He spins the band on his finger while smiling to himself. “My wife and kids help, tremendously.” His eyes seek Raven’s and hold them. “They give me purpose I didn’t have before. I’m a work in progress, as we all are. But I’m also the luckiest SOB in the world to have such a strong woman in my corner.”

“Love you,” Raven says, biting back tears as she kisses two fingers and holds them out in his direction.

“I love you, pretty girl.”

“This is intense,” I hear someone whisper behind me amid the sea of “awws,” as if she can’t believe Helen Generous went there. I couldn’t agree with her more. Life in the public eye isn’t for the faint of heart. The way these men have to live their lives so openly, to have their every move, every weakness, dissected before the world, is brutal.

It’s my new reality. And one I haven’t come close to adjusting to just yet.

“He handled that with so much grace,” I whisper to my friend.

She nods, her face glowing with pride for her man.

“How are little Alex and Ava?”

Nick’s posture visibly relaxes as she steers him into more comfortable territory. “They’re great.” He smiles, combing a hand through his spiky blond hair. “Getting so big. They’ll be four soon.”

“Four?” Helen jumps back in exaggerated surprise. “Seems like just yesterday when you and those little tots proposed to Raven on stage.”

“Time flies, man…”

“You also must be looking forward to being a little more settled with the kids now that you’ve opened the club?”

“Without a doubt. The twins start preschool this year, and it was important to us to have them settled and attending physical school. We want to make their lives as normal as possible.”

“I can understand that.” Helen’s short blonde bob bounces with the nod of her head. “Sounds like this place is an enormous blessing for all.”

“Indeed.”

“Now,” Ms. Generous hedges, “We’re gonna move on to the one causing all the commotion recently.”

My husband looks to his left, to his right, then spins around to look behind him.

“Oh, you know I mean you, Mr. Livingston.”

He chuckles. “I’m prepared for whatever you’ve got to throw at me, Helen.”

“Actually,” the hostess says, “John, can we get another chair out here beside Lyle for his wife, Sammi?”

My stomach drops. I can feel the blood drain from my face. This was not part of the plan. “Wh—what?” I look to Korie and then to Raven and finally to Anika for someone to notice the sheer panic on my face and put a stop to this insanity.

“Get on up there, troublemaker.” The shit grin on Anika’s face makes me want to punch her in the teeth.