Chapter 23: I'd Rather Not Talk About It

"You think so?" Will asked offhandedly.

Hazel tried to keep her response casual despite the lump in her throat. "Yeah. You're pretty grown up these days."

He looked over at her because they were at a stoplight rather seriously and reached out to pet her hair. "I'm never too grown up for you though. Don't forget that."

It was as if he read her mind. How did he do that? She supposed they had been friends for most of their lives. It wasn't fair that he could see right through her when he was so difficult to read.

"Why though?" Hazel blurted.

"Because you're my favorite person. Duh," Will said as if it should be obvious. "Get whatever nonsense your friends are feeding you out of your head. Seriously."

She knew she was his favorite person. She had known that for a very long time. The problem was that she still didn't understand it. She was nothing special. Why her? How did her extremely antisocial best friend decide that she of all people was the only person he really liked?