Oh this just keeps getting better <3 all his careful planning for naught, for in his absence, she'd moved on, and now the game has changed.

I can't help wondering if she knows, maybe she always knew, maybe she'd always made it easy for him, until he crossed some unspoken line, and her threshold, and maybe she knew, the instant he returned, painting this scene especially for him... you capture this so very well, from his perspective, it is impossible to tell, which is a brilliantly realistic touch. I very much want to see how he reconciles this development, you portray his surprise and reaction to it so very well, contrasting so well with the scene you open on, one he knows like the back of, well, her hand. I wonder how it will sit with him on reflection, and which side of him it will feed.

maybe you should use your secret weapon when writing part 3, cos you are onto some kinda novel here!