The Motivated Employee Pt. 16

Authors Note: Thanks for all the feedback. I read and appreciate every comment.

The road curled like a ribbon through the trees, sunlight blinking through the tightly packed trees on either side. They were close now. Dani had her legs tucked up on the seat, barefoot. Her ash blonde hair was tied in a lazy bun, and the car smelled faintly of the sunscreen Kayla had rubbed her own and then Dani's shoulders before they left.

"You know," Dani said said, "I'm actually pretty good at this stuff."

Kayla glanced over. "Being a passenger?"

"Camping and hiking. Starting fires. Putting up tents without crying."

"Oh, I know that. Why are you trying to convince me?"

"Because Clem's just sent everyone a meme of a girl looking confused in the forest. She tagged me."

"Rude." Kayla grinned. "Also inaccurate. You're sneakily competent. People underestimate you because you're cute. And have excellent bone structure."

"Would you think I'm cute if you could only see my bone structure? If I were a skeleton?"

"Of course! At least one part of you would be humerus."

A few more moments passed, the road curling tighter as they climbed. Pine needles dusted the road.

"So," Kayla shifted her hand on the wheel, casual. "I haven't seen - or heard - Celina in a while."

Dani gave a short laugh. "Yeah. I figured you might've noticed."

"You know what gave it away?" Kayla said. "I can actually get to sleep at night. No one going 'ughhnn' across the hall."

Dani let out a gasp but quickly regained composure. "That was your mom."

"Hey, keep your hands off my mom." Kayla teased back.

Dani just smiled, reaching for the last of the chips. A few moments passed before she said, "I actually talked to Celina about the noise. Asked her to cool it."

Kayla sounded amused. "And she listened?"

"She did," Dani said. "Not that it matters right now. We're not seeing each other."

Kayla didn't press, but Dani felt the curiosity there - in her peripherals.

Dani continued. "It just started feeling... complicated. I thought I could keep it private and casual, but it's getting hard to go about things like that. People ask what I did on the weekend and I can't tell them."

Kayla nodded slowly. "Like you're always editing what you say."

"Exactly."

There was a silence. "How'd she take it?"

"Well." Dani said, softly. "It's not like anything blew up. I just - needed to take a step back."

Kayla didn't say anything for a moment. Then she offered, gently, "Thanks for telling me."

Dani smiled, small but real. "Trying not to keep things inside anymore."

Kayla didn't say anything right away. Just kept driving, one hand resting at the top of the wheel.

"So," Dani continued. "If you hear Lionel Richie playing from my room, it's just me and my hand."

They laughed. When it settled, Kayla glanced sideways. "I'm proud of you, you know."

Dani blinked. "For what?"

"For knowing what's good for you, even if it's hard."

Dani looked down at her hands, her smile quieter now. She thought about what she might need to say to Kayla when the time was right. But it wasn't now. "Thanks", she replied.

The moment stretched, calm and easy, like a clear lake surface.

Then Kayla added, "Also, if I do hear Lionel Ritchie, I might start singing along."

"This is why you're my favourite human."

The trees broke open again, revealing the campground around a lake, with a few scattered tents already pitched.

"Time to prove I'm more than a pretty face." Dani unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Show them what you've got, wilderness queen."

They pulled into a spot near the edge of the site, the car rolling to a gentle stop. The forest held its breath around them, waiting.

They'd barely gotten the tent halfway up when the sound of an approaching car crunched down the gravel path. Dani looked up just as a faded blue Subaru swung into the spot beside them.

Clem spilled out of the passenger side like she'd been waiting to stretch her legs for hours. "Hellooo, campers," she called, waving dramatically.

Her copper-red hair was twisted into a pony tail, curls escaping in every direction. Blue eyes sparkled behind oversized sunglasses. She wore a faded Plant Milk and Chill tank top--leftover from her college vegan phase, though she'd since settled for vegetarianism.

Ryan climbed out from the driver's side, squinting against the sun. His choppy brown hair stuck out beneath a floppy, wide-brimmed hat that looked like it belonged to someone twice his age. A scruffy red beard framed his face, and he wore an old blue basketball jersey that hung loose on his short frame. He gave a lazy wave with one hand and hefted a cooler with the other.

"Guys." Dani said as she initiated a group hug. "It's been too long."

They broke apart, and the settling-in began--unloading bags, sorting out tent spots, arguing over where the best shade was. Kayla handed Ryan a mallet. Clem immediately stole it.

About twenty minutes later, the rumble of a 4WD pulled their attention up the trail. The doors popped open and four more friends spilled out, each carrying something--tents, crates, a suspiciously fancy coffee setup.

Taylor came first--tall, tattooed, sea-glass hair a tangled mess. Erin followed, small and sharp-eyed, already assessing the site like she owned it. Nia arrived laughing, box braids swinging, all warmth and high energy. Milo brought snacks and sarcasm.

Different lives, different corners of the city - but once a year, they gathered here like it meant something. Like ritual.

That night, as the sky deepened into navy and the trees whispered with wind, Dani crouched by the firepit with a small pile of sticks.

"You sure you don't want the firelighters?" Milo called, already wrapped in a blanket like an overconfident burrito.

"Let her cook," Nia said, sipping tequila from a tin mug. "Wilderness queen's got something to prove."

Dani ignored them all - tongue poked slightly out in focus - and worked the flint and kindling until the spark caught. Smoke curled, and then, as if summoned by sheer force of will, a flame bloomed.

The group erupted in cheers.

"Holy shit," Clem said. "You just birthed that fire."

Dani stood, brushing her hands off on her shorts. "I told you I could."

Kayla grinned at her from the other side od the fire.

Drinks were passed around. Someone put on a playlist full throwback hits. Laughter circled like a current through the group.

As the night stretched and mellowed, and the stars blinked to life overhead, they huddled closer to the flames. Conversations turned nostalgic. Taylor had a kid. Milo had recently separated from his wife. Ryan had required a circumcision as an adult. "100% do not recommend," he said, closing his legs.

And then Erin, mid-sip of tequila, raised an eyebrow. "You know, I really thought Kayla and Dani would be married by now."

Laughter.

"Married?" Dani said, eyes wide. "I thought people had to hate each other to be married."

Kayla laughed, shaking her head. "Please, if we were married, I would've divorced her the first time she used my toothbrush by accident."

"How long have you lived together? 5 years?" Clem said, drunkenly.

"Six." Kayla corrected. "And I'm the big spoon."

"Shotgun wedding in the woods," Ryan declared. "I call maid of honor."

Kayla laughed, then held up her drink like she was making a toast. "Okay, before anyone starts assigning flower girl duties - small update."

The group quieted, still smiling.

"I'm heading to Puerto Rico for a few months. Just three. I got a spot helping run a camp program out there."

A ripple of interest passed through the group.

"Wait, what? Since when?" Clem asked, already leaning forward.

Kayla shrugged, casual. "It's been in the pipeline for a bit. I leave in ten days. Didn't feel like making a big thing out of it. Just figured I'd tell you all here."

"A camp? Like, kids and hiking and bug spray?"Ryan asked.

"Basically," Kayla said. "Simar to what I do now. But tropical. And more responsibilities."

"How are you going to survive without your big spoon, Dani?" Clem slurred slightly, clearly much drunker than the rest.

Kayla was smiling, but there was a tightness around her eyes - a flicker of discomfort that only Dani would catch. Like the joke had landed too close.

Keep it light, Dani told herself. Don't make it weird. No flirty jokes. Just play it off.

"Maybe a nice log," Dani shot back. "Very rustic. Very outdoorsy. Like the woman herself."

"Wait, wait." Clem said, arms out, holding back no one on particular. "Is this log for snuggles only? Or is... is it a dildo?"

The reaction was half laughter, half groans.

"Well..." Dani scratched her head. How on earth do I follow that up? she thought. "The log's gotta be five foot nine." She smiled and gestured towards Kayla - referencing her height. "So, you tell me, is it for cuddles or is it a dildo?"

The group immediately jumped in with mock outrage.

"Jesus Christ, Clem!"

"You sick fuck!"

"Do you want Dani to die, Clem?"

Kayla grinned. No more tightness around her eyes. She leaned forward. "Think of the splinters, Clem."

Later that night, that lay in bed on their blow-up mattress, a bit tipsy.

"Why a log?" Kayla asked, turning towards Dani.

"I dunno. Brown bark. Brown hair. Same same."

Kayla smiled and looked at her. For a moment Dani thought about kissing her but decided against it - they both been drinking.

They'd shared this quiet closeness many times before, whispering and joking softly as Dani settled into Kayla's arms. But tonight, the thought hit her potently - how long it had taken her to realize just how much Kayla meant to her, and how maybe, just maybe, it was already too late.

She snuggled deeper into Kayla's warmth, unwilling to let the moment end, holding on to the fragile comfort as her eyes slowly closed.

The next morning, the group set out early, aiming for the biggest peak in the range. Mist clung to the trees as they moved single file along the narrow trail, Kayla leading the way with a quiet confidence that made it easy to follow.

Dani trailed near the back, matching pace with Clem, who was already complaining under her breath.

"These legs were made for brunch, not boulders," Clem muttered, wiping sweat from her forehead.

Dani smirked. "You literally planned this hike."

"Mistakes were made."

They climbed in silence for a few minutes, the sounds of boots on rock and distant laughter drifting back from the front of the group. Then Clem glanced over at Dani, her voice more curious now than teasing.

"Hey... has Kayla ever dated anyone?"

Dani blinked, surprised. "Um. No. Not that I know of."

Clem raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Really," Dani said, a little quieter now.

Clem didn't say anything for a moment. Just nodded, lips pursed, then grinned. "Interesting."

And they kept walking.

Clem glanced sideways, her breath still a little labored from the incline. "Why do you think that is?"

Dani hesitated, her eyes following Kayla's silhouette up ahead--sure-footed, leading the group like she'd done it a hundred times.

"I don't know," she said finally. "She's always been... focused. On school, on work. Other people just kind of faded into the background."

Clem made a thoughtful sound. "But not you."

Dani shook her head gently. "Some people are just like that," she said. "They move through the world differently. And that's okay."

Clem was quiet for a few steps, then said, more quietly this time, "For real though, I always kind of thought you and Kayla would hook up."

Dani glanced sideways.

"Not just, like, as a joke," Clem added. "I mean... it's always felt like there was something there."

Dani smiled, eyes on the trail ahead. Just be honest, she remembered her psychologist saying. See where leads. "Honestly? If I ever got married... someone like Kayla would be the dream." She shrugged lightly. "She makes me feel like you're home."

It was 11am as the group caught their breath at the summit, the wind teasing their hair and clothes. They ate, and rested, while Kayla stood at the edge, scanning the horizon.

"This is the peak. But if anyone's keen, there's a hidden lookout not far from here," she said, pulling a folded piece of paper from her back pocket. "One of my colleagues marked it on a map. Said it's quiet - almost no one knows about it."

The others groaned in chorus.

"Nope," Taylor said. "This peak almost ended me."

"I'm conserving energy for tequila later," Nia added, sipping from her water bottle.

"I'll go with you," Dani said, stepping forward without hesitation.

Ryan raised a brow but grinned. "Side quest unlocked. Just take the radio in case you get lost."

Kayla slung her pack back on, already smiling. "We'll be back before sunset."

"Unless they elope again," Clem called after them. "Bring back souvenirs!"

They walked for another two hours, the trail winding deeper into the forest. The air grew cooler, damper, and the scent of moss and earth thickened. Their conversation faded, their breaths more noticeable now as the climb leveled into a narrow path flanked by ferns.

The sound reached them first - faint at first, like a distant whisper. Then louder. A rush of water, steady and close.

Kayla glanced back at Dani, a grin spreading across her face. "I think we're here."

They pushed through one final curtain of trees, and the world opened.

The waterfall wasn't huge, but it was tall and graceful, pouring down a slick rock face into a clear, turquoise pool below. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above in soft beams, catching droplets in the air like glitter. The whole place was wrapped in quiet, like it had been waiting just for them.

Dani let out a soft "wow."

Kayla turned to her, still catching her breath. "Worth it?"

Dani nodded, her face bright. "So worth it."

Kayla peeled off her shirt and shorts immediately, revealing a simple black bra and cotton underwear - nothing Dani hadn't technically seen before. Maybe it was the way the sun lit her skin, defining her shoulder muscles, or the quiet confidence in the way she moved. Dani couldn't look away.

Kayla re-applied sunscreen to her shoulders, methodically, then shot Dani a grin over her shoulder. "Coming?"

She turned and waded in, the water lapping up her thighs before she dove forward and disappeared beneath the surface with barely a splash.

The sun filtered through the trees, glittering across the surface of the water. A bird called out somewhere in the distance.

Kayla tipped her head back, eyes closed, and said softly, "I'm really glad no one else came." She glanced over at Dani, a small smile tugging at her lips. "This feels... kind of perfect." The sun filtered through the trees, glittering across the surface of the water. A bird called out somewhere in the distance.

"Clem would be cannonballing right now." Dani agreed. She gasped at the chill, then let herself sink under, eyes closed, heart thudding. When she surfaced, Kayla was already floating on her back, arms out, eyes closed to the world.

Dani did the same. Until she all she could feel was her own heartbeat.

She floated near Kayla. The words burned at the back of her throat. What if this ruined it? What if the warmth between them only worked because it was unspoken?

But this was her chance. No noise, no audience. Just the two of them suspended in stillness.

She didn't know exactly what she hoped would happen - only that if Kayla pulled away, if her gaze turned wary or the silence grew sharp, she didn't know how she'd come back from it.

The words began to flicker like sparks just behind her teeth. It was time.

She quietly stood upright again, and tapped Kayla on the shoulder. "I need to tell you something," she said, her voice quiet over the water.

Kayla turned to her, upright, patient, open.

Dani hesitated, then tried again. "I - this is hard to say."

She met Kayla's eyes -steady, grounding, as natural as the earth around them - and finally let the truth tumble out.

"I think I'm in love with you."

She didn't look away.

Kayla's eyes flickered with emotion - startled, scared. For a moment, Dani saw something close to panic, a tightening around her mouth. Then confusion. Then something else. Dani held her gaze, calm and unwavering, even as Kayla seemed to cycle through a hundred thoughts all at once.

She looked mad for half a second, or maybe just overwhelmed. Dani didn't flinch. She stayed quiet, offering space without stepping away.

Whatever was happening behind Kayla's eyes, Dani stayed with her patiently.

Dani took a slow breath, the water lapping gently around them. "You don't have to say anything back," she said softly. "But you're going soon, and I've finally figured out why I've been... extra weird lately."

Kayla wiped at her eyes but said nothing

Dani gave a small, shaky laugh. "I love you. I want you. And it's okay if you don't feel the same. I just needed you to know."

Kayla wiped at her eyes, blinking like she wasn't sure if she was dreaming. When her voice came it was quiet, barely rising above the sound of the water.

"I think... I feel the same," she said looking away. "I think I have for a while. I just... I've never done this before. And now I'm leaving, and it's all tangled in my head."

She looked at Dani, raw and vulnerable. "I just don't know how to do this right."

"There is no right or wrong, Kayla."

Kayla didn't move at first, just stood there in the cool shallows, eyes wet and shining. Dani reached out, slowly, giving her every chance to pull away.

When she didn't, Dani leaned in and kissed her - softly, tenderly, like a promise. And she kissed her back. Kayla's lips were firm, touched by sun and wind. But they softened under Dani's touch. Slowly, like snow melting into spring, the tension eased.

"I've never kissed anyone before," she whispered.

"You're doing great." Dani smiled.

Their lips met again. Dani moved closer in the water, her hands finding Kayla's waist, and Kayla's fingers curled gently at the nape of Dani's neck.

Dani felt Kayla's tears first before pulling back just enough to look at her.

"Hey," she whispered, brushing a wet strand of hair from Kayla's face. "It's okay."

Kayla gave a small, shaky laugh through her tears and nodded. "I think it's just... I actually don't know why I'm crying." Dani pressed both palms to the sides Kayla's cheeks.

Their foreheads stayed pressed together for a moment, both of them breathing softly in the stillness. Then Kayla tilted her own face up again, and Dani met her halfway. The kiss remained slow, but it deepened. Dani felt Kayla gently press her tongue against her own.

Without realizing it, the gentle drift of the water carried them toward a smooth, half-submerged rock near the edge of the pool. Kayla's legs bumped into it first, and she let herself settle down, sitting on the underwater ledge with a soft gasp. Dani's legs instinctively wrapped around her.

It was like time was suspended in this moment. Dani didn't speed anything up. Just gently kissed.

When they finally pulled back, the sun had dipped lower than either of them realized, casting long shadows through the trees.

They waded out, dried with a microfibre towel Dani always brought in case Kayla took them on a detour like this.

Kayla glanced up at the sky. "Good thing I brought a torch."

Dani wrung out her hair, watching her. "And your secret weapon."

Kayla blinked, like she'd only just realized Dani was still there. Her smile was soft, a little unfocused.

"My what?"

Dani stepped closer, unable to hide the fondness in her grin. "Me."

That earned a small laugh, but Kayla still looked dazed - like the ground hadn't quite settled beneath her feet. She turned away, tucking damp hair behind her ear.

"Right," she said quietly. "Muscle and charm. Deadly combo."

Dani picked up the radio, and told the others they'd be back a bit later than expected.