"I didn't know you were coming," Scarlett said, drawing closer to Gale. If she cannot get on Collins' good side she needs to maintain her relationship with Gale even though he does not like her, he is not as rude as Collins. He always considers others' feelings before he does anything.
She had worked too hard to keep close to these three men to lose them all. Collins was a no-go, Jacob, there was never really anything close to a relationship between them but Gale, he was different. For a while, she could call him her boyfriend and she believes she still could even now. Letting her cling on to his arm was proof of that.
"I didn't have a choice but to come," he replied. He slowed his steps so that she could walk at the same pace as him. He had angrily left the room they were in after Jacob had thrown many threats at him telling him not to think about betraying him now that Melody has returned.