She responded automatically, without thinking. But then she paused, realizing that Royce probably wouldn't believe it, and then tried again. This time she sighed, and, in an act probably against her better sense, leaned her head against the arm gripping her chair. Heat seeped into her skin, but she felt so at peace that she didn't think to question it.
"Yes. Well, I am now," she clarified.
And it was true. And she wasn't just referring to that exact moment, either (although, truth be told, she was a great deal more than happy at that very moment). But thinking back on the last few months since she had come to New Hope, she really had become happy. It had been a long process, from LA to Burbank and from Burbank to New Hope, but here at the end she finally found the happiness she had been hoping for.
"And I suppose," she continued idly, closing her eyes as she rested against Royce's arm, "that would mean, in contrast, that at one point I was un-happy. Which is true enough. In fact, I might even tell you about it someday. Probably. Most likely. I did mention earlier that you have this way of getting me to talk, didn't I?"
"But, surprisingly enough, I don't actually mind it," she confessed, smiling through her closed eyes. "It can be embarassing at times, sure, but sometimes- like now, for instance- it's actually kind of nice. Confession is good for the soul, and all that jazz."
And, now would be the time to open her eyes, lift her head, and thank Royce for his company while returning to her long ignored book. But, of course, she didn't. Her traitorous body remained wedged, and for once, neither voice in her head wanted to argue. All three were far from uncomfortable, and the warmth radiating from the body behind her and the arm against her cheek were almost lulling her into sleep.
"And, as I was saying earlier, before I was so ridiculously interrupted with comments on one's 'cuteness', the dinner I was going to make tonight was supposed to represent an edible 'Thank You' to you and your sister. I guess you could say it's a thank you for just being around, being my friends, and... well, let's be honest, being something more than a friend to me, but we'll not get into that, not while I'm practically getting drunk off of your arm. We'll save that for another time, when I'm a bit more sober and have something like a solid wooden table between us so I don't end up doing something even more embarassing to make you think I'm even more insane than you realized."
"But I'm getting off topic, aren't I?" she commented, yawning. It was a very good thing that she was warm and comfortable and half-falling asleep where she was anyway, otherwise she'd have some choice words about the nonsense she was saying to Royce. True nonsense, granted, but nonsense nonetheless.
"No, I guess you could say that the 'thank you' dinner was really a 'thank you for making me happy'. Because you did. And Rosemary, too, not to mention Doc, but mostly you. Made me happy that is."