Annabel woke up early but stayed in bed for a good while, unmotivated to start the day. Eventually she went downstairs and had breakfast, then showered before heading out to yoga class.
When she took her collar off to shower, she noticed that she was developing a tan line underneath it. Worried that people would wonder why she had a tan line there, she thought briefly about skipping yoga. But she was so desperate to get out of the house that she decided to go ahead.
After class Annabel again walked out with Dylan, and Dylan again asked her over. Annabel hesitated for a long moment and then, thinking about the empty house and the long empty day stretching out ahead, accepted.
"Great!" said Dylan, flashing a big smile. Annabel still wasn't sure if Dylan just wanted her for a friend or had something more in mind. But she was going to find out.
Annabel got into her car and followed Dylan for about ten minutes to a house in an upscale, quiet suburban neighborhood. Dylan made them tea and they sat under a big umbrella in her garden, talking. Dylan asked Annabel a lot of questions about herself and Annabel answered as honestly as she could, though of course when she talked about Carla, she didn't disclose the true nature of their relationship. One thing Dylan didn't ask about was the tan line around Annabel's neck; she saw it, and wondered, but was too polite to mention it.
After an hour or so they went back inside. Dylan excused herself for a minute, saying that she had to check her email, and invited Annabel to make herself at home. Annabel wandered around admiring the house; it was beautifully furnished and impeccably maintained, but probably a lot less trouble to keep up than Annabel's own house. She was studying the pictures on the living room wall -- including a photo from Dylan's wedding, with her looking about 10 years younger -- when she heard Dylan's footsteps coming back into the room.
When she turned around Dylan was standing right behind her. A look passed between them, and next thing she knew Dylan was kissing her.