Something flashed across Gavin's face, twisting his lips and pulling at his eyes.

"No." He decided, the word firm as his expression hardened. "No, I won't." It was almost petulant, and certainly said with more sureness than he had, but he could feel it like a kick in the gut. "I'm not going to let her think that no one wants her, Pel." He stood up, rather abruptly, though then didn't seem to know what to do with himself when he got there, so just kicked a stone into the fire.

"I shouldn't have brought her here."