will be easier. So things are getting serious with you and Alex?"

"Yeah." I felt blood racing up my neck. "I gave him the keys to my apartment this morning. I'm guessing that's pretty serious."

"That's extra serious," Jude grinned. "Hey, would you mind grabbing the till out of your office for me? We're opening in," Jude glanced down at his watch, "five minutes, and I'm running behind."

"No problem."

I hurried to my office and saw both tills on my desk, which meant Ryan probably forgot to open the cash register at the front of the brewery. I grabbed both of the tills and hurried back to the bar.

"Here," I handed Jude a till. I didn't see Ryan anywhere, so I hurried to the other cash register and began counting the money. A line of people had formed at the door, so I hurried as fast as I can. A few moments later, Ryan rushed out of the kitchen, went to the entrance, and opened the door.

"Welcome to Fireside Forge Brewery."

"Jesus, it was crazy as shit today." Jude leaned against the bar and crossed his arms across his chest. "I didn't have time for a break, and I'm starving."

"You'll need to get your shift meal to go if you and Ryan want to make it to the gallery on time." Ollie sipped his beer and grinned. "I can't wait to see it. Finn and Alex are taking me with them. And speak of the devil, Alex is parking his car." Ollie pointed at the window, and I saw Alex's range rover backing into a parking space.

A stupid smile split my face like it always did when I saw Alex. "Jude, get your food and I'll take over the bar for now."

"Thanks boss," Jude replied, and he hurried to the kitchen.

As Jude disappeared into the kitchen, I felt a rush of anticipation. Alex walked into the brewery, looking effortlessly handsome in his casual yet stylish attire. His eyes scanned the room, and when they landed on me, his face lit up with a warm smile.

"Hey, everyone," Alex greeted, making his way over to the bar.

"Hey, Alex!" Ollie called out, raising his glass in a friendly salute. "Glad you could join us."

Alex settled at the bar in front of me, and I couldn't help but notice how naturally he fit in with the group. His easygoing nature and genuine interest in everyone made him an instant favorite.

"How's your day been?" I asked, handing him a glass of his preferred brew.

"Better now that I'm here," Alex replied, taking a sip and sighing contentedly. "This place always feels so welcoming."

Ryan joined us at the bar, clutching a bag filled with his shift meal. "So, Alex, are you coming to my gallery opening? If you aren't, it's no big deal. Actually, I wish everyone wouldn't go. I feel sick to my stomach."

Alex chuckled. "Yes, we're all going. Trust me, man, you're going to do great. What was the name of the exhibition again?"

Before Ryan could answer, the door to the back swung open with a loud bang, and Daniel rushed in, his face etched with concern. The cheerful atmosphere immediately shifted as all eyes turned to him.

"Daniel, what's wrong?" I asked, my stomach tightening at the sight of his expression.

"We've got a serious problem," Daniel said, breathless. "The fermentation tanks... something's gone wrong. They're damaged, and I don't know if we can fix them."

A heavy silence fell over the bar. My heart sank as the weight of his words hit me. The fermentation tanks were the heart of our operation. Without them, we couldn't produce our beer, and Fireside Forge would be in serious trouble.

"Show me," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. I turned to Alex and my friends. "Excuse me for a moment."

"Of course," Alex said, his expression mirroring my concern. "Do what you need to do."

I followed Daniel to the back, my mind racing. The tanks were crucial to our business, and any significant damage could spell disaster. As we entered the brewing area, the sight that greeted me confirmed my worst fears. The tanks were indeed in awful shape, with noticeable dents and leaks.

"What happened?" I asked, examining the damage. "How did these dents get here?" A tiny stream of liquid was pooling on the floor underneath the tank.

"I'm not sure," Daniel replied. "One minute everything was fine, and the next, it was like this. We need to get a professional in here ASAP."

I nodded, already thinking through our options. "Start making calls. We need to find someone who can fix this, and fast."

Daniel hurried off to make the necessary phone calls, leaving me alone with my thoughts. This could mean the end of Fireside Forge. The realization weighed heavily on my mind as I tried to figure out our next steps. The uncertainty of our future loomed over me, but I knew we had to act quickly if we wanted to save the brewery.

Returning to the bar area, I saw Alex and the others waiting anxiously. I forced a smile, trying to keep my worry at bay.

"We've got a problem, but we're handling it," I said, hoping to reassure them. "I'm confident we'll find a solution."

Alex reached out and squeezed my hand. "We're here for you, Finn. Whatever you need."

Suddenly, a loud banging sound echoed through the brewery, followed by what sounded like rushing water. I froze, my heart racing as I recognized the sound. It was coming from the brewing area.

Without hesitation, I ran towards the noise. As I rounded the corner, Daniel's panicked voice reached my ears.

"Oh, shit!" he yelled, and my heart sank even further.

When I reached the brewing area, my worst fears were confirmed. The small leak in our fermentation tank had turned into a massive gush of beer. Fermenting liquid pooled on the floor, mixing with broken pieces of equipment.

I cursed under my breath as I watched helplessly while our hard work and dreams were literally being drained away. The sight of the beer pooling on the floor felt like a punch to the gut. My mind raced through the potential consequences – lost revenue, wasted resources, and the looming possibility of having to shut down, even temporarily.

"Have you been able to contact a repair man yet?" I asked Daniel, trying to remain calm despite the chaos unfolding before me.

Daniel shook his head frantically. "No, Finn. I haven't had a chance to make any calls yet."

I took a deep breath and tried to think logically. We needed to fix this tank immediately if we wanted to save the business. But without a professional repairman on hand, that seemed like an impossible task.

"Let me make the calls," I told Daniel. "Grab a mop and clean this the best you can. Damn it, I don't know if I have the money to repair this." I turned to go to my office and saw Alex standing in the doorway.

"What can I do to help?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"We've got a problem, but we're handling it," I said, suddenly very aware that Alex had at one time wanted to buy the brewery. For some reason I couldn't name, I didn't want him to think I was in over my head. "I'm confident we'll find a solution."

Alex reached out and squeezed my hand. "I'm here for you, Finn. Whatever you need." "Thanks," I muttered, then sprinted down the hallway to my office. I sat behind my desk and when I reached for the phone, I saw my fingers trembling.

"Fuck!" I slammed the palm of my hand on the desk. This could be the end of Fireside Forge.