I wanted to say it wasn't fair for Stan to be angry with Richie for that, but I also knew it wasn't fair for me to try and tell someone how to feel. If he was angry, then he was angry, even if I couldn't really understand why.

"Sometimes people think they have to keep secrets, though," I said instead. "To protect themselves. It isn't because they don't trust their friends."

I heaved a sigh, then looked at Beverly and said, "I wish that, too."