Page 104 of You Had Me at Hola
“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 thisone 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?”
His brow creased. “Who’s Kitty Sanchez?”
“The gossip columnist who seems to have it out for us.”
“Oh,thatKitty 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 oneveryone, 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 playMinecraft.”
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.
