Lauren stood to leave immediately after swallowing his cum. Simon tried to offer her water so she would stay. He wanted to talk and understand their situation. But she answered tersely and seemed to have shut down again. From the flirting and intimacy over dinner to her enthusiasm and desperation moments before, he felt confused. He just wanted to understand what she wanted and meant. But she didn't give him anything. She rushed across the road, still topless, and disappeared into her house.
Simon staggered upstairs and lay in his bed. His mind was spinning with the wine and the intensity of the evening. He couldn't get images of Lauren sucking his cock out of his head. But he also kept seeing George smiling and shaking his hand. Simon thought back to each time Lauren had seemingly crossed her own line and how she'd turned cold and remote. He felt scared of how she would respond this time. He drifted into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, he woke and slowly prepared his coffee and breakfast. He had nothing at all planned for the weekend, and he wanted to see if Lauren would appear. There had only been two weekends since she'd first stripped for him and only one since they had started the routine of watching each other across the street. He hadn't seen her either weekend -- George was always home. Simon told himself that if she didn't appear or communicate, it was just because of him. It didn't reassure him much.
To take his mind off everything, he decided to go to the supermarket. He pulled up outside the shop and wandered the aisles, filling a trolley. He was so focused on shopping that he almost missed her. Lauren was picking out jam, but as he spotted her, she spotted him, and they made eye contact for several lingering seconds. Lauren was alone, and Simon steeled himself and walked purposefully towards her.