The remediation team said they should be done by Friday. I’ll stop by this weekend to check on everything so Brendan and his guys can get back at it on Monday.
Ollie stared at the message.
You don’t have to do that.
I know. I want to.
Three simple words, but they carried weight. Ollie smiled, feeling lighter than he had in days.
Thank you.
For everything.
Ollie was starting to sound like a broken record, but he wanted Finn to know how much he appreciated him going above and beyond.
The typing indicator appeared, disappeared, and then reappeared.
That’s what friends do.
Friends. Was that what they were? He thought about that fleeting moment before Finn left when he rubbed Ollie’s hand. Was it possible they could be something more? He almost didn’t want to let himself believe he stood a chance.
See you then
Count on it.
Ollie set down his phone, a small smile playing on his lips. Maybe it was okay to want more. Maybe it was okay to need help sometimes. Maybe he wasn’t alone after all.
SEVEN
Saturday morning, Finn balanced a coffee carrier in one hand and a bag of pastries in the other as he approached Shelf Care Central. The streets of Maple Hill remained quiet. Most of the residents were still tucked away in their homes. Through the bookstore’s windows, silhouettes moved about—arranging chairs, hanging colorful signs, preparing for what promised to be a pivotal meeting for the struggling business.
He hadn’t expected the flutter of anticipation in his chest, the quiet eagerness to step inside. When had a client’s renovation project started feeling like something more?
The bell chimed as he pushed the door open with his shoulder, warmth and conversation washing over him. Maya stood on a stepladder, carefully hanging a hand-painted banner that read “Save the Shelf” in bold, whimsical letters. Jules arranged folding chairs in a loose circle near the front counter, while Sam sorted through a stack of flyers.
And there was Ollie—animated, gesturing broadly as he talked with a small group where the poetry corner used to be, his voice carrying across the space.
“—not just about surviving, but thriving. Imagine themed reading nooks where kids can disappear into fantasy worlds. Open-mic nights where local artists can share their work. A place where everyone finds their shelf, you know?”
The passion in his voice made something tighten in Finn’s chest. Despite everything—the mold, the insurance battles, his parents’ doubts—Ollie’s hope had returned. It was both terrifying and beautiful to witness. He wasn’t sure he’d have been so resilient if their roles were reversed.
“Finn!” Maya spotted him first, waving from her perch. “You’re early!”
“Thought you might need help setting up,” he said, lifting the coffee carrier slightly. “And I brought reinforcements.”
Jules abandoned their chair-arranging to relieve him of the pastry bag. “You’re officially my favorite person today.”
“Don’t tell Ollie that,” Sam stage-whispered, appearing at Finn’s elbow. “He’s been knocked down enough this week. Besides, I’m pretty sure he’ll cut a bitch if he hears you making a move on Finn when you already have a sexy contractor of your own.”
Finn felt heat rise to his face as he spotted Keaton and Brendan entering the store, grateful for the familiar faces among Ollie’s friends. Luke and Noah were also there, getting Eli settled in with some books and his iPad. Before he could respond to Sam’s teasing, Ollie approached, curls wild and eyes bright behind his glasses.
“Are those Sweet & Simple cinnamon rolls I smell?” Ollie asked, peering into the bag Jules held. “You’re a lifesaver, Finn. Literally. I was running on fumes and optimism.”
“Dangerous combination,” Finn quipped, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
“You have no idea.” Ollie’s smile was warm, private somehow, despite the crowded room. “Thanks for coming. I know Saturdays are usually family time for you.”
The simple acknowledgment—that Ollie had noticed, had remembered something about his life—caught Finn off guard.
