Page 14 of Hidden & Held

Nessa

I pulled Phoenix’s chart today, and Mercury is doing THINGS. Someone check on her.

Becca

I literally just texted her twenty minutes ago. She said she was fine.

Nessa

Becca. Mercury is in retrograde AND squaring her natal Saturn. She’s not fine. She is performing fine. There is a difference.

Mack

… ok, but is that actually different from baseline Phoenix

Becca

^^

I can see all of this.

Nessa

THERE SHE IS. How are you actually?

I’m working. And The Tower just means something was built wrong. The Ten of Swords means it was over. Honestly? That’s efficient; you should have been relieved pulling that, so I don’t accept your level 3 as an actual emergency.

Nessa

It is 9:47 pm.

The law doesn’t observe Mercury retrograde.

Nessa

That is exactly what someone whose chart is under siege would say. Come to my place; I have that cedar spray you like and leftover soup.

Mack

The soup is genuinely good. I had some on Tuesday

Becca

Phoenix. Seriously. When did you last eat a full meal? Don’t say coffee counts.

I look at my cold coffee and push it slightly farther away.

I’m fine, BBQ is Saturday, I’ll see you all then, and eat my bodyweight in burgers.

I pause before typing. Three hours ago, I watched Linda Mercer invite Cassandra to dinner with Jackson’s family while I sat ten feet away pretending it didn’t bother me. Maybe keeping things separate was easier, safer.

Then, an image of Jackson’s smile flashes in my mind, agreeing to meet my friends without hesitation.

Your people. That I want.

To hell with safer.

I’m bringing someone.