"I'm not unhappy," Xanthippe replied, unconvincingly. Seriously, just the way she said it was just the uncomfortable manner of someone trying to sell a statement she didn't believe in.

Or like someone saying what she thought she should. Despite the fact that she had just been telling him how something had been 'destroying her life', because those were totally the words of a happy person!

Also ignore the way her hand came up to cover the one he had on her cheek. The warmth of his skin against hers was a comfort.