was Michelle. I was running away because I felt rejected. It’s what I always do. But the truth is, I love playing Carmen. I love our cast and crew, and I love the stories we get to tell. There are so few roles for Latinx actors outside of the maid, the gang member, or the sexpot—why would I run away from that? I’d be shooting myself in the foot. And for what? To prove a point to Kitty Sanchez?”
His brow creased. “Who’s Kitty Sanchez?”
“The gossip columnist who seems to have it out for us.”
“Oh, that Kitty Sanchez.” Ashton waited to see if she said more. When she didn’t, he prompted, “So is that a . . .”
She laughed and hugged him hard. “It’s a yes! We’re doing season two!”
“There’s just one thing I don’t understand,” Ashton murmured against her hair. “How did your grandmother not know we were working together?”
“Oh, Michelle threatened to spill everyone’s secrets if they told her. It would have ruined the surprise if she knew, and if you didn’t show up, it would have disappointed her. So the whole family was working to keep her from finding out.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
Jasmine nodded. “Michelle has dirt on everyone, so it was an effective threat. Luckily, she uses her powers for good.”
Yadiel came running out then, looking left and right. When his eyes landed on Ashton, his face lit up. Chocolate was smeared around his mouth.
“Papi!” He ran over and Ashton scooped him up, hoisting him on his hip.
With a glance at Jasmine, Yadiel spoke in English. “I like New York, Papi. Can we stay here? Or come back to visit?”
Ashton raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure it’s not just because you got chocolate cake?”
“Not just that.” Yadiel grinned. “The kids are really fun. They all play Minecraft.”
Jasmine’s smile was heartbreakingly sweet as she looked at Yadiel’s little chocolate-covered face.
“We’ll discuss it later,” Ashton told his son. “But I think we can.”
“Yay!” Yadiel threw his good arm up in victory, then wriggled down. He paused a moment, looked at Jasmine, then quick as lightning, he hugged her around the waist. Before Ashton could say anything, Yadiel had already scampered back inside.
Taking a page from his kid’s book, Ashton put an arm around Jasmine and hugged her close to him. “We’ll make it work,” he said quietly.
“No more hiding?” she asked.
“No more.”
He kissed her, and when someone cleared their throat, he eased back. Riley stood before them with an open bottle of champagne and a stack of clear plastic cups.
“Are we celebrating?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
Jasmine reached for the bottle. “Yes. But I want producer credit.”
Riley cheered, pumping her fist in the air as Jasmine popped the cork.
After she was done pouring, Riley held up her cup for a toast. “To success.”
“To family,” Jasmine added, with a look at Ashton.
He raised his cup and met her eyes. “To love.”
Epilogue
They were once again on a red carpet, but this time, it was real.
Jasmine clung to Ashton’s arm as they walked, stopping to chat with interviewers and pose for photos, showing off her red Carolina Herrera gown and his navy blue Tom Ford suit.
The whole thing was surreal. She’d never imagined Carmen in Charge would hit so big, but apparently the story of a woman trying to balance career, family, and love was universally relatable. Who knew?
Well, now she did. Jasmine was finally, for the first time in her life, successfully balancing all three.
It was definitely work, in a way she’d never expected. But through open communication—thanks, Vera!—growing trust, and practicing intentional vulnerability, she and Ashton were making plans for the future. With more episodes of Carmen on the slate, they’d rented an apartment together in Brooklyn. Yadiel was being homeschooled by a team of tutors. Ashton had appeared in a bilingual Off-Broadway production of Cyrano that was in talks for a Broadway run the next year and an early contender for a Best Actor Tony Award, and he’d won a “Villano Favorito” telenovela award for his role in El fuego de amor. Jasmine was putting those stage combat classes to good use as the lead in a ScreenFlix comedy about a Latinx superhero squad. She’d also started attending weekly therapy sessions, which were helping her cope with her need for external validation and her tendency to self-soothe with alcohol. Ashton was also in treatment for anxiety and PTSD from the home invasion, and there was a lightness to his demeanor that hadn’t been there when they’d first met. Although Jasmine suspected