Page 54 of The Bound Zodiac

‘Give her time. She’s here, isn’t she? That’s more than I expected.’

‘I know. Still⁠—’

‘Still,’ he agreed. ‘But don’t fuck it up. She’s fragile, whether she admits it or not.’

‘She’s stronger than all of us put together,’ I replied.

The silence stretched. The movie droned on. Jupiter didn’t say anything, but I could feel the tension in her shoulders, the effort it took to keep that careful distance. I remembered the last time I’d sat with her like this. Her foot had been wedged under my thigh. Her hand on my knee, fingers tapping during the scary parts. I’d made her laugh with my running commentary and felt like the luckiest bastard in the world.

I didn’t deserve that again. Not yet. But fuck, I wanted it.

Halfway through, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen to see a video call coming in from my mum. I hesitated, then held up the phone.

I glanced at Jupiter. “Mind if I…?” Jupiter shrugged under her blanket. Draco rolled his eyes and smirked. I swiped to answer.

“Eris, darling!” Mum’s face filled the screen, wild red hair in curlers, apron dusted with flour. She was in the kitchen back home, the old range behind her, something bubbling on the stove. A pang of homesickness went through me so sudden I nearly dropped the phone.

“Hi, Mum.”

Her eyes lit up. “You’re alive! You look tired, pet. Are you eating? Are you sleeping?”

I could hear Jupiter snort into her blanket.

“I’m fine,” I said. “Promise.”

She peered at the screen. “Is that your room? It looks nothing like you described. Is that a girl with you?”

Christ.

I angled the camera. “Mum, that’s Jupiter. And you know Draco in the chair.”

Mum leaned so close her nose vanished. “Oh, she’s gorgeous! Look at that hair, and those eyes! Oh, Eris, you never told me she was an absolute stunner.”

I felt my ears go red and wanted to crawl under the couch.

Jupiter just grinned over the edge of her blanket. “Thank you, Mrs. MacLeod.”

Mum beamed. “Call me Fiona, darling. You’re even lovelier than the photos Eris sent me. I hope he’s treating you well?”

Draco made a strangled noise and I glared at him. Jupiter’s eyes sparkled with barely-suppressed laughter. “He and Draco have been perfect gentlemen.”

Mum’s voice softened. “You let me know if he’s not, love. He’s a good boy, but he can be thick as a brick sometimes.”

I wanted to die.

Jupiter looked at me, then back at the phone. “You have my word.”

Mum nodded, satisfied. “Good. Draco, you too. I expect you both to look after her.” Then, back to me: “Eat something, will you? You look like you’ve not seen a decent meal in months.”

I grunted. “Will do.”

She waved, blew a kiss, and disconnected. I set the phone down, face burning.

“I like her,” Jupiter said, clearly trying to hold back her laughter.

“Everyone likes my mum,” I said proudly. “And she was kidding about the uh, photos…”

“Sure she was,” Draco said, smirking wickedly.