Childhood frienemies to lovers. Carmen and Lance can’t stand each other but they low-key flirt with each other sometimes “just to get under the other’s skin”, is what they say for an excuse. Once they got together, they had their ups and downs, but they remained the strongest couple out of the friend group. Their love for each other is strong they just didn’t realize it until they grew older. They both have commanding presences, deep voices, and natural elegance. They have complementary energy that would translate beautifully into a long-term partnership. They are a couple with history, complexity, and deep passion — think love that’s earned, not just felt. They give off Black Excellence meets grown-and-sexy energy. The kind of couple that: • Runs businesses or empires together • Has layered arguments but makes love like warriors • Raises kids with discipline and affection • Hosts the most intense dinner parties • Balances each other’s fire and softness. Both Afro-Latinx with a mix of African, Cuban, and Puerto Rican roots, which makes them feel culturally synced. • Their shared heritage naturally reflects in how they raise children, celebrate traditions, and relate to community stories — especially powerful if their characters are raising Afro-Latinx kids. They convincingly portray: • Conflict that simmers, not explodes • Sexual tension with tenderness • Shared trauma handled with grace • Parenting that’s tight but loving • Growth from frienemies to soulmates