Author's note: Thanks for the feedback in other parts of this story. I read and appreciate every comment.
The townhouse immediately felt cozy to Celina. The mismatched pillows, scuffed coffee table - it was lived-in without being messy. And it reminded her of her own place in her early twenties, just before she'd met Jo.
She mentioned this to Dani as they walked down the hallway. "Are you calling me untidy?" Dani teased over her shoulder. "I'll have you know I'm in my late-twenties, actually."
In the living room, she pointed to a large, well-worn armchair. "This is the thinking chair." She motioned to the coffee table. "A rogue teabag was left on this table for so long that it's become part of the surface."
Dani tugged her toward the next area. "And this," Dani continued, "is the kitchen, where all the magic happens -- mainly in the form of burned toast." She paused. "But that's just me. Kayla's really good at cooking."
Right on cue, Kayla appeared in the doorway. Her brown hair curled slightly at the ends, grazing just below her shoulders. Dressed in a navy blue drill jacket and white sneakers, she looked like she was heading out. Her face had the warm glow of someone who spent a lot of time outdoors.
"Someone say my name?" she asked with a half-smile.
Dani's face brightened up. "Perfect timing. Kayla, meet Celina. Celina, meet Kayla."
They shook hands. Firm grip, steady eye contact. Yep, thought Celina. She is, without a doubt, queer.
"I've heard a lot about you," Kayla said.
"Only good things I hope," Celina replied, returning the half-smile.
She'd seen countless Facebook photos of her - arms slung around Dani, wide grins at beaches and bars. Enough that Jo had once muttered, "They're obviously dating."
Now, standing face to face with the real thing, Celina felt no reason to be jealous. If anything, it felt like she had a front-row seat to something rare. She wasn't threatened - she was curious. Protective, even. She knew what Dani looked like when she cared for someone - the look she had in every photo with Kayla.
"Never trust Dani to cook." Kayla said, returning her hand to her jacket pocket.
"For the love of God, never ask me to cook." Dani agreed. "But baking on the other hand..."
"Her brownies make you feel like you're floating." Kayla said, pressing a hand to her chest, like the memory alone was enough.
"Are we talking magic brownies?" Celina asked. Dani had brought brownies to a work morning tea one time.
"There's no pot in them," Dani clarified quickly.
"Yeah, they're just really good," Kayla said, grinning.
"If you two run out of things to do tonight, you should make some." She gave them a playful salute and disappeared down the hallway.
"Say hi to Ryan for me!" Dani called after her. She turned back to Celina. "Old friend."
Dani kept apologizing for the messes that really weren't messes at all. A basket of washing not put away, some dirty dishes in sink. "Sorry, I haven't had time to put those away." A few dishes were in the sink. "I'll get to those later, promise."
"Hey. No more apologising, okay?"
"Okay, sorry for apologising." She laughed. "I dunno, you're a really neat person, and you're my manager..."
"Not right now I'm not." Celina reassured.
"Yeah, but I feel like I should at least try to keep things in check when someone's around."
"Don't worry. I'm messy, too. Jo's the clean one."
"She whoops your ass if you don't tidy up, huh?"
"Something like that." Celina smiled. "And we hire a cleaner every two weeks."
"Yeah, she mentioned," Dani said.
Celina smiled to herself. Jo had met up with Dani for coffee last weekend--just the two of them. She'd pitched the idea casually, like Celina hadn't secretly been hoping it would happen. She suspected it had something to do with therapy but hadn't asked. Some things were better left to surface in their own time.
"She's twenty-eight and only just realised she's gay," Jo had said, with a raised brow. "Why are you not panicking on her behalf, Cel?"
It had sounded like a joke - but a fond kind of worry was tucked between the words. Like a mother hen fussing.
"The cleaner explains a lot. But it still doesn't explain your tidy desk," Dani said as she slid open the door to the back porch. "It was practically spotless... until someone filled every drawer with miniature Lionel Richie figurines."
Celina's eyes widened as they stepped out. The prank from last year--the one that had all the executives whispering and trying to figure out who was behind it. "It was you!?"
"That depends--are you mad about it or not?"
"No! I'm not mad," Celina said, laughing. "I just... I can't believe I didn't guess it was you. We didn't really hang out like this back then."
"Yeah," Dani agreed, closing the screen door behind them. "We kept things a bit more... PG." She led her into the garage and pointed out Kayla's kayak.
"That's Kayla's pride and joy," Dani said.
"Do you ever go kayaking with her?"
"Yeah. We go camping with our old school friends once a year."
"Ooh. Where to?"
"That lake a couple of hours away. This year's gonna be special." Dani hesitated. "Kayla's going away for three months..."
Celina noticed the shift in her expression. Three months wasn't a big deal... for women who were strictly friends. "And?" she prompted softly.
Dani exhaled. "I just have this horrible feeling they'll realise how wonderful she is... and ask her to stay forever."
"It's okay to be afraid of losing someone like her."
Dani didn't meet her eyes, just gave a faint shrug.
"You've shared a lot of life," Celina continued gently. "That kind of history... it's not something people replace overnight."
Dani let out a short breath. "Yeah. I know. I just... I hate how quiet it's gonna feel here without her."
Celina nodded, watching her. The way Dani's voice softened when she talked about Kayla. She was looking down at her uggboots, her hands clutching the hems of the sleeves of her pink half-zip sweater. She looked up to speak, but her voice caught. Soft tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them back,
"Hey," Celina soothed, stepping forward. "It's okay." She wrapped her arms around Dani.
"Sorry-- I... uh..." Dani's voice was shaky and muffled against Celina's jumper. She hugged her back tightly. "I've just... never lived without her since I moved out of home."
"You're getting ahead of yourself." she said softly into Dani's hair.
She pulled back just enough to meet Dani's eyes. "She's not gone yet."
Dani offered a quick, half-smile as if embarrassed by the whole conversation. "Sorry, I didn't mean to go all dramatic."
"You didn't," Celina said, smiling back. "And you've apologised for apologising again."
But even as Dani turned to lead her out of the garage, Celina couldn't shake the thought: She's in love with her. Did Dani realize it? Did Kayla realize it?
Later, they sat on the couch, watching a movie, with their empty take-out dishes on the coffee table in front of them. They hadn't watched much of the movie, their tongues in each others mouths, and hands exploring each others bodies.
Dani pulled back a moment. "Can we... take this to my bedroom?"
"Of course."
In Dani's dimly lit bedroom, fairy lights hung in a loose arc across the wall, casting a soft, golden glow. The bed wasn't made--pillows askew, a hoodie slouched at the end--but it didn't feel messy, just real. Lived-in. Like her.
They undressed slowly in between kisses. Dani's sweater came off first; she tugged at it awkwardly, then laughed under her breath. Celina's t-shirt followed, her fingers brushing Dani's by accident--or maybe not.
When their bare skin met, Dani's body tensed, then eased, like she was letting herself trust it--to want and to be wanted, without pressure. Everything felt new. Not because it was, but because this time, it meant something different.
Dani hesitated, her fingers still curled around the hem of Celina's top as it dropped to the floor. She looked down, then back up.
"I feel nervous," she admitted quietly, like she was confessing something shameful.
Instead, she reached up and cupped Dani's face. "That's okay," she murmured. "Let me take care of you."
Dani nodded, barely. Her eyes glistened, and Celina leaned in again--slower this time.
Celina laid Dani back on the bed, their touches growing more urgent. Then, after a moment, Dani shifted. She moved shyly, and gently rolled on top of Celina. Her hands were unsure, and it was beautiful--how she let herself try. How she wanted to give something back. Celina reached behind Dani, unclasping her bra with a smooth motion.
It wasn't the first time she'd seen Dani topless--not technically. The memory of Dani on her office couch flashed through her mind, skin flushed, breath shallow. But now they were in a more relaxed environment. No performance. Just skin and a delicateness in her eyes that hadn't been there that day in the office.
Celina felt Dani's hands slip to her waistline, fingers brushing beneath the fabric. Dani's voice was soft, hesitant. "Can I...?"
Celina's gaze met hers. "Yes."
Dani's crawled down, pushing her jeans down gently.
Dani's fingers paused at the waistband of Celina's underwear, her breath catching slightly. She hesitated. "I... I've never done this before," she admitted.
Celina's fingers found Dani's face.
"Would you like me to guide you?" she asked gently. "Only if you want."
Dani nodded, a flicker of nervous determination in her eyes. Her fingers trembled slightly as she hooked them into the waistband of Celina's underwear and slowly eased them down and off. She pressed a hesitant kiss to Celina's hip, just above the bone, making Celina's stomach tighten.
"You're doing great." Celina murmured, one hand gently stroking Dani's hair.
