Page 170 of Along Came Amor
“It’s a good script,” Roman said. These days he held meetings in his living room instead of a boardroom, but he still got right to the point.
“Yeah?” Gabe rubbed the back of his neck. He looked pleased, but also slightly embarrassed. “I mean, I took a couple classes, but screenplays are a whole different—”
“You’re a writer, Gabe. Get used to it.” Ashton set down their drinks and moved a stuffed rabbit off the armchair before he sat.
“Still feels weird,” Gabe muttered, grabbing his seltzer and settling back on the sofa.
“Not just a writer.” Roman flashed Gabe a teasing grin. “TheNew York Timesbestselling author ofDestiny’s Downfall.”
Gabe dipped his fingertips into his glass and flicked the droplets at Roman.
“We’re really doing this?” Ashton directed the question to Roman.
“It’s a bit late to be asking that now.”
Ashton snorted. “I’ve been in this industry long enough to know nothing is set in stone.”
“Look, I didn’t create a whole ass production company for you to treat this like some rich man’s whim.”
Ashton smirked. “Isn’t it?”
Roman sighed. His friend had him there. After stepping back from the hotels, Roman had thrown himself into expanding Casa Donato’s profile while maintaining the small business vibe that made it special. Easier said than done, but it was now one of the premiere rums in the world, with a number of lucrative partnerships and distribution deals. The company’s worth had skyrocketed from where it was when he’d bought it. But instead of getting caught up in the minutiae like he had with the hotels, he’d promoted a strong team to manage the continued growth and devoted all his attention to fatherhood.
He fucking loved being a dad. Even the hard parts. And he absolutely adored watching Ava be a mom. She was incredible, as he’d known she would be, and he did everything he could to make his girls’ lives as effortless as possible.
But Isa was a year old now and she had five grandparent figures—Dulce, Ignacio, Patricia, Miguel, and Olympia—who all wanted to spend time with her. Ava was expanding her theater program to more schools, and as much as she told him to relax, Roman didn’t like sitting still.
Then Ashton and Gabe had come to him with a business proposition, and Roman’s instincts for a good deal had sparked. Now the three of them were the owners of Los Primos production company. Ashton had proven his worth as a celebrity spokesperson for Casa Donato—especially after his Oscar win. And without Gabe, Roman never would have finished writing his own book—Building an Empire: Roman’s Rules for Success. Roman secretly hated the title, but the book had been an instant nonfiction bestseller, so what the hell did he know. Gabe’s fantasy series was the first project optioned by Los Primos, and Michelle, whose marketing and consulting company was highly sought after by film studios, had already agreed to help craft the pitch—for a fee, of course.
Bottom line, the production company wasn’t a whim to Roman. He loved these guys like they were his brothers, and what was more, he liked working with them.
“Let’s make it happen,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “Who do I need to schmooze?”
Next Year
The Primas held their annual holiday celebration a week before Christmas at Ava and Roman’s house in the Hamptons. Snow glittered over the lawn, and inside, a gas fire flickered in the baby-proofed fireplace. The aromas of coconut, cinnamon, and Casa Donato rum competed with the scents of pine and gingerbread. Ava watched the proceedings as she made coquito at the kitchen counter.
Ashton sat on the rug with Isabella, building what looked like a gothic cathedral with her colorful magnetic tiles. Sinvergüenza the stuffed dog sat beside them, never far from Isa. Michelle, Gabe, and Yadiel were playing Super Smash Bros., which seemed to involve a lot of trash talking. Roman was cuddling Renee Rodriguez Suarez against his chest and singing a Spanish nursery rhyme. Jasmine and Ashton’s infant daughter rewarded him with a sweet, gummy smile.
Jasmine joined Ava at the counter and snagged a gingerbread cookie from the festive plate.
“Oh, come on!” Yadi exclaimed, his jaw hanging open as he glared at Michelle. “How do you keep winning? You’reold.”
“Not older than Nintendo,” she quipped. Spotting Jasmine and Ava, Michelle got up from the sofa. “I’m out. Have fun kicking Gabe’s ass for a while.”
Gabe rolled his eyes, but gamely started another round.
“Yadi, Isa, and Renee,” Michelle said, coming to stand next to her cousins. “The next generation of the Primas of Power?”
Ava unplugged the immersion blender. “They’ll have to come up with their own name. That one’s taken.”
Jasmine sighed as she polished off her cookie. “How do you manage the fear?” she asked, her eyes on Roman and Renee.
“Of what?” Ava asked. “Dropping her?”
Jasmine scoffed. “No, I’m over that. Renee’s pretty sturdy by now. I meant the fear of... fucking up?”
“You’re afraid of the kids turning out like us?” Michelle asked wryly.
