Chapter 22

Finn

E very day, I walked into the brewery with a glimmer of hope that today would be the day things turned around. But each day, that hope was dashed. The tanks sat there, mocking me with their silence. We were running low on stock, and the pressure to resolve the issue was mounting.

I rubbed my temples, trying to fend off the headache that had become my constant companion. The brewery's atmosphere, usually filled with the comforting sounds of beer brewing and clinking glasses, was now eerily quiet. It was a silence that underscored the gravity of our situation. Every time I glanced at the damaged tanks, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. And being massively hungover wasn't helping.

"Hey, Finn," Daniel called out, breaking my thoughts. "Any luck with the insurance company?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "Not yet. I'm going to give them another call now."

I walked into my office, willing myself to remain calm. Sitting at my desk, I picked up the phone and dialed the insurance company's number. The hold music was almost as grating as the static-filled silence between calls. After what felt like an eternity, a representative finally answered.

"Albemarle Mutual, this is Linda. How can I assist you today?"

"Hi, Linda. This is Finn McKenna from Fireside Forge Brewery. I've been trying to get an update on our claim for the damaged fermentation tanks."

"One moment, please," she said, her voice robotic. I could hear her typing on a keyboard. "It looks like your claim is still under review. I apologize for the delay, but we need to wait for further assessment."

"Further assessment?" I could feel my patience wearing thin. "Linda, we've been waiting for over a week. This delay is putting a huge financial strain on us. We need those tanks operational as soon as possible."

"I understand your frustration, Mr. McKenna, but these things take time. I'll escalate your case to the supervisor, but there's no guarantee on the timeline."

I clenched my jaw, feeling increasingly helpless. "Thank you, Linda. Please do what you can, or my business will go belly up."

After hanging up, I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. The financial strain was becoming more than I could handle. Each day of lost production meant more lost revenue, and the brewery was already running on a tight budget. I knew my staff could see the stress I was under, and their concern only added to the weight on my shoulders.

I walked into the kitchen, where Daniel was waiting expectantly. "Any news?"

"More delays," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. "They said they're escalating it, but who knows how long that'll take."

"We're running out of stock, Finn," Daniel said, echoing my own thoughts. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know," I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt for not having the answers. "But we'll figure something out. We have to."

Fireside Forge was more than just a business to me; it was my passion, my dream. Seeing it struggling like this was a blow I wasn't sure I could recover from. But I knew I had to keep fighting.

"Let's get back to work," I said, trying to muster some optimism. "We can't give up now."

Daniel nodded, his expression determined. "We'll get through this, Finn. One way or another."

I hoped he was right. Because at that moment, the path ahead seemed more uncertain than ever.

As the day wore on, I couldn't shake the thought of Alex's offer. The idea of approaching him to buy the brewery felt like a lifeline and a betrayal all at once. On one hand, selling to Alex would secure the financial stability we desperately needed. On the other, it would mean giving up something that was deeply personal to me—my dream, my passion, my legacy.

I wandered through the brewery like a zombie. Each piece of equipment, each barrel and bottle, represented years of hard work. Fireside Forge wasn't just a business; it was a part of me. Letting go felt like losing a piece of my soul.

I found myself in the storage room, surrounded by rows of empty shelves that should have been filled with our signature brews. The sight was a stark reminder of our predicament. The idea of selling was becoming harder to ignore. The financial strain was real, and it was only getting worse.

Jude found me there, his expression concerned. "Hey, you look like you could use a break. Want to talk?"

I nodded, grateful for his presence. We made our way to the small office, where I collapsed into the chair behind my desk. Jude sat across from me, his eyes full of empathy.

"What's on your mind, Finn?"

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I've been thinking about Alex's offer. You know, about him buying the brewery."

Jude raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything, waiting for me to continue.

"It's just...I don't know what to do," I admitted. "Selling would solve our financial problems, but it feels like giving up on everything I've worked for."

Jude leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "I get it, Finn. This place means a lot to you. It's more than just a business."

"Exactly," I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. "But at the same time, we can't keep going like this. The tanks, the insurance issues...it's all too much. I'm worried we're not going to make it."

Jude nodded, his eyes serious. "Have you talked to Alex about it?"

"Not yet," I said, shaking my head. "We argued the other night, plus I don't even know how to bring it up. What if he doesn't want to buy it? Or worse, what if he does and it changes everything?"

"Change isn't always a bad thing," Jude said gently. "Sometimes it's necessary. You have to think about the bigger picture. What's more important—holding onto the brewery as it is, or making sure it survives, even if it means letting go?"

His words hit me hard. I'd been so focused on the idea of losing control that I hadn't considered the possibility of preserving what mattered most—the brewery itself.

"I don't want to lose this place," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I also don't want to see it go under."

Jude reached across the desk, placing a reassuring hand on mine. "Whatever you decide, we'll support you. But remember, you're not giving up. You're making sure Fireside Forge has a future, even if it looks different than what you imagined."

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Thanks, Jude. That means a lot."

"Anytime," he said with a small smile. "And whatever happens, we'll get through it together."

I knew he was right. The decision ahead was difficult, but I wasn't alone. With the support of my team, and maybe even Alex, we could survive.

"I'd better get back to the bar." Jude got to his feet. "I hate to tell you this, but we only have enough stock left for one or two days at most."

"I promise to take care of this as fast as possible."

Jude left, and as I sat in the office, contemplating the future of the brewery, another thought gnawed at the edges of my mind—Alex. The memory of our drunken argument at the Joy Garden replayed in my head, a painful reminder of how things had gone so wrong. The hurt in Alex's eyes, the frustration in his voice—it was all so vivid. I felt a pang of guilt every time I thought about it.

The truth was, I knew why the argument had affected me so deeply. I'd fallen in love with Alex, and the realization scared me more than the thought of losing the brewery. I hadn't meant for it to happen. It just did. Alex had come into my life, and before I knew it, he was all I could think about.

The feelings were impossible to ignore now. They were there when I woke up, when I tried to focus on work, and especially in the quiet moments before I fell asleep. Loving Alex felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, teetering between fear and exhilaration.

I buried my face in my hands, trying to make sense of everything. The brewery crisis, my feelings for Alex—it was all so overwhelming. The argument at the Joy Garden had been a culmination of my frustrations and fears. I'd pushed him away because I didn't know how to deal with what I was feeling.

I took a deep breath and leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't avoid Alex forever. If I wanted any chance of saving the brewery, I had to face him.

The idea of approaching him was daunting. What if he didn't feel the same way? He'd only recently come out of the closet, and as far as I knew, I was just a fling. But the thought of doing nothing, of letting fear dictate my actions, was even worse.

I had to trust my gut. I couldn't keep running from my feelings or from the problems facing the brewery. If I wanted a future with Alex, I had to be honest with him, about everything. And that included my feelings.

Jude's words echoed in my mind: "Change isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes it's necessary." Maybe selling the brewery to Alex wouldn't be the end. Maybe it could be a new beginning for both of us.

I got up from my chair and walked to the window, looking out at the brewery. Fireside Forge meant the world to me, but so did Alex. I picked up my phone and with shaky hands I placed the call. It rang twice, then I heard Alex's baritone.

"Finn? Are you okay?"