“Our audience would like to know how you and Korie manage to juggle having such high-profile careers?” The camera pans to Korie then back to Rhett. “I understand she’s back on the circuit this season?”

“That’s right.” He pokes his tongue around in his inner cheek. “It’s especially difficult when we’re touring. Hadley travels with Korie and her mother.” He tries unsuccessfully to hide a frown. “It’s—it’s hard. That’s one of the reasons I made the suggestion to the guys about opening the club. Thankfully they were more than receptive to it.”

The guys unanimously bob their heads in agreement.

“It was a great idea, man.” That nod comes from Nick.

“What are you going to do with all the free time you’ll have between Saturday night performances?

His turquoise eyes brighten. “I’m gonna travel with my wife for a change.” He winks out at Korie, who’s positively gushing beside me. The way he loves his woman is palpable.

“I’m gonna stand out in that crowd, with our little girl on my shoulders, cheering obnoxiously loud for her momma.” He pumps a fist into the air, exuding so much genuine excitement.

Helen beams. “Think the entire audience just swooned on that one, Mr. Taylor.”

He sinks down in his seat and smirks. “They don’t call me the king of swoon for nothing, ma’am.”

“No, they don’t.” She flips through a few cards, turning her focus to Nicholas. “It’s no secret, Mr. Potter, that you’ve had some issues with alcohol in the past.”

Talk about ripping off the fucking Band-Aid. Ouch.

Raven’s nails dig into my thigh, just above the knee. I hear the breath as it catches in her throat.

Even the audience becomes pin drop quiet, immediately sobering with the drastic change in topic.

Nick sucks his tongue to his teeth and nods. “I have, yes.”

The camera zooms in on his face exploiting his pain. His green eyes are shining. His jaw ticking as he grinds his molars.

It’s awful.

Her sympathetic smile is acting at its finest. “But you turned your life around.” She beams. “Got sober for the twins and your wife?”

He nods.

“How’s that going?”

Nick cracks his neck side to side and takes a deep inhale. “I wish I could say it’s easy, but I don’t make a habit of lying. Especially not when it’s something many of my fans deal with themselves. It’s hard as hell.” He pauses briefly. “I do the only thing I can do: I keep up with my meetings, and I’m regularly in touch with my sponsor. Beyond that…I take things one day at a time, just like every other person who has an addiction.”

“Your transparency is refreshing. Thank you for that.” She reaches out to pat his knee. “I think it’s what connects your fans to you so deeply.”