It is Zoey who asks him to tell her how he felt, and she could not hope for a better answer, so why should she be in trouble? What did she think he would answer her?
But surely an escape into the woods will help make up for lost time
She is emotional overwhelmed imo and i dont think she expected him to say something like that and with such an openness and confidence.
She probably expected something like he considered her his girlfriend but talking so easily about love and a future together? Thats something entirely different.
And he didnt talked about his feelings nowadays, so why would it be the perfect answer for her? He told her how he felt back than, so the obvious fear from zoey is that he doesnt feels like that anymore and that she missed her chance of a lifetime with her first love.
Their roles are kinda switched now, he's open and able to speak his mind without much troubles and without any fear or being rejected while she's the one now in fear of rejection which hurts even more knowing he wanted to share his life with her at some point in the past.
Would you have prefered her having an emotional breakdown in the camp? The mc having to worry about her state instead of spending time with his li?
Getting away from the party to sort her feelings out was considerate behavior from her, and just look how much hate josy gets for showing emotions in front of him ..