After sitting through hair and makeup, Ashton was on his way back to his dressing room when a PA intercepted him to hand over the script for episode eight.

Ashton accepted with some trepidation. This was it—the season finale. And depending on whether they were renewed for a second season or not, it could end up being the series finale.

The way viewers—and potential casting directors—felt at the end of a season was the emotion they would always associate with the show. It would be the last image he left them with. The rest of his career depended on nailing this episode.

He tore through the pages, skimming scenes of Victor filming a TV special, being approached about writing a memoir, and performing an outdoor pop-up concert, and then . . .

Ashton groaned out loud.

More kissing. They were ending the season on an optimistic note for Victor and Carmen, and of course, that involved a heavy make-out session. He should probably be glad it wasn’t a full-on sex scene. Ashton had done plenty of those in his career, but to go from kissing on set, to kissing and fucking behind the scenes, to only screwing on-screen, would have broken him. He needed to clear the air with Jasmine, but he had no idea how, and really, he hadn’t had time. When he wasn’t on set, he was spending every waking minute with his family and navigating calls from his agent, Tanya, and interviewers wanting to know why he was such a terrible father. Words like “negligent” and “abandoned” got thrown around a lot, tapping into all of the guilt Ashton already carried from living apart from his son.

He hadn’t heard from Yadiel’s mother again, which was a small blessing, and so far no one had uncovered her identity. Yadiel had been born in Orlando, and his birth certificate listed his parents’ birth names, not their stage names. Ashton was on there as Ángel Luis Felipe Suarez Bonilla. He hoped this would make it harder to find, or that people would lose interest before digging that deep.

Jasmine was angry and Ashton couldn’t blame her. Still, he didn’t like leaving things open-ended like this, and he didn’t want her to think he’d used her, or that he was like her pendejo ex. He couldn’t tell her he loved her. What would be the point? But he could find a way to apologize. Somehow. She might not forgive him, and that was her choice, but he loved her too much to leave her hurting like this.

In the meantime, he’d suffer through a choreography session directed by Vera and make the most of his last intimate moments with Jasmine—on camera. When it was all over, he’d mourn the loss of what could have been. If he were different. If his life were different.

But it wasn’t. And there was nothing he could do about it.

Chapter 34

CARMEN IN CHARGE

EPISODE 8

Scene: Victor pulls Carmen up on stage.

EXT: Pop-up concert at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park—DAY

From the center of the stage, with a full band behind him rocking out with his signature blend of pop and Latin beats, Victor sang his number one hit single, “Hola, mi amor,” with renewed energy and emotion, his rich voice ringing out across the concert arena in the middle of Central Park. The crowd loved him, cheering and clapping and singing along.

But Carmen was the only one who mattered. No one else knew it, but Victor had written this song for her.

Across the heads of a thousand people, his gaze sought hers where she stood with her father next to the tent. Pride shone in her eyes as she watched him perform, making him feel like a million bucks—or a million records sold. Her faith in him had made this possible, her strength had seen it through. And—he hardly dared hope—her love had given him his life back. He’d gotten the tour spot, beat out Dimas del Valle, and even been approached about writing a memoir—with a sizable advance payment. He owed her everything.

At Carmen’s side, her father crossed his arms and nodded approvingly. The script flashed in Victor’s memory, mapping onto what he knew they were saying.

“You did it, mija.” Ernesto gave Carmen a warm smile. “Serrano PR is back on top. Tío Fredo would be proud.”

When Ernesto dabbed at the corner of his eye, Carmen leaned in to give him a hug. “We did it. Together. Serranos do it better, remember?”

The sentiment gave Victor a pang. One of the things that had broken them up before was Carmen prioritizing the family business over their future together. Would the same thing happen now?

Maybe. But he wasn’t giving up without making his feelings clear.

The song ended. Victor struck his ending pose and yelled, “¡Gracias, New York!”

The crowd went wild.

Sweating and breathless, with no filter left on his emotions, Victor leaned into the mic. “I wasn’t sure I’d get to do this again. Thank you for being a wonderful audience and for making my comeback concert so special.”

More screams. When the audience quieted down, Victor zeroed in on Carmen again. His heart leaped at the way her eyes lit up and the encouraging smile she sent him. He felt the warmth of it all the way up on stage, but he needed more. He needed her. He held the mic close and said in a low growl, “Come up here, Carmencita.”

Carmen’s eyes went wide and she froze as everyone turned to stare at her.

Her father took her elbow, urging her up toward the stage, and Victor counted his blessings that Carmen’s parents were on his side.

Still, Carmen only ever did what she wanted to do, so he wasn’t sure if she’d turn and bolt. He didn’t know what he’d do if she ran; there was no plan B. So he waited with nervous expectation as she climbed the steps, looking slightly dazed by her surroundings. Victor extended a hand out to her and she gripped it like he was her anchor in a storm. Warmth washed over him at her touch, and he drew her closer.

“Did you plan this?” she hissed, but he smiled gently and shook his head.

“No. But you deserve to be up here. This is your victory too.”

Once she was with him in front of the mic, he put his arm around her and turned back to the crowd.

“None of this would have been possible without the amazing Carmen Serrano.” He paused, then added in a soft voice, “My wife.”

And then he kissed her full on the lips, right in front of everyone.

Chapter 35

CARMEN IN CHARGE

EPISODE 8

Scene: Carmen and Victor get intimate in his tour bus.

INT: Victor’s tour bus—DAY

Carmen and Victor burst into his trailer, buoyed by exhilaration. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

“Victor, you were amazing,” she said. All the love she felt for him reverberated through her voice. “The crowd adored you. And now there’s the book deal, the tour, the new album—you’ve done it. I’m so proud of you.”

Victor took her in his arms and held her close. “It’s all because of you, Carmencita. You always believed in me. You saw the best in me, even when I didn’t see it in myself. Everything I’ve done, I owe to you.”

“You sure know the way to my heart,” she said, blinking back tears. “Complimenting my work will get you everywhere.”

“There’s only one place I want to be.” With a husky laugh, he leaned in and kissed her. It was the hottest, most sensual kiss they’d shared since his return, deeper and more intense than all the others. Their hands roamed each other’s bodies as he backed her into the vanity and helped her perch on the tiny counter.