Annie's Chapter: Summary and Key Moments

⚠️ 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

Annie spends the day at the flower shop, closed so she can finish the arrangements for the rehearsal dinner. She repeatedly zones out replaying her night with Will, reflecting that the real experience of intimacy surpassed anything she'd read in her historical romance novels. She delivers the arrangements to James's farm and returns home to get ready.

At home, Annie stares at the powder-pink dress she bought during a period when she was trying to prove she could be like Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. She considers skipping the event or wearing overalls, but her sisters Madison and Emily insist she wear the dress. Once zipped in, Annie realizes it fits her perfectly—cut for her curvy shape, with a slit up the side. She feels beautiful and confident.

At the rehearsal dinner in an open-air tent with string lights and her flower arrangements, John corners Annie at the bar. He's there as Jeanine's plus-one, yet he asks Annie out again, claiming his earlier mid-date exit was an emergency. Annie briefly imagines delivering a triumphant rejection monologue—the movie moment where the transformed heroine publicly dismisses the man who wronged her. But she realizes she doesn't need that win. She simply declines and walks away.

Annie joins friends, where Mabel is describing noises at the inn—squeaks and moans—attributing them to a ghost. Annie sprays her wine and makes a hasty excuse. Mabel's sly look reveals she knows about Annie and Will and is teasing her publicly.

Annie nearly runs into Will, who arrives in an indigo-blue suit. He tells her his replacement, Danielle, has arrived and is now assigned to Amelia. Annie's smile falls as she realizes his job is officially over. She begins a thank-you speech, but Will cuts her off, recognizing it as a goodbye speech. He refuses to say goodbye in front of everyone, kisses her tenderly, and asks her to dance.

They slow dance in the middle of the tent, and Annie memorizes his scent and the feel of his suit jacket. She wants to beg him to stay but doesn't. When the rehearsal is about to begin, Will asks her to wear her banana pajamas and leave her window open. She laughs, noting he could use the front door, but he insists the window is more fun.

That night, Will climbs through her window. They make love, and Annie's banana pajamas end up on the floor. Whenever Annie tries to bring up the future or say goodbye, Will changes the subject. He holds her tightly and kisses her forehead repeatedly.

When Annie wakes at sunrise, Will is gone—and so is the pirate romance novel from her bedside table. She tells herself he'll surely be at the wedding. But reflecting on how he held her and kissed her, she realizes the truth: last night felt like goodbye. He's not coming to the wedding. He intended to leave without saying goodbye from the beginning.

Key Events

Annie completes the rehearsal dinner flower arrangements while distracted by memories of Will
Madison and Emily help Annie into her pink Audrey Hepburn-inspired dress
John asks Annie out again while on a date with Jeanine; Annie declines without drama
Mabel teases Annie about the noises at the inn, revealing she knows about Will
Will arrives in an indigo suit and announces his replacement Danielle has taken over
Annie begins a goodbye speech; Will kisses her and refuses to say goodbye publicly
They slow dance together under the string lights
Will requests the banana pajamas and an open window for later
Will climbs through Annie's window; they make love without discussing the future
Will leaves before sunrise, taking Annie's pirate romance novel as a memento
Annie realizes Will won't attend the wedding and intended to leave without saying goodbye

Character Development

Annie reaches a milestone in self-acceptance. She wears the pink dress because it makes her happy, not to impress anyone. When John approaches, she imagines the revenge monologue she could deliver but chooses not to—she has nothing to prove to him anymore. Her reflection that the nickname