The ride back to the Rivera home was a symphony of headlights, city murmurs, and Mia’s excited voice filling every inch of Tyrel’s rumbling truck.

  She sat in the backseat, practically vibrating with energy-arms gesturing, words tumbling out at warp speed.

  “I still can’t believe how much I learned today,” she said, breathless. “Like - I understood calculus, you guys. Like, actually got it. And physics makes sense now. Bharath’s example with the sliding block and the friction coefficient? Genius.”

  Sarah, riding shotgun, beamed over her shoulder. “That’s our man, sweetheart. He loves it when he can help people learn.”

  Marisol ughed, draping her arm along the seat behind Mia. “You looked like you were levitating by the end of the session.”

  Mia grinned. “Honestly, I think I’m addicted now. I’m going to crash your lives every single day. Tutoring with Bharath and Sarah, dance practice with Nandita… by the time I do enroll at Tech, I’ll be five steps ahead of everyone.”

  “We should start billing you,” Marisol teased.

  Mia stuck out her tongue. “Never. I pay in attention and enthusiasm.”

  “That’s the Rivera way,” Sarah said, turning back around with a wink.

  The truck rolled through familiar neighborhoods now, slowing as they neared Mia’s street. But she wasn’t ready to say goodnight. Not yet.

  “So,” she said, voice quieter now, but eyes still dancing, “I was thinking. I know I’m not, like, officially part of… your situation-”

  Marisol snorted. “Our situation.”

  “Whatever,” Mia said, grinning. “But I want in. I mean, we know that Bharath won’t be in in yet. But I want to know. I want to be kept in the loop. The stories. The drama. The smut.”

  Sarah turned in her seat fully now. “You want us to update you about our bedroom stories?”

  Mia nodded. “All of it. Everything. I don’t care if I’m not there to watch you in person-I want to know what’s happening when our man takes you both. Every breathless moan. Every bite mark. Every time he says something filthy in that delicious accent. Every time he makes you pass out from pleasure.”

  Marisol burst out ughing. “Oh my God.”

  Sarah grinned like the devil. “So… you want a py-by-py?”

  “Basically,” Mia said, shameless. “If I can’t be there, I want to feel like I’m there. I want you to make him believe that I’m there.”

  Marisol mock-gasped. “You want us to bring you up during our time with him?”

  Mia crossed her arms smugly. “I dare you.”

  “Oh, she’s evil,” Sarah whispered.

  Marisol leaned forward. “We’ll do it. We’ll start soft. A little whisper. A moan of your name.”

  “Mention how cute you looked in dance practice,” Sarah added.

  “Slide a finger down his chest and ask if he thought of you today,” Marisol said, her voice pure velvet.

  Mia was practically squirming. “You guys are monsters.”

  “Welcome to the coven,” Sarah said.

  “You’re a harem sister now,” Marisol said. “In spirit, at least.”

  The truck pulled up in front of the Rivera home, headlights washing the driveway in gold.

  Mia inhaled deeply.

  Then exhaled.

  Then grinned. “Let’s go say hi to the Queen.”

  Maria opened the front door with her usual regal wariness.

  But it melted the second she saw her daughters-one grinning like a teenager drunk on freedom, the other glowing like a woman in love-and Sarah standing beside them, tall, elegant, and smiling politely.

  “Mami!” Mia unched forward into her arms.

  Maria blinked, a bit startled, but hugged her tightly. “Well. You’re… clearly happy.”

  “I had the best day.”

  Maria’s eyes flicked to Sarah. “And who do I have to thank for that?”

  Mia stepped aside, gesturing like a magician unveiling a prize. “This is Sarah. She’s one of Marisol’s best friends. And Bharath’s… well, it’s complicated.”

  Sarah smiled warmly and extended a hand. “It’s lovely to meet you, se?ora Rivera. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  Maria took her hand with the measured grace of someone still calcuting-but already softening. “Good things, I hope.”

  “Only,” Sarah said. “Your daughters adore you.”

  Maria raised an eyebrow. “That’s a rare review.”

  Marisol ughed. “She’s not wrong.”

  They moved inside, gathering in the living room as Mia unched into her rapid-fire debrief.

  “I danced like crazy,” she said. “Cami and Nandita were so impressed! Nandita wants me to be center stage with her and Cami during the final sequence.”

  Maria blinked. “Dance? What dance?”

  “For the Diwali celebration,” Marisol expined. “The Indian Student Association is putting together a performance. We’re all in it.”

  Mia leaned forward. “And we need help with costumes. You’re the best with fabric. I already told them you’re a genius.”

  Maria tilted her head. “And what exactly are we talking about?”

  “Silk lehengas. Gold embroidery. Maybe dupattas with mirror work,” Sarah said casually. “We’re keeping it traditional-but gmorous.”

  Maria’s fingers twitched. “I’ll need sketches. And color palettes. And budget.”

  Mia squealed and hugged her again. “I knew you’d say yes!”

  Sarah and Maria moved into a deeper conversation-fabrics, thread counts, where to source bangles in Atnta. Marisol watched them, eyebrows raised.

  “Is she… bonding?”

  Mia whispered, “She’s impressed.”

  “I’m terrified.”

  But Maria was, in fact, warming.

  She liked Sarah’s poise. Her clear respect. The way she carried herself like someone older than her years. And something about the way Sarah let Mia talk-patient, delighted-reminded Maria that this wasn’t just a flirtatious friend group. These were women who lifted each other.

  She turned to Marisol. “Now I understand why you’re so happy.”

  Marisol smiled softly. “They’re good people, Mami.”

  Maria nodded. “I’m gd.”

  As the conversation wound down, Maria stood. “Thanksgiving is coming. You should invite them. All of them.”

  Mia gasped. “Wait-seriously?”

  “Yes. I’ll need a headcount. I assume some will stay overnight.”

  Sarah tried not to smirk. “A few.”

  Maria pointed a finger. “Separate sleeping arrangements if boys stay over.”

  Marisol raised both hands. “Of course.”

  At the door, Marisol pulled Mia into a tight hug.

  “You’re in it now, chica,” she murmured. “No going back.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  Sarah leaned down and kissed Mia’s cheek. “We’ll call tomorrow. Full recap.”

  Mia whispered, “Don’t forget to say my name. Even if he keeps trying not to want me.”

  Marisol snorted. “We’ll moan it.”

  Mia ughed so hard she had to brace herself against the doorframe.

  As the truck rolled away and the night settled around her, she stood in the doorway with her arms crossed, a satisfied smile on her face.

  She had a pn.

  She had allies.

  And now?

  She had momentum.