I—well. Then I am sorry I kept you waiting, and that the dark truth of it is, I meant to keep you waiting for quite a bit longer, though I have known I would say it for some time now—

[The truth comes tumbling out the way he usually won't let it, all at once and barely controlled. It wouldn't do to let Winter begin thinking Nikolas wasn't a terrible person, after all! He must have out with the whole of it and let Winter make his own, informed decision to have him taken out with the rest of the trash!

But perhaps the most honest part is the way Nikolas's hand darts over to grope for Winter's, as if looking to hold it for just a few moments before he's forced to give up on all of this forever. As he surely should be!]