Annie's Chapter: Summary, Key Moments, 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

The chapter opens with Annie waking up blindfolded in the passenger seat of a vehicle she doesn't recognize. She quickly realizes she's sitting next to Will, but the truck is unfamiliar—Will normally drives his company's SUV. Panic sets in as she remembers that he supposedly left town that morning, and she asks him to stop so she can remove the blindfold.

When she pulls the fabric down, she sees Will in a black T-shirt and jeans, casually driving an old Bronco down a dark back road. He explains that he bought the truck because he couldn't live in this town without one. Annie is overwhelmed and confused—she thought he'd checked out of his room and left for good. Will shows her his phone, where a text he sent that morning—telling her he couldn't make it to the wedding but would see her that night—sits with a red exclamation mark, never delivered due to poor service. He reassures her he would never leave without saying goodbye, and she begins to breathe normally again.

Will asks if he can finish his