She sees her opening

Julia sat at the curb in front of Harvard-Westlake, engine idling, the weight of her daughter’s stunned silence still hanging between them after the basketball-team confession. Riley’s hand was on the door handle, ready to bolt, but she hadn’t moved yet—still processing, cheeks faintly pink, eyes flicking to her mom with something new in them: curiosity, maybe even a grudging respect.

Julia took a breath, deciding to push the door open just a little wider. “Hey, before you go—there was actually a boy who noticed you walking in yesterday. Cute guy, tall, dark hair. He thought we were sisters.” She let out a soft, genuine giggle, the sound light and conspiratorial. “Very flattering. He kept staring at you, said you were hot. So… I grabbed his number for you.”

Riley’s eyebrows shot up. She turned fully in the seat, staring at her mom like she’d grown a second head. “Wait. You what?”

Julia shrugged, smiling a little sheepishly. “I figured… why not? I’ll text it to you if you want it.”

Riley let out a short, disbelieving chuckle, shaking her head slowly. “Never thought I’d have my mom helping me get dicked down.” She paused, then added with a smirk that was half-amused, half-impressed, “But thanks. Maybe you are cooler than I gave you credit for. At least while Dad’s gone.”

Julia’s heart gave a strange little flip—relief, guilt, and a flicker of something darker she didn’t want to name. She nodded, keeping her tone casual. “Anytime, sweetheart. Just… be safe. And maybe tell me how it goes?”

Riley rolled her eyes, but the smirk stayed. “We’ll see.” She pushed the door open, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and stepped out into the sun. Before closing the door she glanced back one last time, the look in her eyes softer than Julia had seen in years.

Then she was gone, disappearing into the stream of students.

Julia sat there a moment longer, phone in her lap, the headmaster’s command still burning in her pocket like a live coal. She’d bought herself a little more time, maybe even a sliver of trust from her daughter—but the clock was still ticking, and Master wouldn’t wait forever.