“I’d imagine . . . it’s hard to talk about him to other people.”

The relief on his face broke her heart.

“Yes.” He said the word with a rush of gratitude, like she’d hit the nail on the head. “I wanted to tell you, Jasmine. So many times. But . . . keeping secrets becomes a habit. And I think I fell out of the habit of trusting other people. I’m a single dad, but I don’t know how to talk about it. I don’t know how to date anymore. My life . . . it’s complicated. And it might have just gotten more complicated, or less. I’m not exactly sure.”

She wanted to go to him, to hug him, touch him while he talked. This was the Ashton she’d gotten to know during their time alone—the sweet, earnest, uncertain man behind the telenovela hero. But she had to hold out, to give them both space to speak. “What do you mean?”

He let out a sigh and rubbed the back of his head. “My father is going back to Puerto Rico and Yadiel is going to live with me. Full time.”

Jasmine scrutinized his expression. “You seem pleased.”

“I am.” A grin tugged at his lips. “I know it will take some adjusting, but this is all I’ve ever wanted.”

“I’m glad.”

He opened his mouth, paused, then spoke. “Could you date a guy who already has a kid?”

A shaky laugh burst out of her, a release of the tension winding her up as she’d waited for him to speak. “Of course I could.”

“Good, because anyone I get involved with . . . it’s not just me. I’m a package deal.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “I would never expect otherwise.”

He took a deep breath. “Jasmine, I’m in love with you.”

Her heart stopped. Everything in her went still as she stared at him, slack-jawed. Her eyes searched his face, seeking out any hint that she’d misheard, or that he was joking, or . . .

Sincerity shone in his eyes. And a deep well of steadiness. She knew the curves and lines of his face, the subtleties of his expressions, the emotions radiating from his eyes. And his voice . . . He’d said the words with matter-of-fact seriousness.

“Really?” Her voice squeaked, and they both let out a nervous laugh.

“Sí, querida.”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, breathlessly, with all the love in her heart. He held her close, and in his arms, she felt . . .

The same. She felt happy, but she no longer felt the sense of completion she used to feel when she was with a guy.

No, she felt the same because . . . she was already complete.

And wasn’t that a lovely feeling?

“I don’t know how we’ll make it work,” Ashton was saying, his face pressed into her neck. “God, you smell good.”

“Make what work?” she asked, still riding the high from his kiss.

“Us. I don’t know where I’m going to live, and I’ll have Yadiel with me—”

“Yadiel is an amazing kid,” she said, pulling back to look him in the eyes. “Don’t feel like you have to hide him from me. You know I want a family. Not because it will give me value, but because I have a lot of love to give. I want to be loved, too, but I also just want to love someone. And I don’t know why, but something about that scares everyone—”

Ashton took her hands in his and looked her deep in the eyes. “I’m not them.”

She pressed her lips together, holding back the flood of emotion threatening to overwhelm her. “I know.”

“And I’m not scared.”

He wasn’t. She could see the difference in him now. Despite the crowd and the attention and revealing his family to hers, there was a sense of calm and contentment in him that hadn’t been there before. And it made her so fucking happy to see it.

“I love you,” she whispered, and the words were like a release. Lightness infused her heart, and a tear spilled over her cheek.

Ashton pulled her close and kissed her, then he was mumbling apologies against her lips as he held her tight.

“I’m sorry I blamed you for . . . a lot of things. My son falling—when really, he’s always falling off things. And the tabloids, and—”

“I forgive you. You were scared. And I was hurt. I understand why you didn’t tell me about him.”

“I should have. I’m sorry I didn’t.”

“I know. But I get it. And I’m sorry I called you selfish.”

“Speaking of . . .” His lips curved. “I’ll have to get Yadi to call you by name.”

Her brows creased. “Why, what does he call me?”

“Pretty lady.”

She laughed. “In English?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, maybe we should correct that.”

For a long moment, they just looked at each other, smiling. Jasmine tried to note every detail, so she never forgot this moment.

“We’ll make it work,” she said in a quiet voice. “And we’ll take it slow. I think . . . I think we both need that.”

He nodded. “You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met,” he whispered, kissing her again.

Just then, the door from the main hall swung open. They broke apart and turned to see Riley running over to them.

Riley’s eyes were wide and she waved her phone excitedly. “Season two,” she cried. “ScreenFlix has already ordered a second season!”

ASHTON’S HEART POUNDED in his throat. Despite everything they’d just shared, he and Jasmine hadn’t yet talked about the show. And he didn’t want her to think he’d manipulated her into making a decision.

Jasmine’s brows shot up. She released Ashton and grabbed her agent.

“Oh my god!” Jasmine said on a gasp. “That was so fast!”

“I told you!” Riley shrieked.

The two women jumped up and down, hugging, then Jasmine was hugging Ashton too.

“We got it!” she whispered in his ear.

“Does this mean you’ll agree to film another season?” he asked.

“Of course she will,” Riley said. “Your agent will probably be calling you any minute, by the way.”

Sure enough, Ashton’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

“I’m getting a drink!” Riley ran back to the ballroom.

“You should answer,” Jasmine told him, but Ashton shook his head.

“You’re Carmen,” he said. “This decision is yours. And I want you to feel free to decide however you want, regardless of me. This is your choice.”

He’d been so scared before, when she told him she would turn down a chance at a second season. His life was falling apart—or so he’d thought. He’d put too much pressure on this one show to be everything he needed it to be to achieve all his hopes and dreams.

Now . . . he still had those dreams, but he could see that the journey there would be better if he let people in, if he trusted that there would be more opportunities.

Jasmine sighed. “No, you were right, and so 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?”