Chapter 27: Will — Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Will opens the chapter by admitting that the kiss he shared with Annie at the bar has consumed his thoughts for three days—something that has never happened to him before. He reflects on how meaningful that soft, vulnerable kiss felt to him, but also on the sting of realizing it was partly a performance to make someone jealous. He acknowledges that Annie did nothing wrong, but the realization that it meant more to him than to her leaves him unsettled.
Later, Will goes to the bar, ostensibly for a beer, but really to confront the man who had left Annie mid-date. When the man asks if Will and Annie are exclusive, Will tells him the relationship isn't serious and that he'll likely leave at the end of the month. The man's pleased reaction makes Will hate himself for speaking about Annie without her consent and for essentially throwing her to someone he considers a shark. He also realizes that holding Annie is the closest he's felt to true happiness in a long time, which terrifies him.
Over the following days, Will avoids Annie entirely. He invents a bogus fan threat and tells Annie he needs to stay parked outside Amelia's studio, claiming they can't go into town. Even Amelia doesn't question it, since such threats occasionally happen. Will feels guilty for adding unnecessary worry to Amelia's life, but he's more afraid of confronting his feelings.
Today, however, he can't keep up the pretense. He escorts Amelia toward The Pie Shop, and while in full work mode, he trips on a divot in the sidewalk, nearly falling. Amelia teases him about blushing and being embarrassed, which he hates. As they pass Annie's flower shop, they see a Closed sign with a note from Annie saying she's out sick. Amelia reveals that Annie has been sick since the day after Hank's. Will is immediately concerned, though he tries to convince himself it's not his job to check on her. Amelia playfully offers to keep him updated on everyone's health, and Noah appears, sharing a public kiss with Amelia. Amelia gives Will the rest of the day off, hinting that he should go see Annie.
Will jogs to the market and buys cold medicine, tea, tissues, and produce. He notices a petition against him and Annie dating—three votes in favor, over a hundred against—which makes his stomach sink. At the checkout, Harriet, the stern cashier, eyes him suspiciously. Mabel appears and, after a tense exchange, decides to teach Will how to make Annie's favorite soup. Harriet eventually scans his purchases, and Will feels oddly relieved and even proud by her silent approval.
Key Events
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Will reflects on the kiss and his unusual fixation on it.
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He confronts the man who left Annie mid-date and downplays his relationship with her.
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Will invents a fan threat to avoid Annie for several days.
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While escorting Amelia, he trips and learns from Amelia that Annie has been sick since the day after Hank's.
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Amelia teases him about his concern and gives him the rest of the day off.
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Will buys cold medicine and supplies at the market, noticing the petition against him and Annie.
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Mabel teaches him to make Annie's favorite soup, and Harriet eventually approves of his purchases.
Character Development
Will's internal conflict drives this chapter. He is forced to confront his jealousy when he sees the man who left Annie, and his decision to tell that man the relationship isn't serious reveals his fear of commitment and his self-perception as someone who doesn't deserve happiness. His avoidance of Annie shows his immaturity, but his actions at the market—buying medicine and learning to make soup—demonstrate a growing willingness to care for her, even if he frames it as a fake relationship.
His backstory about being a valedictorian who got into MIT but joined the military instead reveals a pattern of perfectionism and disillusionment. He recalls trying to make his parents fight less by excelling in school, only to realize it didn't help. This history explains his reluctance to invest emotionally, as he's learned that effort doesn't guarantee positive outcomes.
Amelia's teasing and Noah's public affection highlight Will's discomfort with vulnerability, while Mabel and Harriet's interactions show how the town scrutinizes him. Harriet's eventual approval feels like a small victory, suggesting Will is beginning to care about being seen as a good person, not just a bodyguard.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Jealousy and Avoidance: Will's jealousy over Annie's ex-date and his subsequent avoidance of her illustrate his fear of real feelings.
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Fake Relationship vs. Real Feelings: The chapter blurs the line between the fake dating arrangement and Will's genuine emotions, especially when he admits that being with Annie makes him feel happy.
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Small Town Community Scrutiny: The petition, Harriet's suspicion, and Mabel's meddling all show how the town watches and judges Will's actions.
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Vulnerability and Self-Perception: Will's admission that he's not a nurturer, and his relief at Harriet's approval, reveal his struggle to see himself as worthy of care.
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Family Dysfunction: Will's memories of his parents' fighting and his failed attempts to fix things explain his emotional guardedness.
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Performance vs. Authenticity: Will's fake fan threat and his public persona contrast with his genuine caretaking actions at the market.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal for Will's character arc. It forces him to acknowledge his feelings for Annie, even if he can't act on them. His decision to buy supplies and learn to make soup shows a shift from avoidance to action, suggesting he's ready to invest in someone despite his fears. The chapter also deepens the small-town setting, showing how the community's opinions affect Will's sense of self. The petition against him and Annie, and Harriet's eventual approval, highlight the theme of judgment versus acceptance. Will's backstory about his parents adds emotional depth, explaining why he's so resistant to vulnerability. This chapter sets up the possibility of Will and Annie moving from a fake relationship to something real, while also raising the stakes of his impending departure at the end of the month.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Will tell the man at the bar that his relationship with Annie isn't serious, and how does this decision affect him?
Will tells the man the relationship isn't serious because he's afraid to admit his true feelings. He also wants to avoid getting in the way of what Annie might want. However, saying it makes him feel like a disrespectful asshole, and he realizes he's been happier with Annie than he has been in a long time. This moment forces him to confront his fear of commitment and his self-perception as someone who doesn't deserve happiness.
2. How does Will's invented fan threat reveal his internal conflict?
Will invents a fan threat to avoid Annie because he's overwhelmed by his feelings after the kiss. He lies to Annie and even to Amelia, adding unnecessary worry to their lives. This shows that he's willing to deceive others to protect himself from emotional vulnerability, but it also highlights his guilt and his inability to handle the situation maturely.
3. What does the scene at the market reveal about Will's character development?
At the market, Will buys cold medicine and supplies for Annie, despite his earlier attempts to distance himself. Mabel teaches him to make her favorite soup, and he accepts the help, showing a willingness to learn and care for someone. Harriet's initial suspicion and eventual approval make Will feel relieved and proud, indicating that he values being seen as a good person. This scene marks a turning point where Will moves from avoidance to active caretaking, even if he still frames it as part of the fake relationship.
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