He thought she might turn away, become angry with his continued refusal, but Winter was still too kind for that. She stepped in instead, no longer content to simply squeeze his arm as an apology. She held him in a hug that he gratefully accepted, his grip the stronger one this time. She apologized, sweet voice brushing his ear, and he just nodded. He didn't trust himself to answer.
Gareth squeezed her a little, his hands clasping around her back and pulling her in. A real hug. And the strangest thing was how natural, how right it felt to hold her.

"I don't either," he managed, and his voice almost didn't tremble.

He could have kept holding her for a long time. Forever maybe. That was what he thought.
And then she spoke, and he couldn't pick out what exactly it was, but some word, some phrase in her statement just made him furious. Gareth shoved her away, breaking the hug harshly and forcing her to take a few steps away.
"How is that fair?" he hissed, almost loud enough to wake the rest. "You get to be the martyr and I live on for Zelly's sake, knowing I've lost y--all of you."
"How is that fair to me?"